Questioning & Inquiry in the Classroom
Inquiry-based learning begins with a question—and the right questions can transform thinking. Explore resources to help you teach essential questions, support student inquiry, and guide learners toward deeper understanding.
The Fundamentals
Why Questions Matter
Explore how questions can guide student thinking and deepen understanding in your classroom.
Learn MoreEssential Questions
Learn what makes a question “essential” and how it can drive powerful, student-centered learning.
About Essential QuestionsThe Question Formation Technique
A proven method to help students learn how to create, improve, and prioritize their own questions.
Learn about the QFTInquiry-Based Learning
Understand how student curiosity and guided inquiry can replace lectures with authentic learning.
Understand InquiryStudent Questioning
Examples of the kinds of questions students can ask to guide learning and drive classroom inquiry.
Explore Student VoiceAdvanced Questioning & Inquiry
Explore deeper strategies, models, and tools to improve student questioning and classroom inquiry.
Costa’s Levels of Questioning
A three-level framework to help students move from basic recall to deeper inquiry. Explore levels
Student Questions That Guide Inquiry
Use these questions to support student-directed learning and authentic inquiry. Questions that Guide Inquiry
What Is Question-Based Learning?
A teaching model built on the idea that questions drive understanding. What is Question-Based Learning? →
Question Stems
Prompts that encourage students to ask deeper and more specific questions. Explore stems
Examples of Essential Questions
A list of powerful, open-ended questions that promote inquiry across subjects. Use examples
Inquiry-Based Teaching Strategies
Practical strategies for supporting inquiry-based learning in your classroom. Explore strategies
Get More Strategies
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