INQUIRY
LEARNING
MODEL
Engaging lesson plans for your classroom
The Method
The Inquiry Learning Model allows educators to simultaneously teach the content students need to be successful while developing vital higher-order thinking skills, like critical thinking and collaboration. The shift of the cognitive “heavy lifting” from teacher to student equips them with skills that are practical across disciplines and useful for solving real world issues faced outside of the classroom.
Student-Centered.
Inquiry learning shifts the heavy cognitive lifting from the teacher to the student, transforming the students’ role, investment and learning.
Adaptable.
The ILM is adaptable across disciplines, from social sciences to mathematics. While the outcomes may differ depending on the content, the effectiveness and implementation of the model is consistent.
Proven Results.
There is ample evidence in science education that inquiry methods are not only highly effective, but engaging and adaptable to diverse student populations.
Presentations.
We have presented our model to educators in classrooms and at conferences throughout the United States more than 100 times over the past ten years.
Lesson Plans
Our mission is to provide educators with modern, engaging and effective teaching solutions that work in the classroom. Whether you want to dive deep into the foundations of the model with our Source book and create your own lesson plans from scratch or are looking for premade lesson plans that you can use in the classroom tomorrow, we have you covered.
Our lesson plans currently range from education levels 4 through 12, though the methodology can be applied to lesson plans for any education level. Explore available lesson plans by discipline below.
Social Sciences
English
Foreign Language
STEM
Real Educators. Real Results.
Participating in an Inquiry Learning Model Workshop got me thinking about what it is going to be involved in keeping the cognitive load on the students in a remote environment. I came away with concrete techniques to try using a breakout room format and was able to see what the process looks like from both the teacher and student side of things.
Inquiry learning brings a mystery-like approach to our classroom that instantly engages learners of all levels. These inquiry lessons have consistently been reported as our students favorites over the years. Due to this success, we have been inspired to develop all of our lessons with inquiry in mind.
I was immediately engaged with the Inquiry Learning Model because it reminded me of a game, like Clue, and I was excited to try and figure out what we were learning about. I also enjoyed it because I didn’t need to know much about the topic to fully participate and figure out the connection between artifacts. After the lesson, I immediately started trying to figure out how I could write my own lesson for a Chinese class with an Inquiry Learning Model in mind.
After receiving my first taste of the Inquiry Learning Model, I haven’t looked back. Across each course that I have had the pleasure to teach, along grade and mod levels, inquiry has played a key role. The Inquiry Learning Model touches on the core of something we as educators seek to do – foster a curious and growth minded approach in our students.