West Virginia is proudly known as the “Wild and Wonderful” state. Through inquiry, educators can keep students wildly curious while engaging them in wonderful questions, source analysis, and the communication of evidence- based conclusions- core practices of the C3 Framework.
Where Inquiry Meets the West Virginia Standards
The T.H.I.N.K. Framework is a practical, inquiry-driven approach to social studies instruction that helps teachers meet West Virginia College and Career Readiness Standards (WVCCRS) while deepening student engagement. Adapted from the Inquiry Design Model (Swan, Grant, & Lee, 2014), T.H.I.N.K. Framework centers learning on compelling questions, source analysis, disciplinary thinking, and informed action—making inquiry the engine for reaching the standards, not an add-on. T.H.I.N.K. integrates the WVCCRS and offers a practical approach for meeting the standards. .
The following Unit Design Frameworks were developed by participants in the West Virginia College- and Career Readiness Standards (WVCCRS) rollout and are intended as a resource for social studies educators. To use the frameworks, download the grade level/course PDFs. Users may need to scroll within text boxes to view all content and can personalize the documents by adding notes, updating tasks aligned to WVCCRS for Social Studies (Policy 2520.4), and reflecting on classroom implementation. All inquiries were developed by West Virginia Social Studies Educators at the Summer 2025 West VirginiaCCR Standards Rollout.
How did settler motivations for coming to western Virginia shape their relationships with Native peoples?
Which challenge was the most difficult for West Virginia coal miners in the early 1900s?
Was the New Deal a “Good Deal” for West Virginians?
Did transportation adapt to meet the challenges of West Virginia’s geography from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War?
Would West Virginia have become a state without the Civil War?
Additional Information
Below are links to West Virginia Culture & History resources supporting our inquiry work in West Virginia.