What is Inquiry-Based Social Studies?

Inquiry-based social studies places students at the center of learning. Instead of just memorizing names and dates, students investigate big questions, gather evidence, and share their findings.

Inquiry-Based Learning: A Student-Centered Learning Process

The inquiry process builds on students’ natural curiosity and encourages them to investigate real-world problems and issues. Students engage in an active process of asking complex questions, researching social studies topics, analyzing primary and secondary sources, and communicating their findings. This method supports the development of critical thinking skills, problem-solving, and deeper learning. Explore Elementary Social Studies.

Inquiry starts with a compelling question…

Questions are complex, connecting to students' prior knowledge and driving learning.

..moves through a rigorous investigation…

Inquiry isn't about filling in blanks on a worksheet. It requires research and critical thinking.

...and culminates in real-world application

Students use their learning to apply their learning, creating solutions that affect the world.

Inquiry: Not Your Traditional Social Studies

Take a second to think about your past experiences as a student in social studies. What comes to mind?

Maybe a history class from high school? An economics class from college? Whatever the setting, most people’s memories of social studies instruction include the following:

A teacher, standing in front of the classroom lecturing
A dusty, out-of-date (and expensive!) textbook
Worksheets and multiple-choice tests

students in Inquiry-based social studies

But social studies should be more than memorizing. Inquiry-based instruction builds deep social studies content knowledge while also developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills—essential tools for college, careers, and civic life.

Key Features of Inquiry-Based Social Studies

What does inquiry look like in the classroom? Inquiry-based social studies transforms instruction, engaging students in deeper learning in three key ways.

From Memorization to Investigation

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Learn more about the inquiry process in our Inquiry in Social Studies Guide.

Students in traditional social studies classrooms act primarily as record keepers. They write down information, memorize it, and then recall it on a quiz or test. It’s good training for Final Jeopardy! but has little real-world value in the age of search engines.

Of course, developing deep background knowledge is important, but that kind of knowledge isn’t built through rote memorization (for confirmation of this, just try to remember the battles and dates from your social studies classes).

In contrast, inquiry-based social studies begins with a complex and open-ended question for students to explore. When students investigate this question, they aren’t just memorizing and regurgitating information. Instead, they are acting as social scientists seeking to understand the world and share this understanding with others.

As they investigate, students build knowledge that is deep and lasting. That's because inquiry-based social studies instruction connects standards-based knowledge to students' curiosities and interests – and because it gives learning a real-world purpose: They use it to inform others, improve their community, or help set goals for the future.

Check out the short video describing a second-grade inquiry-based unit to see what this looks like in action.

For examples of the complex questions used in social studies inquiry, look at the examples used in Inquiry Journeys, inquirED's elementary social studies curriculum.

From Single to Varied Sources

In traditional social studies instruction, the textbook or teacher's lecture are the main sources of information. But, in inquiry-based social studies, students have the chance to investigate many different sources. It’s an important shift that supports investigation, builds future-ready skills, and helps to combat bias and issues of representation.

Literacy in inquiry-based social studies

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Does your social studies curriuclum build literacy skills – including media literacy? Download our rubric.

Supporting Investigation: Investigation can’t happen if you only have one source of information to examine. It’s bound to lead to misinformed conclusions. Inquiry-based social studies uses diverse primary and secondary sources across a range of media types (images, videos, audio, personal narratives, eBooks, interactive web experiences, etc.) to provide students with varied evidence, so they can reach informed conclusions.

Building Media Literacy Skills: Think about all the sources of information students have available to them: websites, videos, social media, and more. Students need to develop skills that help them sort through all these sources and analyze them for accuracy, credibility, and bias. That kind of practice isn’t possible with a single textbook. That's why, in inquiry-based social studies, students investigate a variety of sources, developing essential skills for analyzing accuracy, credibility, and bias.

Combatting Bias and Lack of Representation: When you rely on one source of information, it also means you are listening to one voice and seeing one perspective. In this scenario, individual bias is inevitable. Single sources have also typically excluded the voices and perspectives of historically marginalized groups, so their use can also continue harmful and discriminatory narratives. Inquiry-based social studies uses a variety of sources that offer multiple perspectives and integrate the voices of historically marginalized groups.

From Recall to Application

After a unit of study in a traditional social studies classroom, students take a test to prove they can recall the right information. If they perform well, they get a good letter grade, then move on to the next unit and repeat the process. Is it any wonder that students in traditional social studies classes consistently rank it as their least favorite subject?

In inquiry-based social studies, the purpose of student learning is more than a single letter grade. Students apply the knowledge and skills they’ve learned during their unit to create and share a project that has an audience and purpose outside of the classroom.

Just take a look at an example from this 2nd-grade classroom, where students used their learning about economic needs and wants to successfully advocate for and create a community garden.

inquiry-based social studies application

Students in Ohio applied their learning to impact their community.

Download the Inquiry Journeys Scope and Sequence

Explore inquirED's K-5 inquiry-based social studies curriculum.

Built from the C3 Framework to implement inquiry-based learning
Engaging and diverse primary and secondary sources
Integrated reading, writing, speaking, and listening skill building
Aligned to meet the demands of state standards.

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How to Identify Authentic Inquiry-Based Learning

Not all curriculum and instruction that claim to be student-centered are the same. So, we’ve created the Inquiry in Social Studies Guide to help educators identify authentic inquiry. Download now.

Intentionally-Designed
Curriculum

Contains rigorous standards-based content.
Incorporates authentic context and student interests.
Promotes sustained investigation that culminates in transfer and application.
Elevates student work by ensuring a public platform for presentation.
Encourages lifelong learning by building teacher knowledge along with students.

Student-centered instruction

Facilitates independent learning by providing guidance and scaffolding.
Honors student voice and choice.
Fosters a culture of equity, respect, and collaboration.
Differentiates instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners.
Promotes a growth mindset by facilitating meaningful self and peer reflection.

Backed by Research and Practice

The practice of inquiry has been shown to have more impact on student performance than any other variable, including student background and prior achievement. Read more on our blog.