Inquiry is wise
Check out our Building Blocks Inquiry Project
The Heart of Social Studies
Featured Inquiries
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the impact of English on their daily lives. By investigating the compelling question, students examine the different skills English Class can strengthen, including grammar, vocabulary, and critical thinking, and the ways in which these skills are applied in a real world context....
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Written for an English class reading 1984, this inquiry is meant to be investigated by students after reading the novel. This inquiry challenges students to evaluate Orwell’s description of surveillance and determine if it is becoming a reality.
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The Great Migration reshaped Black communities as millions sought more—more economic opportunity, more cultural expression, and deeper connections to their heritage. Above all, Black Americans aimed to define themselves as both a powerful, unified community: distinctly Black and undeniably American. The art of the Harlem Renaissance became a bold declaration...
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In 1972, five men were arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington D.C. while trying to bug the offices and collect information about the upcoming election. The break-in led to a series of investigations that revealed a pattern of similar illegal activity. Then, officials in the...
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the causes of the Cold War by examining events through the perspective of both the Soviet Union and the United States. By investigating the compelling question “Who’s to blame for the Cold War?” students evaluate these events in consideration of the historiography,...
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This 2016 Inquiry Challenge winner inquiry leads students through an investigation of water access in the Middle East using various sources that consider geographical, political and economic issues. By investigating the compelling question, students examine the geography of the region, including environmental and demographic relationships, the ecological impact of accessing...
WHERE INQUIRY BEGINS
What is the C3 Framework?
The College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards was published by the National Council for the Social Studies in 2013. It is not a set of standards. It is guidance that states use to strengthen their own social studies standards, with inquiry at the center of civics, economics, geography, and history.
At its heart is the C3 Inquiry Arc. Its four dimensions lay out a process for supporting students to ask questions about our social world, use concepts and tools from the disciplines that make up social studies, analyze and argue about what they have learned, and apply that knowledge to the challenges that face our world today.
- Developing questions and planning inquiries
- Applying disciplinary concepts and tools
- Evaluating sources and using evidence
- Communicating conclusions and taking informed action
C3 Teachers was founded by Kathy Swan, John Lee, and S.G. Grant, who led the C3 Framework project. Everything here, from the Inquiry Design Model to hundreds of free inquiries, is built to help teachers put the C3 Framework to work in their classrooms.
What does C3 stand for?
College, Career, and Civic Life. The C3 Framework sets out what students need to become ready for college and career and, most importantly, civic life.
Are the C3 standards the same as my state’s social studies standards?
No. The C3 Framework does not list the content to teach in each grade. States write their own standards, and many have used the C3 Framework to build inquiry into them. Our State Hubs gather inquiries and resources by state.
How does the Inquiry Design Model relate to the C3 Framework?
The Inquiry Design Model (IDM) is a distinctive approach to creating curriculum and instructional materials that honors teachers’ knowledge and expertise, avoids overprescription, and focuses on the main elements of the instructional design process as envisioned in the C3 Inquiry Arc. Each inquiry starts from a one-page blueprint of questions, tasks, and sources.
Where can I find lessons that follow the C3 Framework?
Every inquiry on C3 Teachers is free to download, remix, and use. Search the inquiries by grade and topic.
FIND & SHARE INQUIRIES
Hubs
State Hubs
C3 Teacher State Hubs bring together teachers, instructional materials, and professional development opportunities as they learn more about teaching with inquiry. Hit the road ›
Organizational Hubs
C3 Teacher Organizational Hubs bring together amazing sources from leading cultural institutions and educators interested in using those materials to support inquiry in social studies classrooms. Fall in ›
THE VOICES OF C3
Blogs
Authored by Katie Hart and Chloe Baum Katie Hart and Chloe Baum are both students at the University of Kentucky. They both graduated in December 2025 with their Bachelor of Arts in Education for Secondary English Education. Now, they are working towards their Master’s degree in the Master’s with Initial Certification program with a specialization […]
Authored by Katherine Oliver What is the biggest fear incoming teachers have when preparing for their first classroom? While there may seem to be a myriad of options from poor classroom management to a student uprising, at the heart of every worry is the ability to get student buy-in. Student engagement, behavior, and work ethic […]
INVALUABLE RESOURCES
Publications
C3 Teachers is proud to bring you a wide range of topics related to using inquiry in social studies. Here you’ll find books, articles, essays, papers, and more covering inquiry-based learning.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PD
Find Professional Learning opportunities that focus on inquiry-based teaching and learning, and other strategies that promote quality teaching and learning.