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!
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How to Catch a Leprechaun STEM Project
Use your engineering and design skills to build a leprechaun trap on St. Patrick's Day!
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Volume Investigation - Creating the Land of Cubes
A mathematics investigation involving volume, embedded in a real-world context.
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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.
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Unit Fraction Donut Investigation
Explore unit fractions in this fun donut-themed math investigation for your students.
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Leprechaun Trap STEM Activity
Experience hands-on STEM concepts with your students with this St. Patrick's Day-themed leprechaun craft activity.
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Financial Literacy Math Investigation – Pop–Up Shop on Wheels
A mathematics investigation involving financial literacy, embedded in a real-world context.
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Celebrating Inspirational Women Inquiry Task
An inquiry task to use in the classroom when learning about inspirational contemporary women.
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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.
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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.
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Design a Planet Project
Explore the different planets during this design your own planet project for kids.
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Design the Perfect Dog Breed - Animal Traits Project
Investigate inherited traits that parents pass to their offspring with a Create-a-Puppy selective dog breeding project.
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Challenging Female Gender Stereotypes Inquiry Task
An inquiry task to use in the classroom when learning about inspirational contemporary women.
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Creating Oxygen - Experiment
Investigate how oxygen is made with a hands on plant experiment.
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World Geography – Country Research Project Inquiry Task
Help your students discover new countries with our printable country research project template.
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Build Your Own Theme Park – Project
A STEM project embedded in a real-world context.
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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.
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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.
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Science Experiment - Will It Change?
A science investigation in which the students observe changes that occur to various objects over time.
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Mass Investigation - How Heavy Are the Objects in Your Classroom?
A mathematics investigation involving mass, embedded in a real-world context.
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Science Experiment - Line Up the Light!
A science experiment which explores how light travels.
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Bowerbird Fact File and Research Project
Research the amazing bird that is the Bowerbird with this fact sheet and research templates ready to go.
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Butterfly Camouflage Activity Pack
Experience camouflage in butterflies and create an engaging scientific simulation with our printable butterfly camouflage activity pack.
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Adapting, Migrating, & Hibernating Animals Research Project
Set this classroom project for students to explore the topic of how seasons affect animals, and develop a species-specific profile on a chosen animal.
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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.
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Sound Research Science Experiment for Kids
Immerse your students in an auditory adventure, exploring sound energy with this engaging experiment.
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Data Collection Investigation Project
Assign this data collection project to enable students to master the skills of acquiring and recording data.
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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.
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Food Webs - Research Project
Explore the food webs that exist in various biomes around the world with this student-centered inquiry task.
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Bean Growth Experiment
“Grow” your students’ knowledge of plant life cycles with a plant growth experiment.
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Sun Observation Project
Use observations of the sun to describe patterns that can be predicted with this journal project.
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How to Reduce Waste - School Lunch Project
Investigate the waste produced from school lunches and create a plan of action to reduce waste with a school lunch waste analysis project.
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Assembly Line Production - STEM Project
Engage your students in learning about the U.S. assembly line process with an exciting project-based task.