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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Create a Board Game – Math STEM Activity
Improve math skills and spark creativity by having students plan, design, and create their own math-based board games.
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Design a Conservation T-Shirt – Inquiry-Based Project
Use this conservation project to teach your students about how to ignite positive change in the face of a global environmental crisis.
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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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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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Animal Blubber Experiment - Polar Adaptations Activity
Explores the structural adaptation of blubber with an Arctic Animal Adaptation experiment..
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Inspirational Authors – Speechwriting Project
Research and celebrate an inspiring author during Read Across America Week with this speech-writing task.
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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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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!
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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.
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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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Phases of the Moon – Journal Project
Observe, describe, and record patterns of the lunar cycle with this moon tracking project.
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Mother's Day Magazine Article Project
Celebrate Mother’s Day with this creative Mother’s Day magazine project.
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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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Pizza Fractions – Hands-On Materials
Use these hands-on materials to improve your student's understanding of fraction models and equivalent fractions while making a pizza.
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Build Your Own Theme Park – Project
A STEM project embedded in a real-world context.
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Just One Word Project - New Year's Resolution Activity
Inspire your students to reflect and set one-word goals for the new year with a “Just One Word” project.
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Back to School Supply Shopping Task - Primary Grades
Calculate the cost of school supplies and answer questions with this back-to-school math activity.
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School Supply Shopping - Upper Grades
Calculate the cost of school supplies and answer questions with this back-to-school math activity.
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Nonfiction Text Features – All About Me Project
Implement a text features project with an “All About Me” theme to explore informational text features with your students.
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End of Year- Carnival Planning Project
Integrate STEM activities into your end-of-year lessons by inviting young entrepreneurs to plan, design, and advertise their own carnival!
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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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Capacity Math Investigation - Filling the Fish Tank
A mathematics investigation involving capacity, embedded in a real-world context.
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Mass Investigation - How Heavy Are the Objects in Your Classroom?
Explore the mass of objects in the classroom with this mass mathematics investigation embedded in a real-world context.
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Data Math Investigation - Which Reward?
A mathematics investigation involving data collection and representation, embedded in a real-world context.
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Science Experiment - Lights Line Up!
A science experiment which explores light.
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Air Resistance Experiment
Use this engaging air resistance experiment when teaching your students about air friction and the effect it has on the effectiveness of a parachute.
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The Solar System in Our Space – Mathematics Investigation
A mathematics investigation about number and the scale of the solar system, 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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Moving Materials Science Experiment Pack
Explore materials and how they behave with an engaging Moving Materials Science experiment pack.
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Roll or Slide Worksheets - Science Inquiry (K-1)
Explore motion and boost science inquiry skills with Roll or Slide Worksheets.
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Bend, Twist, or Stretch? Changing Materials Inquiry Activity
Explore materials, observe physical changes, make predictions, and share scientific observations with a hands-on Properties of Materials Science Investigation.