What is inquiry?

Inquiry is an approach to teaching that poses genuinely compelling questions to kids, who then dive into all sorts of primary and secondary sources to learn information that helps them craft and defend an answer. Rather than simply teaching information related to a particular topic or asking kids questions for which there is already a right or wrong answer, inquiry facilitates opportunities for kids to wonder, use evidence to support their ideas, and practice solving real world problems.

When done well, an inquiry approach taps into students' curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking—all super important for their civic engagement, college readiness, and future careers. You will also find that inquiry is quite simply fun! Student engagement increases as the learning shifts away from memorization or passive learning to actively posing questions, trying to figure out the answers, and taking a stand.

Click on “How to Build a Unit”for step-by-step help creating your own social studies inquiry curriculum.