inquirED Blog
Your source for inquiry-based learning and teaching strategies.
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Social Studies
2nd Grade Social Studies Curriculum: Meeting Needs and Wants Unit Launch
Communities are created to meet our common needs, giving us a sense of belonging, trust, care, and safety. During this unit, 2nd-grade social studies students work together to design their own community model, discovering how community members work together to shape the world around them.
Teacher Practice
Think-Pair-Share | Inquiry Lesson Plan Strategy
A Think Pair Share gives every student the opportunity to be heard. Students who have difficulty sharing ideas in a large group have a chance to rehearse with a partner, and those who always want to share are guaranteed the chance to be heard by at least 1 partner, if not the whole class.
Teacher Practice
Idea Clustering | Inquiry Lesson Plan Strategy
Idea Clustering allows students to see the connections their ideas have with others’ ideas, supporting the development of collaborative projects or topics of investigation. Use this process to help establish interest groups for collaborative work, or to synthesize many diverse ideas into a more concise list of options.
Teacher Practice
I Like, I Wonder | Inquiry Lesson Plan Strategy
This protocol supports students’ ability to share their undeveloped ideas with peers while receiving affirmation and getting initial, low- stakes feedback. Use this format to support critique skills and peer collaboration as new ideas are being developed in an inquiry.
Teacher Practice
Mingle Pair Share | Inquiry Lesson Plan Strategy
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.
Teacher Practice
Note Card Reflection | Inquiry Lesson Plan Strategy
This reflection protocol prompts students to identify key takeaways from a Unit or other sustained inquiry experience. Use this to support students in sharing their thoughts with the whole class and making connections to others’ ideas.
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Take a closer look at Inquiry Journeys
Inquiry Journeys (K–5 social studies curriculum) provides inquiry-based instruction for young learners through hands-on investigations and primary source analysis. Explore how elementary students build knowledge and skills by asking questions, analyzing evidence, and connecting learning to their lives and communities.
