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
Science Experiment - Angles of Reflection
A science experiment that explores reflected light.
- Plus Plan
Design a Planet Project
Explore the different planets during this design your own planet project for kids.
- Free Plan
Creating Oxygen - Experiment
Investigate how oxygen is made with a hands on plant experiment.
- 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.
- 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
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
Back to School Supply Shopping Task - Primary Grades
Calculate the cost of school supplies and answer questions with this back-to-school math activity.
- Plus Plan
Hands on Volume Activities: Popcorn Challenge!
Make learning “pop” with hands on volume activities like this popcorn challenge!
- Plus Plan
Making Butter in a Jar – States of Matter Lab Activity
Have fun making butter in a jar in this exciting Changing States of Matter Lab Activity.
- Plus Plan
Pirate Ship Building STEM Challenge (5-6)
Challenge upper grade students to build a pirate ship with a fun (and engaging) STEM Building challenge created by teachers, for teachers.
- Plus Plan
Leprechaun Trap STEM Challenge
Experience hands-on STEM concepts with your students with this St. Patrick's Day Leprechaun Trap Stem Challenge.
- 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
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.
- Plus Plan
Monster Mashup - Inherited Traits Activity
Introduce your students to inherited traits and learned behaviors through an exciting Monster Mashup Inherited Traits Activity!
- Plus Plan
Unit Fraction Donut Investigation
Explore unit fractions in this fun donut-themed math investigation for your students.
- Plus Plan
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.
- Plus Plan
Wheel of Heat Transfer Project
Explore the process of heat transfer with this engaging wheel of heat project.
- 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
Building Leprechaun Traps - Kindergarten STEM Project
Complete a Leprechaun Trap School project with printable Leprechaun Trap STEM worksheets for Kindergarten and 1st grade.
- Plus Plan
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.
- Plus Plan
Christmas STEM - Tallest Tree Challenge
Experience hands-on STEM concepts with your students with this Christmas Tree Building STEM project.
- Plus Plan
Assembly Line Production - STEM Project
Engage your students in learning about the U.S. assembly line process with an exciting project-based task.
- 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
Root Beer Float – Solid, Liquid, Gas Science Lab
Explore solids, liquids and gases while making tasty treats with an exciting Root Beer Float Science Experiment.
- Plus Plan
Build a Pizza Box Oven - Solar Energy STEM Project
Build a pizza box solar oven to demonstrate the power of thermal energy with an exciting Solar Oven Stem Project
- Plus Plan
Severe Weather STEM - Build a Storm Shelter Project
Design a storm shelter to protect against wind and rain with a hands-on Weather Stem Challenge.
- Plus Plan
Going, Going, Gone! - Changing States of Matter Experiment
Explore the changing states of matter due to temperature with an engaging science lab activity.
- Plus Plan
Paper Airplane Challenge - Measuring Distance Performance Task
Practice measuring distance and have fun hosting a paper plane competition using a printable math investigation workbook.
- Plus Plan
Non-Standard Measurement Task - The Longest Finger
Explore informal measurement with a printable nonstandard measurement inquiry task.
- Plus Plan
Folktale STEM - Gingerbread Boat Building Activity
Explore floating and waterproof materials in this Gingerbread STEM investigation for early learners.
- Plus Plan
STEM Investigation Build A Bridge
Explore this STEM investigation about the construction of bridges using everyday materials, embedded in a real-life situation.
- Plus Plan
Bird Beak Lab Activity
Discover how birds’ beaks help them find food and survive in the wild with a hands-on Bird Beak Adaptation Lab.