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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Co-created Sparks of a Revolution anchor chart
The American Revolution
5th Grade
Anchor Chart
Co-created Sparks of a Revolution anchor chart
Additional Info
from , 5th Grade
Co-created anchor chart about the success factors of the American Revolution.
The American Revolution
5th Grade
Anchor Chart
Co-created anchor chart about the success factors of the American Revolution.
Additional Info
from , 5th Grade
Our Inquiry Unit - 4th Grade California: The Diverse Geography of California After student groups studied a particular region of California, they used their annotated articles to pull ideas/descriptive words to help them write a haiku about that region. We created an interactive bulletin board where students passing by in the hallway could guess what region was being described in the haiku and then check their answer by flipping the card. Students also created illustrations to go along with their answer.
Our State and Region
4th Grade
Wall Display
Our Inquiry Unit - 4th Grade California: The Diverse Geography of California After student groups studied a particular region of California, they used their annotated articles to pull ideas/descriptive words to help them write a haiku about that region. We created an interactive bulletin board where students passing by in the hallway could guess what region was being described in the haiku and then check their answer by flipping the card. Students also created illustrations to go along with their answer.
Additional Info
Wendee Lipnick from Walnut Creek Elementary School District: CA, 4th Grade
This unit was a fantastic opportunity for my students because they researched their nations and proudly prepared presentations to share essential data, and made genuine connections with other countries.
Global Connections
3rd Grade
Other
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This unit was a fantastic opportunity for my students because they researched their nations and proudly prepared presentations to share essential data, and made genuine connections with other countries.
Additional Info
Gloria Navarrete Rodriguez from dpsk12.net: CO, 3rd Grade
My students worked in collaborative groups after completing module one to brainstorm ways to be global citizens. They created posters and presented them to the class.
Global Connections
3rd Grade
Wall Display
My students worked in collaborative groups after completing module one to brainstorm ways to be global citizens. They created posters and presented them to the class.
Additional Info
from , 3rd Grade
The bulletin board shows a cross curricular connection between ELA and Social Studies. We studied poetry in ELA and Natural Resources in Social Studies. Students wrote poems to describe the uses, challenges, and solutions of using natural resources.
Natural Resources of the U.S.
4th Grade
Inquiry-Long Display
The bulletin board shows a cross curricular connection between ELA and Social Studies. We studied poetry in ELA and Natural Resources in Social Studies. Students wrote poems to describe the uses, challenges, and solutions of using natural resources.
Additional Info
Ronye Craft from Detroit Public Schools Community - Parent District: MI, 4th Grade
We created a connections wall utilizing our individual maps to show how we are all connected!
Global Connections
3rd Grade
Inquiry-Long Display
We created a connections wall utilizing our individual maps to show how we are all connected!
Additional Info
from , 3rd Grade, 4th Grade
After working through the modules, the children really wanted to show off their learning and take action in a hands on way. They were very eager to create something specifically about the people and places that make our school a great place to learn. This final product is their model of the school learning spaces and all the children and school helpers that are special to them!
Navigating School
Kindergarten
Final Product
After working through the modules, the children really wanted to show off their learning and take action in a hands on way. They were very eager to create something specifically about the people and places that make our school a great place to learn. This final product is their model of the school learning spaces and all the children and school helpers that are special to them!
Additional Info
from , Kindergarten
This is our inquiry wall that we build throughout the American Revolution. There is a timeline on the bottom with the events. The students made portraits of revolutionaries on one side (quick sketches).
The American Revolution
5th Grade
Inquiry-Long Display
This is our inquiry wall that we build throughout the American Revolution. There is a timeline on the bottom with the events. The students made portraits of revolutionaries on one side (quick sketches).
Additional Info
Kkish from Hover: PA, 5th Grade
Inquiry Question Chart for Colonial Era
The Colonial Era
5th Grade
Investigation Questions Anchor Chart
Inquiry Question Chart for Colonial Era
Additional Info
Sarah Garcia from Maywood School District 89: IL, 5th Grade
My students participated in a jigsaw activity where they explored various historical events connected to our state’s story. Each student became an “expert” on one event, then worked to explain why that event is important to include in the broader story of our state’s history. This module encouraged teamwork, critical thinking, and pride in our local heritage. The students did a fantastic job making meaningful connections and expressing why these moments matter to our shared story!
Our State and Region
4th Grade
Handout
My students participated in a jigsaw activity where they explored various historical events connected to our state’s story. Each student became an “expert” on one event, then worked to explain why that event is important to include in the broader story of our state’s history. This module encouraged teamwork, critical thinking, and pride in our local heritage. The students did a fantastic job making meaningful connections and expressing why these moments matter to our shared story!
Additional Info
from , 4th Grade
Students wrote non-fiction texts about Native American groups.
Native America
5th Grade
Other
Students wrote non-fiction texts about Native American groups.
Additional Info
from , 5th Grade
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