Inquiry and Research – A Student-Choice Guided Unit | Project-Based Learning
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Selected reviews from TPT
★★★★★This was an excellent guide for doing Inquiry Learning with a class for the first time. I have now used it with 2 different grades and it's appropriate for both the Grade 4/5 class and the Grade 6/7 class. An A+ for not putting babyish graphics - the 'manga' type of faces used were very appealing to these intermediate students. Well done!!
Robyn A. · February 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★I am hoping this will help me understand inquiry a little better especially when it deals with history!! I am going to be a new teacher in the fall and I am very nervous about using the inquiry approach in the history lesson plans!
Laura B. · March 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★I am teaching a combined 4/5 class this year and the new curriculum is overwhelming. I've been teaching for over 25 years and this product looks like it will be perfect for this year. Thank you so much. From a fellow BC teacher!
Made With A Smile · July 2017 · TPT review
Rated by 159 teachers on TPT (see every rating on TPT). These are selected 4- and 5-star written reviews by teachers on TPT (Teachers Pay Teachers), shown word for word. TPT's newer 4-point scale ("Extremely satisfied" = 4) is converted to stars.
Inquiry-Based Learning: A thorough, guided system to help teach your students how to inquire, tune in, find out, reflect and present their findings. FOR ANY TOPIC.What Is Inquiry-Based Learning?
Inquiry-Based teaching is a response to our current ‘knowledge based’ society and allows for effective and engaging teaching. Inquiry-Based Learning not about finding facts. Rather, it is about researching and answering questions or solving issues. It is a method of learning where students explore their curiosity in the world, ask questions and move through the
inquiry cycle to solve them. Students choose their own question or topic that they work on for an extended period of time in an engaging, creative, and experimental manner and respond to the question through researching and creating a project that usually is choice based. Inquiry-based learning is ‘hands-on’, ‘minds-on’ and ‘research-based’ learning.
How To Use:
- In this product you will see Lesson Plans and Student Worksheets alternate as you scroll through the PDF. The lesson plans will act as guidelines for you on how to implement the student worksheet and will present you with materials needed and insight into the student’s assignment. Note, for inquiry you will need to allow your students access to a variety of information and technologies (internet) to allow them to do their personal investigations.
- Photocopy any necessary student handouts such as step-by-steps or rubrics.
Lesson Plans and Student Worksheets:
- Lesson plans come before student worksheets and describe materials needed, will give you insight into the student’s assignment and will give you direction on how you can implement. Remember, as the teacher you can choose to change and alter the inquiry at anytime.
- Student worksheets come after each lesson plan and are the assignments your students will work on. Theses try to include a variety of subject areas to allow for interdisciplinary and meaningful learning. Please photocopy them prior to implementing your lesson and ensure you have resources needed for each lesson. You may want to have a duo tang/binder or folder for each student’s inquiry-based learning to keep all ideas organized and in one place.
Interactive Notebook Option:
Worksheets can be hole-punched and put in binders OR can be cut out and glued in a notebook for an interactive notebook.
Be Creative:
- Inquiry is meant to allow your students to be creative, problems solvers, and critical thinkers. Remember to allow them lots of choice so they can learn by finding the answers themselves, and learn through trial and error!
This Product Includes: 55 pages
- About Ms Artastic and Why She Designed This Product
- What is Inquiry-Based Learning
- How To Use this Product
- Topics My Students Are Researching (for you to keep track of what your students are inquiring)
LESSON PLANS AND STUDENT HANDOUTS:
- Lesson Plan: Explaining Inquiry
- What is Inquiry-Based Learning? (student handout version)
- The Inquiry Cycle
- Brainstorm Ideas for your Inquiry Topic or Question
- Lesson Plan: Picking a Topic
- My Inquiry Topic/Question Poster for Bulletin Board Display
- Lesson Plan: Tuning In
- Inquiry Title Page
- Tuning In: Reflecting on what you already know on your topic
- Lesson Plan: Questions and Wonders
- Questions and Wonders I have…
- Lesson Plan: The First Search
- The First Search (first exploration on topic, you teach them how to look for information/record data)
- Lesson Plan: The Second Search
- The Second Search (students find more facts and begin to develop wonders on their topic)
- Lesson Plan: First Findings
- Journal Entry: First Findings (students write about what they’ve found so far in the beginning stages, you set your expectations for journal writing)
- Draw It: First Findings (show understanding in different ways)
- Lesson Plan: Bibliography
- Bibliography
- Lesson Plan: Reporting Out
- Reporting Out
- Lesson Plan: Finding Out Pages (your students will now be on their own! The following pages will help them keep track of data, work through ideas, and record their progress)
- Journal Entry (style one with choice responses to prompts on side bar)
- Journal Entry (style two with an all lined page)
- Journal Entry (style three with box to draw and lines to write on)
- Draw It
- Reference Images (a place to keep images they find that will help them with research and design of project)
- Data Collection (graphic organizer to sort out what they wonder, where they will search, information they find and what they need to investigate further).
- Story Strip (sometimes images in a sequence of events can help explain or solve a problem or use to plan for their project. Example: use to show steps for choreography, comic book design, or science experiment)
- Brainstorm (Use a brainstorm to place yourself in your current location of thinking and generate multiple possible courses you can take. Pick the best one!)
- Lesson Plan: Sorting Out
- Sorting Out (do you have all the information you need for your topic/have you answered your question?)
- Lesson Plan: Going Further
- Going Further (students begin to think about their end project and if they need any further information to help them with creating their presentation)
- Lesson Plan: Reflecting (Informational write on topic/question)
- Brainstorm (gathering ideas for information write)
- Planning Sheet (planning paragraphs)
- Rough Draft
- Good Copy Paper
- Lesson Plan: Reflection, End Project (students will show their understanding of their topic through creating a presentation/project of their choice)
- Reflection, The End Project (handout describing task)
- Reflection, Draw Your End Project (work out the problems and design before you create!)
- The Presentation: Materials Needed (pre-think about what you will need/where to find)
- The End Project: Rubric
- The End Project: Presentation Grading Sheets (3 to a sheet to cut and mark, matches rubric)
- Credits
Like this product? Check out my other Inquiry and Project-Based Learning Products:
Design a Map: Project Based Learning Activity
Inquiry-Based Learning: A Guided Unit For ANY TOPIC.
Project-Based Learning: Animals and their Habitats with Science, Writing, and more
Simple Machines and Complex Machines Project Based Learning Activity
Design Process Planning Pages for The Design Cycle (FOR ANY DESIGN PROJECT)
Images and Lessons are Copyright Products
YOU MAY:
For clip art, you may use them as clip art, website graphics, binder covers, or even bulletin board decorations.
Use this in creative ways! Explore and have as much fun with it as you would like
By additional licensing for school use.
YOU MAY NOT:
Share this product with other teachers, administration or districts. Admin can buy additional licensing.
Sell this product or give it out for free or photocopy it for others.
Sincerely,
Ms. Artastic
Instagram: https://instagram.com/msartastic
Facebook: www.facebook.com/msartastic
Pinterest: Free Art Lesson Library
Pairs Well With
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★★★★★An awesome addition to the classroom teaching program
Emily H. · July 2026 · TPT review
★★★★★This is a great ready to use resource that keeps my students engaged.
Hailey Modelewski · May 2025 · TPT review
★★★★★I recently used this resource in my middle school social studies class, and it was a huge success! The resource was incredibly user-friendly, requiring minimal prep while still providing high-quality, engaging content for my students.
Dina G. · March 2025 · TPT review
★★★★★I used this because my older students had not had enough research experience and this gave me a great place to get them started on that. I will be using it with my 6th graders this year.
Christine S. · June 2024 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource to use - thanks for putting this together!
Deveena O. · March 2024 · TPT review
★★★★★This product was exactly what I was looking for! Great resource!
Amy W. · March 2024 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource!! My students love these activities
Marietta R. · February 2024 · TPT review
★★★★★This wonderful tool has really been helpful in my classroom and has been a great addition to my lessons, kids loved it!
Stephen W. · November 2023 · TPT review
★★★★★I used to help organize student learning projects.
Joshua L. · October 2023 · TPT review
★★★★★I've used this resource for years. It helps myself and my students work on individual inquiry project. They have a great time working on their projects!
Alison Wyckoff · May 2023 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource! The children were really engaged in the work.
Daniel B. · May 2023 · TPT review
★★★★★My students loved this resource! This is a great way to get students involved in their own learning.
Colleen S. · April 2023 · TPT review
★★★★★My students and I loved this! It was engaging enough to keep their attention, and it was just what I was looking for!
Carmichaelfa321 · February 2023 · TPT review
★★★★★Great Resource! Easy to follow for most students, only wish it had a full oral administration version! Love the inquiry and probing into higher level thinking skills!
Kristy E. · February 2023 · TPT review
★★★★★Used this resource as a enrichment activity for students who finished their work ahead of the rest of the class. I appreciated the way the resource was set up. Students could be creative, but the resource provided a framework and steps that had to be completed, which helped with accountability. Thank you.
Kelly E. · October 2022 · TPT review
★★★★★I am using this resource with Grade 3's and it is working wonderfully. It is a great framework to guide our first inquiry project.
Nadine K. · September 2022 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource! Thank you!
Christine R. · September 2022 · TPT review
★★★★★Have used a selection of handouts for a self-designed unit. Thank you.
Gail B. · July 2022 · TPT review
★★★★★My students loved this recourse! It worked so well in my ELAR only class. It made them think and they were fully engaged!
Kelsie W. · July 2022 · TPT review
★★★★★Thank you
Shelby Greger · May 2022 · TPT review
★★★★★I was learning about Inquiry-Based Learning and was looking for resources and examples of how other teachers have used it in their classes. This was very helpful for me to see and I was able to use parts of it to start engaging students in IBL.
Joe Rice · April 2022 · TPT review
★★★★★I utilized this in my classroom after reading a book on inquiry over the summer. My students enjoyed it.
Tara B. · February 2022 · TPT review
★★★★★A helpful resource to help me wrap my head around the inquiry progression for my very first time. Thank you!
Martine B. · January 2022 · TPT review
★★★★★Thank you!
Susan M. · November 2021 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource to teach kids how to research. We are using it for our ancient Egypt research project. Easy for grade 3-5 to use and follow along with the steps.
Wingo's Wise Wonders · November 2021 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource!
Kendall J. · August 2021 · TPT review
★★★★★This was a great resource for my students!
Laughlin and Learning · July 2021 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource. Really helped students with our IB projects.
Donna B. · May 2021 · TPT review
★★★★★I purchased this to help with showing my subs how to run an inquiry-based learning project.
Bobby N. · May 2021 · TPT review
★★★★★This resource really helped to focus students inquiry questions and working through the research phase.
Angela A. · May 2021 · TPT review
★★★★★Greta resource for use in 7th grade
Jessica S. · March 2021 · TPT review
★★★★★Excellent resource
andrea M. · March 2021 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource that can be adapted for multi grade teaching!
teacherdiana · February 2021 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource.
Carlie W. · January 2021 · TPT review
★★★★★Great Resource
Officially Ohio · December 2020 · TPT review
★★★★★Just what I was looking for!
Karina L. · November 2020 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource to guide inquiry projects!
Lillian Rosner · November 2020 · TPT review
★★★★★This is a great intro resource for inquiry-based learning and research. Thank you!
Leeann Denham's Library · September 2020 · TPT review
★★★★★I am a substitute teacher. I plan to have this on hand, just in case I have to cover for a teacher for an unexpected amount of time this year.
Jessica M. · August 2020 · TPT review
★★★★★Really liked using this resource across subjects! Especially with such a curious class, it was a great, structured way for students to learn the research process.
Ms Katie's Classroom · August 2020 · TPT review
★★★★★I picked out what was needed for the group activity but it was quality!
Ella E. · July 2020 · TPT review
★★★★★Very happy I found this resource! Thank you.
Starry Sky Teaching · June 2020 · TPT review
★★★★★I like how this product can be used in multiple subject areas!
Extra Credit Resources · April 2020 · TPT review
★★★★★This was very helpful in setting up student inquiry projects.
Lisa C. · March 2020 · TPT review
★★★★★I am new to PYP and this was very helpful for planning inquiry lessons and activities for my students.
Suzanne I. · March 2020 · TPT review
★★★★★I use this all the time. Such a great resource! =0)
Angelina G. · March 2020 · TPT review
★★★★★Thanks!
Michelle Monson · February 2020 · TPT review
★★★★★Love it!
Ingrid T. · February 2020 · TPT review
★★★★★Great thank you
Geraldine H. · January 2020 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource. Thanks
Teachingscape · December 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★Great for independent study!
Cindy H. · August 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★A great resource to guide students (and teachers) through the inquiry cycle. Cheers. :)
Belinda Draper · August 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★Thank you!
Kerrie G. · August 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★Great graphic organizers to guide students through the learning process.
Sheila H. · August 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★Very Helpful!
Cari R. · July 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★Great to help me wrap my brain around my students' first Inquiry Based Research project this year!
Samantha S. · July 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★Many thanks, A really comprehensive packet. I would love a google doc version to save paper.
Fun while Learning · June 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource!
Ashley H. · June 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★Good resource , gave me ideas to create own lesson.
marlene T. · June 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★Excellent resource. User friendly!
Christine B. · May 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★This was helpful with my mini-research project that I assigned.
Sami K. · May 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★It was great
Hayat B. · April 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★love it!
Emily Speakman · April 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★Thank you
LondonBridges · March 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★Great. thank you
Fiona M. · March 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★Great way to introduce Inquiry Projects to students!
Samantha T. · February 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource.
Loxie Anne S. · February 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★This is a great resource for getting a class going into the world of inquiry!
Bethan M. · February 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★Very easy to use and apply for any subject matter.
Heather W. · January 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★Absolutely perfect for the IB classroom!
Peggi R. · January 2019 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource for any IB teacher!
Emily L. · November 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★Good resource, thank you!
wendy J. · October 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource, thank you!
Ashton L. · October 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★Very useful. Thx!
Michelle B. · August 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★THANK YOU
Bits and Pieces · July 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★Strong resource to use with an inquiry unit. I used it with 6th grade social studies and made a few minor tweaks but loved the resource overall!
Katie Schiessl · July 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★Great adaptable resource!
Stefani W. · June 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★Very useful resource!
Margaret B. · May 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★Useful information
Rouchelle J. · May 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★This is an amazing resource! There was a lot of reflection but it petered out at the end. I wish there was a reflection after the project had been created. Perfect for my grade 5s.
Jessica Kurello · April 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★This is a great organizational tool for research!
Stephanie W. · April 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource!
Stephanie W. · March 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource. Thanks
Melanie I. · February 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource for our inquiry learning
Jessica R. · February 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★Thank-you!
melissa simmons · February 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★Perfect
Alison F. · February 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★Very nice resource!
Christy I. · February 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★wonderful resource
Adrienne W. · February 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★I love how this can be used for a variety of inquiry projects - lots of uses!
Leah Jancicka · January 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★I look forward to using this resource in my library with students. Thank you for this great resource.
Tracy B. · January 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★Thank you!
The Literacy Life · January 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource
Deetra T. · January 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★thank you so much....great resource
Laurie D. · January 2018 · TPT review
★★★★★Thank you.
Tammy K. · November 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Awesome resource for guiding through the inquiry process.
Christi Livingstone · November 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★I just started using this with my grade 6/7 students. They are totally on task! Inquiry can be daunting to some students. I think they'd tell you that the step by step layout is clear and easy to follow.
Leanne L. · November 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★I can't wait to use this in my classroom
NM STEM Ready · October 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Love this!
Jennifer R. · October 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★perfect
Paula Kear · October 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Thank you
R Se · September 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Good resource!!!
Brianna V. · September 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Thanks!
Annette S. · September 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Very useful resource for new BC curriculum, thank you!
Erin E. · September 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Excellent templates, very well organized! Can't wait to use these for our upcoming projects this year.
The Heart of Ms Sharpe · August 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★First time using this and my student's did a fabulous job!
shanna R. · August 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★So cute, nice addition to my curriculum.
Michael L. · August 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Great product!
Leslie H. · August 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★I love the graphic organizers! Great product!
Kandi Baker · August 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★This is a very thorough resource. I love all the graphic organizers.
Kathy W. · July 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Thank you...great stuff here.
Evan H. · July 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Thank you
courtney P. · June 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Great to have at a moment's notice.
Matthew B. · April 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Fantastic!
Charlotte Brown · April 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★I'm so excited to use this next year.
Cool Teaching Tools · March 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★thank you!
Christine B. · March 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★This is a great resource, thank you!
Leanne M. · February 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource and so helpful!!
Stacey Weihe · February 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Great tool for research pacing and projects!
Marie L. · February 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Excellent resource!!
Linda T. · February 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★awesome
Dorian B. · February 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Excellent!
Judy F. · January 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Thank You, time saver.
melissa G. · January 2017 · TPT review
★★★★★Very adaptable resource. Thanks :)
Hayley M. · December 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★I love this! It works great for my science classroom!
Amy S L. · November 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Awesome resource...can't wait to use it! :)
Science Rocks with Talley · October 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Soo good and so much a time saver for directions that our curriculum is moving into!
Heather B. · October 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★This resource is so well organized it makes implementing and teaching inquiry interesting and enjoyable.
Sherri W. · September 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Exactly what I needed!
Daniel G. · September 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★I cannot thank you enough for this resource! It has truly transformed the way that I teach my students. It is complete and leaves the teacher with NO questions about how to implement! Great job! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Julia R Pabst · September 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource
Lavender Learners · September 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Great layout and easy organization tool for inquiry learning projects!
Marianna K. · August 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★great!
William Barton · August 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★What a great resource for those wanting to do more inquiry!
Dawn S. · August 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Love it!
Mandy T. · August 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Great resource
Kristi Cox · August 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Looks good. Thank you
Reanne Sacchetti · August 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Thank you! Great resource!
Fun Without Fuss · August 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Thank you
michelle L. · July 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Good information
Andera W. · July 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Helpful!
Stephanie B. · June 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★So helpful!
Diane Belsey · May 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Super cute and lays the inquiry process out very well. I'm very happy with my purchase.
Sarah C. · May 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Super helpful resource!
M C. · May 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Great product for getting kids to THINK!
Brenda B. · April 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Thank you I am excited to use this with my grade five and six class!
Dawn Wilson · April 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Great framework for our inquiry projects.
Elizabeth B. · April 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★I am looking forward to using this with my sixth graders.
Kipton T. · April 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★I've been nervous to try inquiry based learning but love the structure given by this product, definitely makes me feel more confident!
J H. · February 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★A great resource for inquiry based research projects!
Marie L. · February 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★This looks great!
Lisa B. · January 2016 · TPT review
★★★★★Great tool for teaching inquiry to students!
Taylor Voss · January 2016 · TPT review
Rated by 159 teachers on TPT (see every rating on TPT). These are selected 4- and 5-star written reviews by teachers on TPT (Teachers Pay Teachers), shown word for word. TPT's newer 4-point scale ("Extremely satisfied" = 4) is converted to stars.
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