What does it mean to make learning truly visible—and why does it matter so much for student growth and engagement?

Each unit of Inquiry Journeys, inquirED’s elementary social studies curriculum, includes the creation of an Inquiry Wall – a dynamic display that grows alongside your students’ learning. From start to finish, it captures the questions, connections, and discoveries your students make, serving as both a learning tool and a record of the content knowledge they’ve explored through the inquiry process.

Anchor charts are a visually engaging way to support students' learning by providing clear, concise, and relevant information. They act as reference points, helping students to understand and recall concepts more effectively. Anchor charts can be used to introduce new ideas, clarify misconceptions, and summarize key points. They can be tailored to suit any subject, making them a versatile tool that can be used across the curriculum.

Review key research showing how inquiry-based learning boosts academic outcomes, deepens understanding, and helps close achievement gaps across student groups.

Conver-stations allow students to discuss topics in constantly changing small groups. Use this format in response to complex discussion prompts or sources, including photos, videos, audio recordings, or written text.

Discover how inquiry-based learning in social studies can transform elementary classrooms. Explore the benefits of student-centered instruction and get practical strategies in our free Inquiry in Social Studies Guide.

Discover the five Inquiry Skills at the heart of inquirED’s K–5 curriculum. Learn how Creative Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Personal Agency, Communication, and Collaboration help students build essential skills and deeper understanding through inquiry-based social studies.

In today's collaborative classrooms, the use of group roles can enhance productivity and improve the overall learning experience for students. There are two approaches to group roles: fixed and flexible. Both have their merits, depending on the lesson objectives and the needs of your students. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of each approach, provide examples of roles, and offer tips on how to implement them effectively in your classroom.

Imagine your students actively making connections, debating ideas, and visually mapping relationships between key concepts. The Hexagonal Mapping Protocol offers a flexible, engaging way for students to organize their thinking and discover new relationships between ideas. Whether used for inquiry-based learning, unit review, or problem-solving, hexagonal mapping deepens discussion, reinforces connections, and encourages critical thinking.

No matter your entry point – we’ve created & curated information to help you build your knowledge of inquiry-based social studies!

Explore how powerful questions can counter classroom polarization and promote deeper inquiry in social studies, with insights from educators and curriculum experts.

Find out how students in Ohio took informed action in Inquiry Journeys by creating a community garden

There is a movement growing around the country for elementary social studies. How can district leaders support a new curriculum adoption?

Inquiry in the classroom follows a process that begins with a question, moves through an investigation, and ends in action. But that seemingly simple process is actually incredibly complex. Let’s explore some of that complexity by examining each step in more detail.

See, Think, Wonder helps students make observations, form inferences, and generate questions about a visual source or artifact. Use it to spark wonderings or introduce new topics.

Mingle Pair Shares are a great way to get students moving around the classroom and talking to different classmates. Use this strategy to encourage students to hear from a variety of perspectives in response to an open-ended question or experience.

Concentric Circles get students talking to different classmates, allowing them to hear from a variety of perspectives in response to a series of prompts. This protocol fosters understanding of different perspectives while promoting students’ speaking and listening skills.

Artifact studies challenge students to analyze a primary source by identifying evidence, explaining interpretations, and drawing conclusions. Use this format when students analyze an unfamiliar primary source individually, in small groups, or as a whole class.

Imagine a classroom where every student is an expert, eager to share their knowledge and engage in meaningful discussion. That’s the power of the Jigsaw Protocol—a collaborative learning strategy that encourages deep research, critical thinking, and peer teaching. Read below to bettter understand how to facilitate a Jigsaw activity in your classroom.

Discover strategies to teach active listening in elementary social studies—supporting student engagement, respectful dialogue, and stronger classroom discussions.

See how Inquiry Journeys brings the C3 Framework to life—engaging students in inquiry, disciplinary thinking, source analysis, and informed action across every unit.