Inquiry-Based Learning Is Essential to the Social Studies Classroom

Educators know that students learn best when they tackle real-world problems that spark their curiosity and relate to their lives. Educators also understand their responsibility for teaching to high academic standards — making sure students arrive at a deep understanding of content while acquiring the skills they will need to be successful in school and beyond.

But finding that balance of keeping students interested while also teaching the content and skills can be a challenge.

Engaging, inquiry-based learning strategies can be the key to achieving that balance, especially in social studies instruction. Subjects like geography, economics, history, civics, and government all share a focus on real-world issues, historical events, cultural dynamics, and societal structures. An inquiry approach to these subjects allows students to think about the “why” of history and not just the “what,” and think critically about how different events and people have influenced one another over time.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss the benefits of inquiry-based instruction in the social studies classroom, as well as provide ideas and strategies that will encourage students to explore diverse perspectives, ask probing questions, and deepen their understanding to become informed and engaged citizens in their communities. And be sure to try out the free inquiry-based activities!

What Is Inquiry-Based Learning?

Inquiry-based learning is a student-centered instructional approach that allows students to take an active role in their learning process by exploring their own curiosity, asking questions, sharing opinions, and researching topics.

Inquiry answers the question: "Why am I learning this and how does this impact me?"

In inquiry-based learning, teachers provide hands-on activities where students become investigators by exploring problems where they can connect the classroom to the real world and making conclusions based on the information they’ve collected.

Learning becomes more memorable and meaningful when students build knowledge through discovery, experience, and discussion, and an inquiry-based approach can provide that for students. It can also improve critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, and creativity.

Inquiry Starts with a Question

When bringing inquiry-based learning into the classroom, a good place to start is with a “big question” that is engaging to students, such as “How much does Geography shape people's lives?” This engaging question can serve as the catalyst to student investigation.

Once the question is asked, students can use evidence and draw conclusions to make their own argument or interpretation of the evidence. This approach puts students at the center of the learning, and it gives purpose to their study.

Instead of memorizing facts, children can become historians, economists, geographers, or political scientists. They can make real-world applications of their study.

Characteristics of Activity-Based Learning Experiences

Inquiry can be promoted in the classroom through activity-based learning experiences.

It can be challenging, however, to create and execute those experiences while ensuring that the activities are high quality and lead to real learning.

In order to ensure that activities focus on real content and skills, check that the activities have the following characteristics below.

Activity-based learning experiences should:

• Be open-ended with no obvious answers or solutions
• Challenge students intellectually
• Be of high interest
• Provide room for in-depth exploration
• Encourage teamwork and 100 percent participation
• Lead to outcomes that demonstrate mastery of important content and skills
• Provide opportunities to apply a wide range of skills and knowledge
• Have clear expectations
• Contain reliable measures of student performance
• Use technology thoughtfully

Managing Equitable Inquiry-Based Classroom Activities

Activity-based learning allows children to engage in hands-on experiences that enrich their learning and spark their intellectual curiosity. By using effective planning, grouping, and assessment strategies, teachers can ensure that all students acquire a deep conceptual understanding of content, and that they are able to transfer and apply knowledge.

It is important to tailor activities to different readiness levels as much as possible in order to provide remediation for students with gaps in their skills and to challenge students who have already achieved mastery.

Here are some equitable ideas and strategies to help make classroom activities run as smoothly as possible while serving the diverse needs of each student in the classroom:

• Create stations or centers where children work on different tasks simultaneously. Stations can be structured to differentiate instruction based on student need with the content. For example, some may need remediation or reteaching of previous content, some students may need to review or practice current content, and some may need more challenging activities to expand their understanding of the content. The teacher may rotate to provide instruction and assistance.
• Make room for independent study that allows students to investigate a project independently with guidance and feedback from the teacher. If a teacher notices some students need instruction in a particular skill, he or she can pull that small group aside to provide the instruction. Whole-class instruction is less frequent.
• Provide leveled instruction where a teacher gives an introductory lesson to the entire class, then provides varying access points for students to practice skills. For example, a teacher provides several assignments with different levels of difficulty and the students or teacher choose the assignment. Students who choose levels that seem too difficult for them tend to rise to the occasion and accomplish more.
• Promote independence by giving students their own set of tasks to complete. The tasks are based on the level and ability of each student. Students like the independence and choice built into the system.

The Outcome of Inquiry

The outcome of inquiry might take the form of a well-reasoned essay or civic discussion. Teachers can also encourage students to look for real ways to take action based on their interpretation or analysis outside of the classroom lesson.

For example, perhaps they learned about the factors contributing to conflicts over water, and they participated in a debate about the most important factors and proposed solutions. Rather than stop there, teachers can help children find a way to take action about the issue. This could involve composing a public service announcement, proposing a change in water usage in their school, or writing a skit to teach younger children about water conservation.

Use these ideas and strategies to bring social studies to life for your students and give it relevance in the real world, leading them toward becoming knowledgeable, critical-thinking, communicative members of their communities.

Free Inquiry-Based Social Studies Activities!

Start practicing inquiry-based social studies instruction today with these engaging activities from Savvas Learning Company.

Citizenship and Civic Engagement Activity for Grades K-5

myWorld Interactive from Savvas features inquiry projects called Quests that support students in discovering answers to each chapter’s Big Question. In this inquiry activity from myWorld Interactive, students will complete a series of activities as they go through a Quest to unlock their answers to “What is an Ideal Citizen?” First, have the students watch this video, then continue with the activity.

Leadership Skills Activity for Grades 6-12

In this inquiry activity from Civics Interactive, students will explore different leadership skills and styles. They will have the opportunity to go through various activities to ultimately plan and execute a leadership project of their choosing. Use the linked guide to take your students on this Inquiry Journey.

Create a U.S. Citizenship Course for Grade 9-12

In this inquiry activity from U.S. History Interactive, students will have the opportunity to create a U.S. History course for aspiring citizens. They will discover the background of U.S. citizenship and work together to create something that reflects U.S. history and values through a series of inquiry activities and reflections.

Be sure to explore our Social Studies solutions today!