Social Studies Inquiry Lessons

Social studies education plays a critical role in preparing students to understand the world, engage as informed citizens, and think critically about complex issues. In recent years, the Nebraska Department of Education partnered with Johns Hopkins University to better understand how well existing instructional materials across the state supported these goals. That analysis identified an opportunity to strengthen materials in grades 4–8, where there was a need for resources more fully aligned to inquiry-based instructional approaches reflected in Nebraska’s social studies standards.

In response, the ESU Coordinating Council led a three-year, statewide collaboration involving ESU personnel and educators from across Nebraska. Over the course of three summers, teachers engaged in professional learning centered on the C3 Framework’s inquiry model and applied that learning by developing instructional materials for classroom use.

This effort resulted in the creation of more than 90 inquiry-based units of study for grades 4–8, now freely available through the Nebraska OER Commons Hub. These resources support educators in designing meaningful, inquiry-driven learning experiences and reflect how ESUs and the ESU Coordinating Council work together to identify needs, coordinate expertise, and develop practical solutions that directly support Nebraska schools.

The full collection of Nebraska-developed, inquiry-based social studies units is available through the Nebraska OER Commons Hub.

To access the collection:

Visit the Nebraska OER Hub

Within the collection, educators can browse, download, and adapt units to fit their local curriculum and instructional needs, providing flexible access to resources designed for immediate classroom use.