Celebrate your students!

Inquiry Week is also about celebrating students and the questions they bring to learning.

We’re sharing a student Inquiry Week certificate you can use to recognize students for their curiosity, questioning, and thinking. It’s a simple way to celebrate inquiry, whether your work feels finished or still in progress.

Contest FAQs

Do submissions need to be perfect?

No. We’re interested in the learning process, not polished final products.

Inquiry work might include student work, vocabulary, anchor charts, images, or other artifacts that show thinking over time. If it reflects real student questions and learning, it counts.

How will winners be chosen?

Submissions are reviewed for creativity, clarity, and how well they represent the inquiry process. Winning submissions may be featured in an Inquiry Work Gallery to help other educators see what inquiry can look like in real classrooms.

What file types can I submit?

You can submit:

  • Images (JPG or PNG)
  • Videos (MP4 or MOV) Files should be under 100 MB.

Do I need to submit physical copies of student work?

No. Digital submissions work great.

If space is limited, feel free to share smaller pieces of student work or snapshots that capture student thinking, reading, or writing in social studies.

Any tips for taking photos or videos of my inquiry work?

A few simple tips:

  • Take more than one photo.
  • Include at least one full view, plus a few close-ups.
  • Make sure the image is bright and easy to read.

Clear photos help us see student thinking more clearly.

Looking for inspiration?

Explore examples from the Inquiry Work Gallery.

Click on a thumbnail below to expand and view more images.

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The 8-year-old students at Kyiv International School explored global connections and cultural identity to understand how they are linked to the wider world. The students’ final hands-on projects showcase the diverse cultures of people from around the globe. They learned that one meaningful way to recognize and express culture is through many different symbols, and among them are toys - especially dolls – that play a vital role in reflecting traditions, values, and identities across different societies. It was an interesting project that required research to understand the values of our world. Our students had a lot of fun and radiated enthusiasm throughout the doll-making process.

Unit

Global Connections

Grade

3rd Grade

Example Type

Other

The 8-year-old students at Kyiv International School explored global connections and cultural identity to understand how they are linked to the wider world. The students’ final hands-on projects showcase the diverse cultures of people from around the globe. They learned that one meaningful way to recognize and express culture is through many different symbols, and among them are toys - especially dolls – that play a vital role in reflecting traditions, values, and identities across different societies. It was an interesting project that required research to understand the values of our world. Our students had a lot of fun and radiated enthusiasm throughout the doll-making process.

Additional Info

Julia Prima from Quality Schools International: IT, 3rd Grade

Unit

Global Connections

Grade

3rd Grade

Example Type

Other

This has been such a fun project that I have been adding to all year. Students started with stamping where they were from, and as we learn about different places, cultures, etc they get to add how they are connected to that part of the world. We also added on and linked it to our Literacy curriculum that makes world connections.

Unit

Global Connections

Grade

3rd Grade

Example Type

Wall Display

This has been such a fun project that I have been adding to all year. Students started with stamping where they were from, and as we learn about different places, cultures, etc they get to add how they are connected to that part of the world. We also added on and linked it to our Literacy curriculum that makes world connections.

Additional Info

Crystal Bucio from Roaring Fork School District: CO, 3rd Grade

Unit

Global Connections

Grade

3rd Grade

Example Type

Wall Display

Teacher Unit Anchor charts

Unit

The American Revolution

Grade

5th Grade

Example Type

Wall Display

Teacher Unit Anchor charts

Additional Info

from , 5th Grade

Unit

The American Revolution

Grade

5th Grade

Example Type

Wall Display

Written products about revolutionaries and why they were revolutionary.

Unit

The American Revolution

Grade

5th Grade

Example Type

Final Product

Written products about revolutionaries and why they were revolutionary.

Additional Info

Dominika Romano from Community Consolidated School District 93: IL, 5th Grade

Unit

The American Revolution

Grade

5th Grade

Example Type

Final Product

Students created a class quilt to display for families to view when visiting our classroom! The school loved how we came together as a class family.

Unit

Families Near and Far

Grade

1st Grade

Example Type

Handout

Students created a class quilt to display for families to view when visiting our classroom! The school loved how we came together as a class family.

Additional Info

KRISTAL DANA DAUZ from YOUTHFUL OFFENDER PROGRAM AT HIGH DESERT STATE PRI: NV, ELBERT B EDWARDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: NV, CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT: NV, 1st Grade

Unit

Families Near and Far

Grade

1st Grade

Example Type

Handout

My 2nd graders have been LOVING this social studies unit and are totally engaged! I guess I just want to say a big thank you for everyone who came together to create this inquiry and how user friendly it is coming from a busy teacher! Good luck to everyone else out there! Thank you again!

Unit

Meeting Needs and Wants

Grade

2nd Grade

Example Type

Wall Display

My 2nd graders have been LOVING this social studies unit and are totally engaged! I guess I just want to say a big thank you for everyone who came together to create this inquiry and how user friendly it is coming from a busy teacher! Good luck to everyone else out there! Thank you again!

Additional Info

from , 2nd Grade

Unit

Meeting Needs and Wants

Grade

2nd Grade

Example Type

Wall Display

Students interviewed family members to learn where they immigrated from. Then they researched that country and its culture.

Unit

Migration and Movement

Grade

3rd Grade

Example Type

Final Product

Students interviewed family members to learn where they immigrated from. Then they researched that country and its culture.

Additional Info

Hregnier from The Cornerstone School: FL, 3rd Grade

Unit

Migration and Movement

Grade

3rd Grade

Example Type

Final Product

1. We took the mini-poster display idea from the lesson, and I added the visuals to support what the students learned to create really eye catching posters. 2. Students color coded their notes to allow them to know which resource to back to for reference.

Unit

Native America

Grade

5th Grade

Example Type

Handout

1. We took the mini-poster display idea from the lesson, and I added the visuals to support what the students learned to create really eye catching posters. 2. Students color coded their notes to allow them to know which resource to back to for reference.

Additional Info

JENNIFER Baker from dpsk12.net: CO, 5th Grade

Unit

Native America

Grade

5th Grade

Example Type

Handout

Students conducted research on the Native peoples of different regions of North America. Students also created the map!

Unit

Native America

Grade

5th Grade

Example Type

Wall Display

Students conducted research on the Native peoples of different regions of North America. Students also created the map!

Additional Info

Natalie Taylor from IMAGO DEI MIDDLE SCHOOL: AZ, 5th Grade

Unit

Native America

Grade

5th Grade

Example Type

Wall Display

After completing our investigation in the unit, students were presented with these different options to showcase their work.

Unit

Native America

Grade

5th Grade

Example Type

Final Product

After completing our investigation in the unit, students were presented with these different options to showcase their work.

Additional Info

Hannah Azofeifa-Urena from Flemington-Raritan School District: NJ, 5th Grade

Unit

Native America

Grade

5th Grade

Example Type

Final Product

in progress American Revolution inquiry wall

Unit

The American Revolution

Grade

5th Grade

Example Type

Wall Display

in progress American Revolution inquiry wall

Additional Info

from , 5th Grade

Unit

The American Revolution

Grade

5th Grade

Example Type

Wall Display

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.

Unit

The Colonial Era

Grade

5th Grade

Example Type

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

Unit

The Colonial Era

Grade

5th Grade

Example Type

Final Product

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Experience a Lesson

K-2 core ELA and social studies in one block

Inkwell is a K-2 core curriculum that integrates ELA and social studies into one cohesive instructional block. Experience a lesson live with the team behind the curriculum, see exactly how it runs, and bring the questions you'd ask if you were piloting it in your district next year.

Request more information

About Inkwell

K-2 core ELA and social studies in one, 70-minute instructional block.

Inkwell is an inquiry-based HQIM for both ELA and social studies, designed so each subject strengthens the other. Students develop their literacy by reading, writing, and discussing within sustained social studies investigations.

  • Supports mastery of ELA and social studies standards in one block
  • Grounded in the Science of Reading
  • Embeds explicit writing instruction in daily lessons
  • Builds knowledge through content-rich social studies investigations
  • Connects and deepens learning through inquiry

Learn more >>

Save time

Inkwell’s 70-minute block replaces two separate ELA and social studies blocks. Teachers no longer have to choose between ELA and social studies, and the time they get back goes to foundational skills, math, and intervention.

Deepen comprehension

Inkwell’s integrated design develops the background knowledge and academic vocabulary comprehension depends on. And, each unit students apply that knowledge to a new text, task or idea to deepen comprehension and extend their learning.

Give writing purpose

Inkwell writing starts with explicit daily instruction and asks students to use writing to make meaning of texts. Then, it asks students to go one step further and use the knowledge they’ve built as evidence for a broader disciplinary idea.

"Students actually are engaged, actually have a smile. It brought tears to my eyes because I'm like, this is what school looks like."

Yasmin, First Grade Inkwell Teacher, NJ

"I think that's the first time I've ever seen everyone — including my [multilingual] kids — understand every single part of a book from a whole-class read-aloud, the first time, without extra prompting."

Talia, First Grade Inkwell Teacher, NJ

What happens in this session

01

One lesson we'll go through from start to finish.

Watch how an integrated ELA and social studies block lets students read, write, and discuss around a single anchor idea.

02

Where the integration happens.

See what makes this different from a traditional ELA program that only adds in social studies topics: the texts, the writing tasks, the social studies and ELA standards that build comprehension and knowledge at the same time.

03

The K-2 design choices.

We'll walk through language comprehension, vocabulary development, and structured discussion behind the lesson, and explain the K-2 design choices we made and why.

FAQ

Who is this session for?

Curriculum leaders, instructional coaches, principals, and teachers evaluating an elementary ELA and/or social studies curriculum. We designed these sessions for leaders making purchasing decisions, but classroom teachers are welcome.

How long is the session?

60 minutes: 30 minutes inside the lesson, 20 minutes of debrief, and 10 minutes for Q&A.

Do I need to prep anything?

No. Show up with a notebook (paper or digital) and a willingness to be a student for a half hour.

Will my district's content be shared?

No. Other registrants will see your name and district in the participant list. We don't record sessions.

Is there a recording if I can't make it?

We don't record — the value is in the live experience. If none of the dates work, request a 1:1 walkthrough and we'll set one up with your team.

Contact us

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