Celebrating inquiry in every classroom
Teachers across the country shared photos of students in the thick of inquiry — asking questions, testing ideas, and discovering something new. Here are the classrooms that stood out.
Outstanding inquiry across every grade
These classrooms were picked for their creativity, depth of questioning, and student engagement.
The Colonial Era
This end of unit project for the Colonial America unit asks students to explore an important event or aspect of colonial life. Students chose a topic and created an illustration in the medium of their choice. They also wrote a caption that explains the event from the perspectives of the different groups they studied, helping them consider how people experienced the same moment in different ways.
Migration & Movement
After reading about different waves of immigration, third grade students created posters about a specific immigrant group and presented what they learned to the class. The activity sparked discussion about push and pull factors and helped students understand the challenges immigrants faced before and after arriving in the United States.
My Team & Self
In the My Team and Self inquiry unit, students reflected on their own strengths and then identified the strengths of their classmates. They shared and celebrated these qualities as a class while learning how each person contributes to a team. The experience helped students understand the importance of teamwork and appreciating one another.
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Explore examples from the Inquiry Work Gallery.
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Students created a poster to educate others on the imports of conserving natural recourses.
Natural Resources of the U.S.
4th Grade
Final Product
Students created a poster to educate others on the imports of conserving natural recourses.
Additional Info
Hayes, Keyjahjna from Little Rock School District: AR, 4th Grade
We took our study of innovation one step further. We brainstormed future innovation ideas and then created models.
Innovation
2nd Grade
Other
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We took our study of innovation one step further. We brainstormed future innovation ideas and then created models.
Additional Info
Melissa Riehle from Lakota Local School District: OH, 2nd Grade
I teach two classes, and we both created our challenge statement which was "We will create a game to teach our buddy class about meeting needs and wants." I created a game idea sheet where a couple of students suggested candy land. I chose one idea that is pictured above which took the idea of candy land but changed it to include places in our community. I split the classes into teams and each team was in charge of a different community producer. They had to come up with a producer symbol for their game board, a description of their place, and a picture for the game board. We will be delivering these to our Kindergarten buddy classes this week!
Meeting Needs and Wants
2nd Grade
Final Product
I teach two classes, and we both created our challenge statement which was "We will create a game to teach our buddy class about meeting needs and wants." I created a game idea sheet where a couple of students suggested candy land. I chose one idea that is pictured above which took the idea of candy land but changed it to include places in our community. I split the classes into teams and each team was in charge of a different community producer. They had to come up with a producer symbol for their game board, a description of their place, and a picture for the game board. We will be delivering these to our Kindergarten buddy classes this week!
Additional Info
from , 2nd Grade
We interviewed innovators to learn what it means to innovate. We interviewed a professor, a P&G employee and three parents working in manufacturing, video communication and e-commerce.
Past, Present, and Future
2nd Grade
Other
We interviewed innovators to learn what it means to innovate. We interviewed a professor, a P&G employee and three parents working in manufacturing, video communication and e-commerce.
Additional Info
Melissa Riehle from Lakota Local School District: OH, 2nd Grade
These are anchor charts, handouts, and wall displays aligned to the Our Special Location inquiry.
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Anchor Chart
These are anchor charts, handouts, and wall displays aligned to the Our Special Location inquiry.
Additional Info
Raegen Autry from Winston-Salem /Forsyth County Schools: NC, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade
Students created a Team and Family Mural. We are sharing our results with the preschool department to inspire them.
My Team and Self
Kindergarten
Final Product
Students created a Team and Family Mural. We are sharing our results with the preschool department to inspire them.
Additional Info
Paula Walker from Quality Schools International: IT, Kindergarten, 1st Grade
Students created a good or service to sell and then made a poster to advertise their product.
Economic Choices
4th Grade
Final Product
Students created a good or service to sell and then made a poster to advertise their product.
Additional Info
Amanda Hargadine from Canby School District: OR, 4th Grade
Our Changing Landscape
2nd Grade
Inquiry-Long Display
Additional Info
Erin Cogan from Alameda Unified School District: CA, 2nd Grade
Global Connections
3rd Grade
Final Product
Additional Info
Stacey Chu from Quality Schools International: IT, 3rd Grade
The fourth grade class used recyclables to create new pieces. When finished, they set up a display for all students in the school to view. They also took pictures to create a powerpoint for families and classes to view when able.
Natural Resources of the U.S.
4th Grade
Final Product
The fourth grade class used recyclables to create new pieces. When finished, they set up a display for all students in the school to view. They also took pictures to create a powerpoint for families and classes to view when able.
Additional Info
Allison Slater from Iowa City Community School District: IA, 4th Grade
Students write one word/short phrases on index cards that describe what contributes to a healthy democracy and add to poster throughout unit.
Rights and Responsibilities
5th Grade
Wall Display
Students write one word/short phrases on index cards that describe what contributes to a healthy democracy and add to poster throughout unit.
Additional Info
Angela Kastrava from Canby School District: OR, 5th Grade
My 5th grade class read and annotated the "Trouble is Brewing" article together. We then split up into small groups to reread and focus on the events in the article. Students prepared slips of paper in a "jigsaw" fashion which focused on the causes and effects of each event. They presented to the class and facilitated discussion around that event.
The American Revolution
5th Grade
Inquiry-Long Display
My 5th grade class read and annotated the "Trouble is Brewing" article together. We then split up into small groups to reread and focus on the events in the article. Students prepared slips of paper in a "jigsaw" fashion which focused on the causes and effects of each event. They presented to the class and facilitated discussion around that event.
Additional Info
Elizabeth Nielsen from Skokie District 68: IL, 5th Grade
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