Why Inquiry Skills Matter in K–6 Social Studies Classrooms
- inquirED
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Preparing students for the future means helping them build deep knowledge – and the skills to apply that knowledge in the classroom and in the real world. At inquirED, we believe inquiry is the most powerful way to do both. That’s why our inquiry-based social studies curriculum is grounded in a set of five essential Inquiry Skills.
These skills are intentionally built into every lesson and intentionally sequenced across each unit. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the five Inquiry Skills and how they support students in becoming curious, capable, and future-ready learners.
What Are Inquiry Skills?
Inquiry Skills are one of the key building blocks of inquirED’s curriculum, supporting student learning alongside diverse primary and secondary sources.
Rather than treating skills as separate or disconnected, these five competencies are designed to work together, supporting deeper thinking, stronger communication, and more engaged learning.
Inquiry Skills:
Creative Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Personal Agency
Communication
Collaboration
Students build these skills over time, with increasing independence, confidence, and complexity.
The 5 Inquiry Skills and What They Look Like
Each skill supports students in building the academic foundation they need – and prepares them for the complex, real-world challenges they’ll face beyond the classroom. Here’s how they show up in daily learning experiences:
Critical Thinking
Inquiry requires students to examine evidence and ideas from multiple angles.
Analyze and reflect on information
Ask critical questions
Evaluate claims, evidence, and reasoning
With this skill, students move from receiving information to becoming investigators.
Personal Agency
Students take ownership of their learning and see themselves as capable learners.
Set goals and work toward them
Advocate for help and resources
Seek and use feedback to improve
Personal agency supports long-term motivation, reflection, and growth.
Communication
Inquiry isn’t done in isolation – students share their thinking and listen to others.
Speak, write, and represent ideas effectively
Listen, observe, and question to understand
Match communication strategies to different audiences
This skill prepares students to engage with real people, ideas, and communities.
Collaboration
Inquiry thrives when students work together to understand and solve problems.
Work respectfully with diverse teams
Listen, compromise, and take shared responsibility
Value others’ contributions
Collaboration helps to prepare students to thrive in an interconnected world
How Inquiry Skills Prepare Students for a Changing World
inquirED's Inquiry Skills are “future-ready” because they prepare students to navigate uncertainty, adapt to change, and keep learning throughout their lives. They help educators answer the question: What will students need to succeed in the real world?
Through these five skills, students gain:
Problem-solving and critical thinking abilities
Confidence to navigate change and uncertainty
Tools to communicate and collaborate effectively
Opportunities to practice self-direction and reflection
They’re not only learning about the past, they’re preparing for what’s next.
Bringing Inquiry Skills to Life in the Classroom
A curriculum that builds problem solving and critical thinking doesn’t happen by accident. It takes thoughtful design and intentional practice.
That’s why inquirED’s inquiry-based social studies curriculum is built to integrate these skills into every unit. Students investigate primary and secondary sources, engage in discussions, and collaborate on civic actions – all while practicing the Inquiry Skills in context.
Want to explore the structure and philosophy behind it? Visit our Inquiry in Social Studies page.
Final Thoughts: Why Skills Matter More Than Ever
If we want students to thrive in a world that’s constantly changing, we need to shift how we teach. Integrating inquiry to build real-world thinking isn’t just a strategy; it’s a necessity.
The five Inquiry Skills provide a foundation not only for social studies learning but for lifelong growth. When we build students’ capacity to ask questions, think critically, and take action, we’re not just teaching – we’re preparing students to lead.
inquirED supports teachers with high-quality instructional materials that make joyful, rigorous, and transferable learning possible for every student. Our social studies curricula – Inquiry Journeys (K-5) and Middle School World History – are used across the country to help students build deep content knowledge and develop inquiry skills essential for a thriving democracy
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