Inquiry-Based Learning in the Science Classroom

In this video, students from Casey Middle School explore a nearby stream to assess its safety for swimming and tubing. Divided into groups, each student team was assigned a specific parameter to measure, tasked with creating an infographic to present their findings, and asked to provide a recommendation regarding the water’s safety. This lesson is especially powerful because it demonstrates how teaching scientific concepts through personal, hands-on experiences can be far more impactful than traditional textbook learning. Instead of simply reading about water quality, the students engaged directly with the water they and their families had enjoyed over the summer, making the learning experience more meaningful and memorable.