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Inquiry is looking at science through hands on learning experiences. Apparently, students need to touch what they are studying if they are to make a brain connection. The brain makes sense of what is studied if the hands can actually feel what physical objects are being studied.

Since I began teaching a mere ten years ago, I have always emphasized using hands-on learning as my teaching style. I was a nature counselor at two camps in Pennsylvania and all of these lessons were centered around the exploration of the scienctific world that surrounds us. All activities were student centered utilizing artifacts and specimens which helped students make brain connections. In the classroom, I use many of these same artifacts to extend the lesson which is also an opportunity for urban children to experience nature in a way unfamiliar to them because of their environment.

Two years ago at my school, I utilized several FOSS science kits to teach science through Inquiry Based science. This past year, we were involved in Governor Rendell's "Science It's Elementary", which lends science modules to schools. We received training in the use of FOSS and STC kits, all of which were created with a hands-on science as inquiry model. Theoretically, each trained classroom teacher will use their assigned module to teach science to their students. In many classes I actually taught for them, but some teachers taught too.