Inquiry-Based Learning

The directors of the Right Question Institute here discuss the simple shifts in teacher practice that help their students answer the question, "What question should I ask?"

Here, a teacher outlines 4 steps she takes to help students trigger their own curiosity and drive their own research.

The College, Career, and Civic Life Framework for Social Studies, also know as the "C3 Framework", places inquiry-based and interdisciplinary practice at the heart of what students and teachers do in the Social Studies. You can download the C3 framework in PDF form here.

Wondering how to support student research? Here, a teacher discusses three strategies for encouraging inquiry and research connected to visible thinking strategies, essential questions, and curiosity. Many student-friendly resources are linked.

Read here about the 4E model of Inquiry Design: Engage, Explore, Explain, and Extend. Adapted from Succeeding with Inquiry in Science and Math Classrooms, ASCD.

Grounded in the Social Studies, The Inquiry Design Model is a great resource for designing learning experiences that begin with truly compelling questions, and travel through Social Studies content in authentic and student-owned ways. Find models of such questions and corresponding lessons here.

At the Right Question Institute, their development and support of the Question Formulation Technique has helped teachers develop the classroom practice to deepen student inquiry and understanding. These resources will help you get started in your classroom.

The Kentucky Virtual Library has a website that guides students through a self-driven research process, complete with links to resources across the internet. 

Teachthought contributors outline 4 phases of Inquiry-Based teaching methods, complete with links to online tools, resources, and apps.

Here, find a wide variety of resources around topics such as planning for, research supporting, and lesson ideas for inquiry-based learning.