Igniting Curiosity: The Power of Inquiry-Based Learning
December 09, 2025
The classroom was alive with energy. My 10th-grade U.S. History students sat in a large circle, sources and notes spread across their desks, eyes focused and voices passionate. We were in the middle of a Socratic seminar, and the topic was one that still captures imaginations and divides opinions:
What really happened on Nov. 22, 1963?
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy had become more than just a historical event; it was a mystery my students were determined to solve. I called it our “cold case,” and the students were detectives. Some argued the official narrative made sense. Others pointed out inconsistencies they’d found in eyewitness accounts and photographic evidence. As they questioned, challenged and built upon each other’s ideas, I realized something powerful: My students weren’t repeating what I’d taught them, they were thinking like historians.
That day, I saw firsthand the transformative power of Inquiry-Based Learning.
What Is Inquiry-Based Learning?
Inquiry-Based Learning is a student-centered approach that invites learners to answer compelling questions, explore sources, analyze diverse perspectives and draw conclusions based on credible evidence. It transforms the classroom into a space of curiosity and collaboration, where students learn how to think, not just what to think.
Instead of being the “gatekeeper of information,” the teacher becomes a guide, helping students navigate complex topics, evaluate sources and construct their own understanding rooted in trusted, corroborated evidence. Inquiry transforms students into critical thinkers who question, analyze and interpret information, skills that reach far beyond the classroom.
Why Inquiry Matters
We are preparing students to be informed citizens and leaders in an era where information is abundant and permeates every aspect of our lives. Teaching inquiry helps them develop the ability to analyze, question and discern what information is truly credible.
Inquiry-Based Learning:
- Promotes engagement and intrinsic motivation
- Builds collaboration and communication skills
- Strengthens critical thinking and problem-solving
- Encourages evaluation of evidence and source credibility
- Helps students form reasoned, evidence-based conclusions
When students take ownership of their learning, they move from passively consuming facts to actively constructing reasoned conclusions.
The Inquiry Cycle
I often structure my lessons around an inquiry cycle adapted from Bruce A. Lesh’s model, which guides students through the process of authentic investigation:
- Ask – Pose a compelling question that provokes curiosity.
- Investigate – Explore primary and secondary sources from diverse perspectives to gather credible evidence.
- Generate – Form conclusions based on that evidence.
- Discuss, Reflect & Assess – Engage in dialogue, defend ideas and evaluate understanding.
This final step of engaging in discussion and reflection is where inquiry truly comes alive. The Socratic seminar is one format that allows students to practice civil discourse, consider multiple perspectives and articulate their thinking clearly and respectfully, while learning from each other.
Inquiry in Every Classroom
Inquiry, though especially well-suited for social studies, can be successfully integrated into any discipline. Some examples of inquiries that can be initiated in other disciplines include:
- Math: Why do we use different types of averages, and when is each appropriate?
- Science: What causes earthquakes and how can we predict them?
- ELA: How do themes in literature connect to our own lives?
Inquiry invites students in every subject to engage deeply, ask questions that matter and seek thoughtful, evidence-based conclusions.
The Power of Discussion
During that Socratic seminar focused on the Kennedy assassination, my students weren’t just learning history. Instead, they were learning how to listen, challenge and reason. They participated in civic discourse and agreed to disagree. The conversation was rooted in analysis, curiosity and respect. They learned that sometimes the goal isn’t to find a single “right answer,” but to build a thoughtful explanation grounded in reliable evidence.
As educator Laina Porter explains: “Inquiry-based learning doesn’t demand a right answer; it asks for an explanation.”
This mindset equips students to think critically not only about history, but also about the world around them. More importantly, it provides them with the skills to assess the credibility of evidence and determine whether the information presented in sources can be trusted, a valuable skill in the information age.
Final Thoughts
Inquiry-Based Learning transforms classrooms into communities of thinkers. It encourages students to explore deeply, question courageously and reflect meaningfully. Whether analyzing the JFK assassination or another equally intriguing topic, inquiry helps students see that learning isn’t about rote memorization, it’s about fostering curiosity, prompting discovery and cultivating understanding.
By allowing inquiry to guide instruction, we move beyond teaching content to foster students’ abilities to think analytically, thoughtfully question evidence and take initiative in their own learning.
2025-2026 Region 4 Teacher of the Year, Heather Wolf is a Social Studies Teacher & Instructional Coach at Shepherd High School & Shepherd Middle School in Shepherd Public Schools in her 26th year of teaching.