Flexible Inquiry Models for Diverse PYP Classrooms

Flexible inquiry is now central to the 2025 IB PYP curriculum, recognizing that today’s classrooms are beautifully diverse and dynamic. By placing inclusion, differentiation, and agency at its core, the IB PYP empowers educators to design genuinely responsive inquiries where every student progresses, participates, and thrives according to their unique profile and readiness.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆?

Flexible inquiry champions equity and student agency. Instead of requiring all learners to take the same path through a unit of inquiry, flexible approaches offer multiple ways to access, engage with, and show understanding of foundational concepts. This prioritizes cultural inclusiveness, language diversity, and a broad range of abilities, creating rich, motivating learning journeys for each child.

𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆

𝟭. 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲)

Inquiry learning progressions articulate how skills, dispositions, and conceptual understanding unfold over time-regardless of age or grade. Teachers use these progressions to identify where each child is on their inquiry journey, then provide just-right supports or provocations to keep every student moving forward, whether their growth is fast or gradual.

𝟮. 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

Differentiation and responsive support are essential in flexibly designed inquiries. Teachers use strategies like scaffolded entry points, tiered tasks, flexible groupings, and adaptable web or spiral models to ensure high challenge, high support, and equitable opportunity. Every learner finds the right level of scaffolding, motivation, and voice-without limiting depth or aspiration.

𝟯. 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

In a flexible inquiry environment, students exercise meaningful choice in what, how, and with whom they learn. Personalization ensures learning is relevant, engaging, authentic, and shaped by students’ strengths and passions. With the teacher as facilitator, students co-construct questions and reflect on process, making learning truly their own.

𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀

𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹

The inquiry cycle frames learning as a sequence, but in a flexible classroom, students move through or revisit the phases.-Tuning In, Finding Out, Sorting Out, Going Further, Reflecting & Acting-according to their profile, prior knowledge, and readiness.

𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 & 𝗔𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀: 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀

Inquiry webs support branching investigations from a central concept. The PYP encourages use of inquiry webs at every developmental level, adapting language, complexity, and reflection to suit each grade and learner profile.

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆: 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀

Spiral inquiry involves returning to broad concepts at increasingly complex levels. Each grade builds on prior understandings while supporting differentiated entry and progress. IB PYP’s transdisciplinary approach encourages teachers to revisit ideas and skills across themes and subjects.

𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟱

𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 (𝗔𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝟯–𝟱) - Inquiry in early years is playful, sensory-rich, and rooted in personal and cultural stories. Flexible approaches might include home language integration, creative materials, and choice-driven story, sound, or art provocations.

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟭- Inquiry focuses on story and connection. Flexible cycles empower students to read, retell, and create stories in multiple forms, reflecting home culture and learning profile.

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟮- Community and well-being are key. Differentiation is accomplished through investigative projects, fieldwork, and student-led presentations.

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟯 - Practical science inquiry is fostered through collaborative exploration and reflection, with flexible reporting and peer support.

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟰 - Systems and balance are studied through collaborative tasks, flexible cycles, and opportunities to innovate and debate.

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟱 - Complex concepts like sustainability and equity are integrated, with students driving the inquiry forward through diverse media and advocacy, as well as scaffolding for all readiness levels.

𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲: 𝗙𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝘀. 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀

This table shows how inquiry structure impacts inclusion, assessment, and student agency in the classroom.

𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝘀: 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀

Each vignette shows flexible inquiry alive in real PYP classrooms, responsive to language, culture, readiness, and agency.

𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗸𝗶𝘁: 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀, 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

Practical prompts and resources for inquiry can scaffold thinking, support formative assessment, encourage reflection, and foster inclusion.

𝗙𝗔𝗤: 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆-𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Common questions and helpful guidance for implementing flexible inquiry, now in a table for practical use.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

Flexible inquiry embodies the IB PYP’s commitment to empowerment, agency, and diversity. By employing adaptable cycles, webs, and spirals, and deepening differentiation, every learner can flourish on their own inquiry path, all while the classroom community grows stronger together. Use the strategies, examples, and tables above as springboards for designing vibrant, inclusive, and future-ready classrooms.

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬:-🌟

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