Inquiry Unit
Design and Planning

Curiosity by Design

Our work sits at the intersection of knowledge, curiosity and agency, where explicit teaching builds the foundations for learning, curiosity creates the desire to go further, and agency empowers learners to do something meaningful with what they know.

Through Guided Inquiry, we harness the power of curiosity while maintaining clarity about the knowledge, vocabulary and skills learners need to develop.

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Explicit teaching and Inquiry are not competing pedagogies. Learners need explicit instruction to build the knowledge and skills that enable deeper learning. They also need opportunities to wonder, question, make connections, explore possibilities and take increasing ownership of their learning.

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It is not either/or. It is AND.

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We work alongside teachers to design Guided Inquiry units that align with and uncover curriculum expectations, while being responsive to each school’s unique context, learners and community. Together, we identify what is worth knowing, understanding and exploring, then use concepts, provocations and guiding questions to ignite curiosity, build relevance and create a genuine desire to learn.

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Across the Inquiry journey, we intentionally map the role of both the teacher and the learner, identifying where explicit teaching and scaffolding are needed and where responsibility can be released to create meaningful opportunities for voice, choice and agency.

Throughout the Inquiry journey, clarity and curiosity work together. Intentional scaffolds and supports help learners make sense of new knowledge, connect ideas, deepen their thinking and become increasingly aware of how they learn.

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Curiosity is not left to chance. It is intentionally captured, cultivated and channelled towards the learning that matters.

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Agency is more than simply offering choice. We create the conditions that give learners the will, the environment and the power to act, empowering them to use their growing knowledge, understanding and skills to create, solve, contribute, advocate and make a difference.

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Ultimately, we design learning where knowledge fuels curiosity, curiosity drives learning, and learning empowers action.

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Learning that is powered by curiosity and grounded in research.