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!
- Plus Plan
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.
- Plus Plan
Place Value STEM Challenge - Number Forms
Build, write, and read 3-digit numbers in base ten, word, and expanded forms with an engaging Place Value Building Project!
- Plus Plan
Human Inherited Traits Activity - Science Experiment
Engage your students in learning about the traits inherited from their parents with a fun Human Inherited Traits Lab 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
We Are Moving – Planet Project Bundle
Use this printable Earth and Space project teaching resource bundle to create projects that develop knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts, research skills and writing skills.
- Plus Plan
Lapbook - All About Me Template
Skip the "All About Me" worksheet and create an About Me lapbook on the first day of school.
- Plus Plan
Christmas STEM Project - Elf Trap
Experience hands-on STEM concepts with an engaging Elf Trap Project!
- Plus Plan
Goods and Services Advertisement Project
Engage your learners with an end-of-unit Goods and Services project.
- Plus Plan
Back to School - Plan a Field Trip Project
Integrate STEM activities into your beginning-of-year math and economics lessons by inviting your students to plan a field trip, calculate costs, and follow a budget.
- Free Plan
Science Experiment - Angles of Reflection
A science experiment that explores reflected light.
- Plus Plan
3D Shapes Math Investigation - Make Me a Radical Robot!
Relate knowledge of 3D shapes to the real world with this student-led mathematics project.
- Plus Plan
Science Experiment - Line Up the Light!
A science experiment which explores how light travels.
- 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
Math Investigation - Decimals and Percentages
Get your students connecting their math knowledge to the real world with this decimals and percentages party planning project.
- Plus Plan
Alternative Energy Sources Poster Project
Research, explore, and learn about alternative energy sources with an engaging Energy Sources Poster Project.
- Plus Plan
Compare and Contrast Stories – Literature Project
Get your students to compare and contrast stories with this structured literary analysis project, where students identify similarities and differences between two texts based on similar themes.
- Plus Plan
Build a Bird Feeder Project (Recycling)
Experience the engineering process and introduce your students to sustainable design with an exciting Build-a-Bird Feeder project using recycled materials.
- Plus Plan
Plantable Seed Paper Activity Pack
Make your own Plantable Seed Paper and learn about physical changes, recycling, and biodegradable materials with a printable Make Your Own Paper Activity pack.
- Plus Plan
Does Air Have Mass? Matter Science Experiments
Explore the physical properties of gases and discover that air has mass with a set of 4 matter experiments for kids.
- Plus Plan
Exploring How Light Travels Experiment
Help your students uncover how light moves with this hands‑on How Light Travels experiment pack.
- Plus Plan
Seeing Light - Transparent, Translucent, Opaque Materials Experiment
Explore samples of transparent, translucent, and opaque materials with an engaging Light Energy Experiment.
- Plus Plan
Earthquake Inquiry Task - Newspaper Report
Explore the effects of historical earthquake events with an engaging Earthquake Inquiry Task.
- Free Plan
Flood Safety Poster Activity
Explore the impact of flooding and engage your students with a Flood Safety Poster Project.
- Plus Plan
How Does Heat Move? Experiment
Observe how heat moves in hot and cold water with an engaging How Does Heat Move? Experiment.
- Plus Plan
Animals Surviving With Sound Research Project
Assign an Animal Sound Research Project to encourage your students to explore how animals use sound to survive in the wild.
- Plus Plan
Observing Conduction Experiment - Thermal Energy
Teach students to make predictions about and observe thermal energy transfer through this conduction experiment.
- Plus Plan
Exploring Sound Energy Experiments
Explore how sound works with an engaging set of Sound Energy Experiments!
- Plus Plan
Light and Shadow Experiment Design Activity
Explore light and shadow while developing science inquiry skills with our Light and Shadow Experiment design activity pack.
- Plus Plan
Bread Mold Experiment
Observe how the environment causes changes in mold growth with an engaging Bread Mold Experiment.
- Free Plan
Winter Paralympic Games – Inquiry-Based Project
Have your students investigate the requirements of being a Paralympic Winter Games host city with this inquiry-based learning project.
- Plus Plan
Moving Materials Science Experiment Pack
Explore materials and how they behave with an engaging Moving Materials Science experiment pack.
- Plus Plan
Roll or Slide Worksheets - Science Inquiry (K-1)
Explore motion and boost science inquiry skills with Roll or Slide Worksheets.