Inquiry in Action

In my classroom, students build their own learning environment. Inquiry begins with the first days of school with the 'Design Your Own Classroom' Project. Students follow the inquiry cycle in researching, communicating, and analyzing others' work to answer the question, "How can we learn best in this room?" Within thirty minutes, small groups create a proposal to share with the class. After a gallery walk of all the possible options, students rate each other's submissions deciding by consensus on four configurations for the school year. I love the way this lesson creates student agency and allows students to collaborate in meaningful learning.