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.
Download your certificate
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.
Check out our work from Our Special Location!
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Wall Display
Check out our work from Our Special Location!
Additional Info
Shue, Tiffany from West Aurora School District: IL, 1st Grade
Students had an option to create a 2-D product. Some students made a bookmark. Other students made posters or comics.
Natural Resources of the U.S.
4th Grade
Final Product
Students had an option to create a 2-D product. Some students made a bookmark. Other students made posters or comics.
Additional Info
Olga Velasco from Rio School District: CA, 4th Grade
This is an end of unit project for the Colonial America unit. Students chose an important event or aspect of colonial America and illustrated (in medium of their choice) and wrote a caption with the perspective of all groups that we learned about on the chosen event or aspect.
The Colonial Era
5th Grade
Final Product
This is an end of unit project for the Colonial America unit. Students chose an important event or aspect of colonial America and illustrated (in medium of their choice) and wrote a caption with the perspective of all groups that we learned about on the chosen event or aspect.
Additional Info
from , 5th Grade
Co-created Meet the Revolutionaries anchor chart
The American Revolution
5th Grade
Anchor Chart
Co-created Meet the Revolutionaries anchor chart
Additional Info
from , 5th Grade
The community seal was a wonderful way for kids to reflect on their learning about our community before entering the "informed action" portion of the unit.
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Handout
The community seal was a wonderful way for kids to reflect on their learning about our community before entering the "informed action" portion of the unit.
Additional Info
Linda Dostie from Montpelier Public Schools: VT, 1st Grade
We will be bringing our guidebook to the visitor's center in town so that families who visit Montpelier, Vermont can learn and try what kids enjoy most about our city.
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Final Product
We will be bringing our guidebook to the visitor's center in town so that families who visit Montpelier, Vermont can learn and try what kids enjoy most about our city.
Additional Info
Linda Dostie from Montpelier Public Schools: VT, 1st Grade
First graders created their own community seals after the lesson on seals and symbols. We brainstormed all of the things that could visually represent our community and made a big list. Students then chose what to include on their community seal. Our school is in Lake Zurich, IL so we made the "Seal of Lake Zurich". This anchored the learning and helped students demonstrate their understanding of the lesson.
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Wall Display
First graders created their own community seals after the lesson on seals and symbols. We brainstormed all of the things that could visually represent our community and made a big list. Students then chose what to include on their community seal. Our school is in Lake Zurich, IL so we made the "Seal of Lake Zurich". This anchored the learning and helped students demonstrate their understanding of the lesson.
Additional Info
Andrea Behm from Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95: IL, 1st Grade
The Colonial Era
5th Grade
Final Product
Additional Info
Heather Popilek from Community Consolidated School District 21: IL, 5th Grade
Students made brochures to showcase their special location… West Chester, Ohio!
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Final Product
Students made brochures to showcase their special location… West Chester, Ohio!
Additional Info
Jessica Hickey from Lakota Local School District: OH, 1st Grade
Students each drew a board game and made cards that move them forward/backward spaces. The cards had norms (i.e. running in the hallway -3 OR raising your hand +2) and the board game was decorate with school spaces (cafeteria, art room). They drew freehand so some were hard to play. Next time I will help them draw the board game layout.
Navigating School
Kindergarten
Final Product
Students each drew a board game and made cards that move them forward/backward spaces. The cards had norms (i.e. running in the hallway -3 OR raising your hand +2) and the board game was decorate with school spaces (cafeteria, art room). They drew freehand so some were hard to play. Next time I will help them draw the board game layout.
Additional Info
Emma Stewart from Quality Schools International: IT, Kindergarten
Today, we explored the concept of diversity. We read “All are welcome here” then students helped to create this anchor chart. Tomorrow, they are going to make diversity posters. Stay tuned….🤗
Families Near and Far
1st Grade
Anchor Chart
Today, we explored the concept of diversity. We read “All are welcome here” then students helped to create this anchor chart. Tomorrow, they are going to make diversity posters. Stay tuned….🤗
Additional Info
Andrea Behm from Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95: IL, 1st Grade
Native America
5th Grade
Other
Additional Info
from , 5th Grade
No results found.
There are no results with this criteria. Try changing your search.