Why Inquiry Cycles Support Learning Across the Curriculum
By Yiusalin Del Cuadro
Topic: Using inquiry cycles in all subjects
In my Pre-K classroom, children's learning often began with curiosity rather than formal lessons.
Each morning, they had a desire to explore their surroundings. Some engaged with materials immediately, while others needed reassurance and guidance before participating. I observed that for meaningful learning to occur, children needed structured opportunities to explore, ask questions, and reflect. This helped them feel safe and familiar. Inquiry cycles helped make this possible.
I remember one student who was hesitant to participate during hands-on activities at the beginning of the year. During inquiry-based learning centers, the child preferred to observe. By following the same inquiry routine, asking questions, exploring, talking about what happened, and sharing ideas, the student began to feel more confident. Over time, the child started experimenting with blocks and explaining their thoughts to their peers. This experience showed me how predictable inquiry cycles support confidence, identity, and engagement across subjects.
Children's thinking attention, and persistence are influenced by how safe and supported they feel while exploring new ideas (Immordino-Yang, 2016). Guiding children to recognize and express their emotions during inquiry activities supports their social and emotional learning (Silkenbeumer et al., 2024). Inquiry cycles give structure while letting children explore, helping them feel safe to take risks and learn from mistakes.
Belonging and supportive relationships help children see themselves as capable thinkers when teachers listen and encourage multiple solutions. Positive emotions and confidence increase engagement, curiosity, and persistence during learning tasks (Seehagen et al., 2025). In my classroom, opportunities to share thinking during group reflection helped students feel heard and motivated to participate across subject areas.
Teacher child relationships shape how children use inquiry. By responding to mistakes with encouragement rather than correction, children became more willing to explain their thinking and revise their ideas (Ryan & Deci, 2017). Supportive questioning and feedback helped students develop confidence as an ongoing process rather than a right or wrong answer (Hammond, 2022). These interactions strengthen students' identities and help with problem solving.
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Predictable routines and play strengthen inquiry across subjects. Play-based inquiry helps children combine ideas from science, literacy, math, and social development in meaningful ways (Seehagen et al., 2025). Through play, they test ideas, solve problems, share ideas, and reflect on results (Silkenbeumer et al., 2024). Playful exploration creates an environment for learning naturally across subjects.
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Creating classrooms that support inquiry requires predictable routines and opportunities for reflection and meaningful exploration. Inquiry cycles help children feel confident, motivated, and engaged as they learn across the curriculum. In Pre-K, inquiry, emotion, and learning are deeply connected and work together to support children's long-term development and success (Immordino-Yang, 2016).
References:
Hammond, Z. (2022). Culturally responsive teaching and the brain: Promoting equity and
learning in early childhood. Corwin.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2017). Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in
motivation, development, and wellness. Guilford Press.
Immordino-Yang, M. H. (2016). Emotions, learning, and the brain. W. W. Norton & Company.
Seehagen, S., Bartnick, C., Kärtner, J., Krasko, J., Luhmann, M., Schaal, N., ... Zmyj, N. (2025).
Belong, broaden, and build: The role of positive emotions in early human development.
Child Development Perspectives, 19(4), 237 243.
Silkenbeumer, J., Lüken, L. M., Holodynski, M., & Kärtner, J. (2024). Emotion socialization in early childhood education and care. Social and Emotional Learning: Research, Practice, and Policy, 4, 100057.
OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (GPT-4).