Elements of the child’s
inquiry process in the inquiry process, they:
Initial Engagement –
noticing, wondering, playing
Exploration – exploring,
observing, questioning
Investigation – planning,
using observations, reflecting
Communication – sharing
findings, discussing ideas
When children are engaged When educators are
modelling or supporting the
inquiry process, they:
 Raise questions about  Observe and listen
objects and events
around them.
 Explore objects and  Act as co-learners
events around them with the children,
and observe the posing thoughtful,
results of their open-ended
explorations questions
 Make observations,  Encourage children to
using all of their observe and talk
senses, and generate among themselves
questions and to the educators
 Gather, compare,  Provide a rich variety
sort, classify, order, of materials and
interpret, describe resources, and
observable strategically question
characteristics and and observe children
properties, notice to discover, clarify,
patterns and draw and expand on the
conclusions, using a children’s thinking
variety of simple tools  Model how to plan,
and materials observe, and reflect
 Work individually and  Listen to the children
with others, share to help them make
and discuss ideas, and connections between
listen to ideas their prior knowledge
and new discoveries