Inquiry Based Learning Activities for Teachers
Explore inquiry-based learning activities created by teachers to launch students into open-ended investigations and tasks that encourage them to think critically and logically to complete tasks.
The projects in this teaching resource collection were created by the teachers on the Teach Starter team to encourage independence and self-management while empowering students!
Curious about adding inquiry based learning to your classroom? Read on for a primer from our teacher team!
What Is Inquiry-Based Learning?
Inquiry-based learning is a pedagogical approach that focuses on active student engagement and exploration by asking questions, investigating and seeking answers.
Whew. That was a mouthful!
Essentially, this approach encourages students to become more independent learners by letting kids be curious and question!
- Free Plan
End of Year Project - Lemonade Stand Design
Reap the benefits of STEM education by inviting young entrepreneurs to develop a Lemonade Stand with a STEM education project.
- Plus Plan
Food Truck Frenzy! End-of-Year Project Based STEM Learning Activity
Introduce your students to the world of Food Trucks as they master math, STEM, and art to design and run their own food truck.
- Plus Plan
Math in the Real World - Budgeting Planning Project
Introduce your students to the world of making a budget with an immersive “It’s My Life” budgeting for kids project.
- Free Plan
Financial Literacy Math Investigation – Pop–Up Shop on Wheels
A mathematics investigation involving financial literacy, embedded in a real-world context.
- Plus Plan
Build Your Own Theme Park – Project
A STEM project embedded in a real-world context.
- Plus Plan
End of Year - Build a Board Game Project
Build critical thinking, writing, and reading skills by engaging your students with an end-of-year S.T.E.M activity.
- Plus Plan
Adding and Subtracting Fractions Math Investigation
Immerse your students in all things fractions with this math project based around a real-world scenario.
- Plus Plan
Mother's Day Magazine Article Project
Celebrate Mother’s Day with this creative Mother’s Day magazine project.
- Free Plan
Rain Cloud in a Jar Experiment
Use this science experiment when learning about the different types and features of clouds and how they contribute to the water cycle.
- Plus Plan
Data Collection Investigation Project
Assign this data collection project to enable students to master the skills of acquiring and recording data.
- Plus Plan
School Supply Shopping - Upper Grades
Calculate the cost of school supplies and answer questions with this back-to-school math activity.
- Plus Plan
Bowerbird Fact File and Research Project
Research the amazing bird that is the Bowerbird with this fact sheet and research templates ready to go.
- Plus Plan
Responding to Stress: Small Group Skit Project
This small-group project lets students apply what they've learned about combatting stress by demonstrating practical coping skills.
- Plus Plan
American Hero Triorama Project
Identify and encourage research into notable American and Texan heroes with a triorama project.
- Plus Plan
End of Year - Island Resort Design Project
Create and design your own Island Resort with a fun end of year art and STEM project for elementary students.
- Plus Plan
Let's Research! Digital and Print Poster Project Templates
Conduct, organize, and display research about books, people, planets, animals, states, and countries with a versatile set of printable and digital poster templates.
- Plus Plan
Unit Fraction Donut Investigation
Explore unit fractions in this fun donut-themed math investigation for your students.
- Plus Plan
Sound Energy Project (Rubber Band Musical Instruments)
Use this sound energy experiment to help your students visualize sound using everyday items.
- Plus Plan
Angles 4th Grade Math Project – Design a Room
Turn your students into interior designers with this inquiry-based math project based on drawing and measuring angles.
- Free Plan
Creating Oxygen - Experiment
Investigate how oxygen is made with a hands on plant experiment.
- Plus Plan
World Geography – Country Research Project Inquiry Task
Help your students discover new countries with our printable country research project template.
- Plus Plan
Plan a Summer Trip
Prepare for a summer vacation with an end-of-the-year STEM activity.
- Plus Plan
Sound Energy Project (Buzzing Balloons)
Engage your class with this sound energy exploration! This simple experiment will show students how sound is produced by a source and can be sensed.
- Plus Plan
Sound Research Science Experiment for Kids
Immerse your students in an auditory adventure, exploring sound energy with this engaging experiment.
- Plus Plan
Line Plot Project: Bakery Menu Design
Make learning about math as sweet as your students' favorite treats with this project based learning line plots exercise!
- Plus Plan
Food Webs - Research Project
Explore the food webs that exist in various biomes around the world with this student-centered inquiry task.
- Plus Plan
Making a Timeline of My Life Project
Teach your students how to make a timeline with a Create a Timeline Project.
- Plus Plan
Write With Your Senses: Daily Descriptive Writing Prompts
Inspire your students to write descriptively using our 20 daily descriptive writing prompts slide deck and graphic organizer.
- Plus Plan
Landform Diorama Project
Create and display a diorama of a landform with our landform project planning and creation templates.
- Plus Plan
Differentiated Geographic Location Project-Primary and Upper Elementary
Uncover how geographic location affects the culture, customs, clothing, food, and overall lifestyle of humans with a differentiated research project.
- Plus Plan
Cinderella's Design Challenge
A STEM style challenge themed around the fairy tale Cinderella.
- Plus Plan
Thermal Energy Transfer: Solar Oven - STEM Project
A STEM project to use when learning about thermal energy transfer.