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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Every student who participated in Inquiry Week 2026 deserves recognition. Download the official participation certificate to celebrate their curiosity and hard work.
Download certificate (PDF)Student Works
Explore examples from the Inquiry Work Gallery.
Click on a thumbnail below to expand and view more images.
The first grade team worked on symbols that represented our school community. They included a MAP key to help the reader's understand the school "map."
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Wall Display
The first grade team worked on symbols that represented our school community. They included a MAP key to help the reader's understand the school "map."
Additional Info
Chrissy Milliken from Agnes Irwin School: PA, 1st Grade
To get the kids curious ahead of the Economic unit, I created this wall display. They are so inquisitive and can't wait to see what this unit will be about! I am excited to see what they will come up with as we begin!
Economic Choices
4th Grade
Wall Display
To get the kids curious ahead of the Economic unit, I created this wall display. They are so inquisitive and can't wait to see what this unit will be about! I am excited to see what they will come up with as we begin!
Additional Info
Linda Withers from Waukee Community School District: IA, 4th Grade
Please note that our inquiry wall covers Natural Resources, Our State and Region and Economic Choices (currently in process).
Our State and Region
4th Grade
Wall Display
Please note that our inquiry wall covers Natural Resources, Our State and Region and Economic Choices (currently in process).
Additional Info
Paul Han from Next Generation School: IL, 4th Grade
Check out our Inquiry Work display and the student work that was added to it.
Our State and Region
4th Grade
Inquiry-Long Display
Check out our Inquiry Work display and the student work that was added to it.
Additional Info
Alasia Badalamenti from South Brunswick School District: NJ, 4th Grade
This is certainly a work in progress but here is our Wall for Past, Present, and Future.
Past, Present, and Future
Kindergarten
Wall Display
This is certainly a work in progress but here is our Wall for Past, Present, and Future.
Additional Info
Jessia Volkers from The Kew-Forest School: NY, Kindergarten
Mrs. Hardy brought in her camera collection from the 1940s-1970s. She brought the cameras in as a real-life, tangible example of Innovation to go with the second grade Social Studies unit. Some of the best questions from the kids were: "Where do I look?", "Where do I click to take the photo?" and "What do all these other buttons and wheels do?" Here is a slideshow of pictures of all the cameras.
Innovation
2nd Grade
Other
Mrs. Hardy brought in her camera collection from the 1940s-1970s. She brought the cameras in as a real-life, tangible example of Innovation to go with the second grade Social Studies unit. Some of the best questions from the kids were: "Where do I look?", "Where do I click to take the photo?" and "What do all these other buttons and wheels do?" Here is a slideshow of pictures of all the cameras.
Additional Info
Christie Hardy from South Brunswick School District: NJ, 2nd Grade
Students painted birds eye view pictures, created maps and illustrated a page for a book. Their target audience was incoming kindergarten families.
Navigating School
Kindergarten
Wall Display
Students painted birds eye view pictures, created maps and illustrated a page for a book. Their target audience was incoming kindergarten families.
Additional Info
Jennie Greene from Skokie District 68: IL, Kindergarten
My students investigated the various factors that comprise our cultural identity to have a better understanding of the topic. They also investigated how the connections we form and sustain influence our cultural identities and knowledge of others.
Migration and Movement
3rd Grade
Wall Display
My students investigated the various factors that comprise our cultural identity to have a better understanding of the topic. They also investigated how the connections we form and sustain influence our cultural identities and knowledge of others.
Additional Info
Gloria Navarrete Rodriguez from dpsk12.net: CO, 3rd Grade
During the month of January and February, we studied the Civil Rights Movements and we celebrated African-American History.
Civic Engagement
3rd Grade
Wall Display
During the month of January and February, we studied the Civil Rights Movements and we celebrated African-American History.
Additional Info
Sonia Valero Arnal from San Francisco Unified School District: CA, 3rd Grade
Students created an innovation through the inquiry process. They then completed a guide stating the spark, how the invention works and the impact it will have. Students presented their innovation at a schoolwide Innovation Fair held for families.
Innovation
2nd Grade
Final Product
Students created an innovation through the inquiry process. They then completed a guide stating the spark, how the invention works and the impact it will have. Students presented their innovation at a schoolwide Innovation Fair held for families.
Additional Info
Barbara Mastin from Deerfield Public Schools District 109: IL, 2nd Grade
This is our Inquiry Wall displaying different activities worked on throughout the unit. Students had the opportunities to complete work independently as well as with partners throughout the unit. We have added to our display as the unit went on, and finally had the chance to see it completed at the end of the unit!
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Inquiry-Long Display
This is our Inquiry Wall displaying different activities worked on throughout the unit. Students had the opportunities to complete work independently as well as with partners throughout the unit. We have added to our display as the unit went on, and finally had the chance to see it completed at the end of the unit!
Additional Info
Amanda Fabian from South Brunswick School District: NJ, 1st Grade
This unit combined the second grade health unit on nutrition with the Changing Landscapes social studies unit. Students were permitted to select from a variety of inquiry products that aligned with the same inquiry challenge statement.
Our Changing Landscape
2nd Grade
Final Product
This unit combined the second grade health unit on nutrition with the Changing Landscapes social studies unit. Students were permitted to select from a variety of inquiry products that aligned with the same inquiry challenge statement.
Additional Info
Rachel Sciortino from South Brunswick School District: NJ, 2nd Grade
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