The Case for Inquiry-Based Learning in Science Classrooms
Preparing young minds for life after school is an exciting challenge, especially when the world of work is constantly evolving. With STEM careers set to grow over the next decade1, science educators will undoubtedly find it rewarding to see new opportunities for their classes on the horizon. But the skills students need to succeed aren’t static, and simply knowing the subject matter isn’t enough—39% of today’s relevant skills could become outdated within five years.2 The good news is science is one of the best ways for students to develop tomorrow’s college and career-ready skills.3 The challenge, as LEGO® Education4 points out, is keeping them engaged in science.
Fortunately, inquiry-based science learning provides a clear solution. It’s proven to spark curiosity, boost engagement, and help students connect the dots between what they learn in 3rd-period science and life outside the classroom. What’s more, it develops the analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills they’ll need both in school and life after graduation.
What is Inquiry-Based Science Learning?
Defining Inquiry-Based Learning
Inquiry-based learning is a student-centered style of teaching that inspires learners to find real-world solutions through investigation, exploration, and questioning. Through this approach, teachers act as facilitators, guiding hands-on, creative lessons driven by curiosity rather than prescriptive instruction.Defining Inquiry-Based Science Learning
Inquiry-based science learning is an alternative evidence-based approach to traditional teaching styles. Moving from rote to active learning, it reframes the way students approach problems, encouraging them to explore their ideas, make and challenge observations, test concepts, and investigate possible outcomes using research, experiments, and interviews.5, 6Different Types of Inquiry-Based Learning
The great thing about inquiry-based learning is that it is not a one-size-fits-all model. It adapts to any age and level. No matter if classes are new to inquiry-based activities or already engaging in ‘open inquiry,’ there are multiple levels students can move through on their journey towards deeper scientific understanding.
Under the umbrella of inquiry-based learning, there are two related teaching methods: project-based and problem-based. Each strand of inquiry-based learning helps students find solutions to real-world problems, but the level of teacher involvement, process of discovery, and path to the outcome differ in each.
Why Inquiry Based Science?
The ripple effects of inquiry-based science learning extend far beyond the classroom. Not only does this methodology improve learning outcomes, but it also prepares students for success after graduation. Let’s look at some of the ways it can be effective.
“How & Why” vs. “What”—Teaching Students How to Think
The modern world of work is constantly changing, and simply memorizing concepts is no longer enough if we want students to graduate with college and career-ready skills. Students need a framework for tackling challenges so they can embrace uncertainty and feel confident when looking for solutions to problems independently in the future—just like real-world scientists.
Inquiry-based science learning provides this framework, empowering students to grasp tricky concepts while giving them the necessary tools to solve similar problems. It teaches them the how and the why of phenomena, which leads to a deeper understanding of the content and develops critical problem-solving skills applicable to all areas of life.Real World Relevancy—Creating Intrinsic Value for Learning
Problem-based inquiry, a strand of inquiry-based learning, frames lesson material as real-world problems that need solving. When students recognize the value and relevance of their lessons, they are more motivated to learn as they see how the topic connects to their lives. By showing students how their studies apply to the world around them, teachers transform abstract concepts into real and tangible ‘ah-ha’ moments.
Similarly, linking lesson content to real-world situations can open students’ eyes to industries they may never have considered. When learning extends beyond a classroom’s four walls, students understand scientific concepts not just as theories in a textbook but as part of their lives, both now and in the future, when considering possible careers.Hands-On Engagement – Active vs Passive Learning
With inquiry-based science learning, low engagement doesn’t have to be a reality in the classroom. As a hands-on, collaborative approach, it gets students exploring and experimenting in practical ways—testing ideas, sharing insights, and discussing solutions at every step. And research backs its effectiveness, LEGO® Education’s State of Classroom Engagement Report: Science Edition4 highlights how hands-on learning fuels engagement, curiosity, and confidence.
Since science is crucial for developing career-ready students, and 84% of teachers say hands-on experiences help learners connect with science concepts4, it’s a strategy worth embracing nationwide. Plus, as hands-on learning is accessible to all students, regardless of age or ability, it eliminates passivity in the classroom.
Students often see hands-on learning as low stakes, which makes them more willing to take risks, learn from mistakes, and build resilience—a skill seven out of ten companies deem essential.2 By fostering this mindset, educators set students up for success now and in the future.Deeper Science Learning – More Than Just Concepts
For decades, ‘the scientific method’ was a popular approach to teaching. Lessons focused heavily on content and the ability to memorize information. However, the publication of The Framework for K-12 Science Education (2012)7 provided an alternative, standards-aligned teaching style more suited to modern life.
The Framework for K-12 Science Education7 readdresses the balance between content and the application of skills, highlighting that content needs to be a vehicle that teaches problem-solving skills rather than the lesson's focus—an instructional shift that generates better outcomes and prioritizes what students need to succeed in the fast-paced and technology-focused society we live in.
Overcoming Roadblocks to the Inquiry-Based Approach
Feeling apprehensive about implementing a new pedagogical approach is completely normal. To support—and inspire—educators who may feel uncertain, we've highlighted three common concerns below, along with practical solutions for overcoming them in the classroom.
Time Restrictions
Problem: Time is something teachers never seem to have enough of. With many schools already struggling to make room for science8, finding space for inquiry-based lessons can feel daunting. Doesn’t this approach also require a ton of prep work?
Solution: Inquiry-based learning has multiple layers, and educators new to this methodology don’t need to jump straight to open-inquiry or project-based learning.
Start with a guided-inquiry science lesson or a problem-based inquiry lesson that offers structure through clear objectives while still allowing for multiple solutions and creative thinking. A simple prompt in a problem-based lesson is a great starting point for those new to this approach—it sparks exploration, questioning, and wonderment in students, all with minimal planning. It’s a win-win!Unfamiliarity with Student-Led Learning
Problem: For educators unfamiliar with inquiry-based learning, adopting a new teaching style can feel like hearing the principal call your name in the corridor. It’s daunting but being unfamiliar with something doesn’t mean it lacks validity or merit.
Solution: Start small to spark excitement instead of anxiety. Begin with a brief inquiry-based activity rather than an entire lesson. Facilitate a class discussion using open-ended questions and encourage students to share ideas—no matter how obscure.
You could also let students run a quick experiment to tackle a problem. Embrace the unknown together and highlight the value of exploration, even if the answer isn’t obvious. After getting comfortable with one activity, move on to planning a full lesson.How To Measure Outcomes
Problem: All educators know that assessment is crucial, but how is it possible to prove that inquiry-based science learning actually works?
Solution: Measuring outcomes in inquiry-based learning looks very different from traditional assessment styles, which might feel unsettling. But the actual process of teaching inquiry-based content—gathering data, reviewing outcomes, and adapting lessons—allows educators to prove the efficacy of their teaching and show the effectiveness of inquiry-based learning—unlike 'the scientific method,' which adopts a more formal, rigid and prescriptive approach to assessment.
Moreover, when students realize that agency and freedom in the classroom lead to valuable skills in and out of school, they become advocates for their learning and engage more enthusiastically in their education. The benefits of which extend far beyond graduation.
The Framework for K-12 Science Education7 also supports inquiry-based learning and helps to prove it works. It details practices for engaging students in lessons and demonstrating their understanding of classroom content. These practices include asking critical questions, thinking analytically, and constructing arguments from evidence—all skills taught in inquiry-based learning. Witnessing students engage in these practices supports inquiry-based learning, illustrates its effectiveness, and aligns with a modern teaching style that prepares today’s learners for tomorrow’s world.
Wrap Up
Inquiry-based science learning is more than just a teaching method—it’s a way to equip students with the skills they need to navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world after school. While adopting a new teaching framework can be intimidating, fostering a generation of resilient, critical thinkers who problem-solve with creativity, curiosity, and confidence is worth every lesson it takes to get there.
1 Alan Zilberman and Lindsey Ice, “Why computer occupations are behind strong STEM employment growth in the 2019–29 decade,” Beyond the Numbers: Employment & Unemployment, vol. 10, no. 1 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2021), https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-10/why-computer-occupations-are-behind-strong-stem-employment-growth.htm
2 World Economic Forum. (2025). The future of jobs report 2025. World Economic Forum
3 National Science Teaching Association. (n.d.). Quality science education and 21st-century skills. NSTA. https://www.nsta.org/nstas-official-positions/quality-science-education-and-21st-century-skills
4 LEGO® Education, State of Classroom Engagement Report: Science Edition.
5 Urdanivia Alarcon DA, Talavera-Mendoza F, Rucano Paucar FH, Cayani Caceres KS and Machaca Viza R (2023) Science and inquiry-based teaching and learning: a systematic review. Front. Educ. 8:1170487. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2023.1170487
6 Smithsonian Science Education Center. What is inquiry-based science? Smithsonian Institution. https://ssec.si.edu/stemvisions-blog/what-inquiry-based-science
7 National Research Council. 2012. A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/13165.
8 University of California, Berkeley. (n.d.). Teachers have little time to teach science, study shows. UC Berkeley Research. https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/news/teachers-have-little-time-teach-science-study-shows