What inquiry questions are
Inquiry questions are open-ended questions that invite a child to observe, wonder, predict, test ideas or explain their thinking. Instead of asking “Is this a leaf?” (one right answer), you might ask “What do you notice about this leaf?” Inquiry-based learning is an approach where children’s curiosity guides exploration, and the adult supports by asking questions, providing materials and giving time.
Why ask them in preschool
Educators commonly describe several benefits of inquiry questions:
- They encourage children to think and talk rather than only recall.
- They make learning more active and personal.
- They help build problem-solving and confidence.
- They give adults insight into what children already know and wonder.
Children also benefit from hearing a range of vocabulary in the questions you ask. For language-specific ideas, see language development activities for 3 to 5 year olds.
Question starters and examples
Keep questions short and tied to something the child can see, touch or do.
Observation questions
- What do you notice?
- What does it look, feel or smell like? (Only smell items that are safe.)
- What is the same? What is different?
- What colours, shapes or patterns can you see?
Prediction questions
- What do you think will happen if we add water?
- Will it sink or float? Why do you think so?
- What do you think the next page will show?
Explanation and reasoning
- Why do you think that happened?
- How do you know?
- What could we try next?
- Tell me more about your idea.
Comparison and problem solving
- Which one is heavier? How could we check?
- How can we make the tower taller?
- What could we use instead?
- What would happen if we did it differently?
Feelings and perspective
- How do you think the character feels?
- What would you do in that story?
- How could we help a friend who is sad?
Questions by theme
- Nature: Where do you think this bug lives? What does a plant need to grow? (Try these with pre-K plant activities.)
- Water: What happens to the puddle when the sun comes out?
- Building: What is making our tower fall? How could we make it stronger?
- Food: What does this fruit look like inside? How do you think it grew?
- Books: What was your favourite part? What do you think happens after the end? (See the importance of storytime for preschoolers for more on talking about books.)
Classic inquiry investigations in preschool include watching a caterpillar change, growing a seed, looking for colours and patterns in nature, and testing what sinks and floats. These are all natural times to use the questions above.
A simple 20 Questions game for kids
20 Questions can be simplified for preschoolers:
- One person thinks of an object, animal or food, and the others ask yes-or-no questions to guess it.
- For young children, reduce the limit to 10 questions, or have no limit.
- Give hints, like “It lives on a farm.”
- Offer a picture card set so children can choose and describe.
- Ask first, “Is it an animal?” to model useful questions.
Preschoolers often ask random guesses at first, and that is fine. The game builds listening, categories and vocabulary.
21 conversation starters for home
- What made you smile today?
- What was the best part of your day?
- Who did you play with?
- What did you build or draw?
- What is something new you learned?
- What would you like to do tomorrow?
- If you could have any pet, what would it be?
- What is your favourite colour and why?
- What is your favourite food?
- What sound does your favourite animal make?
- What would you do if you could fly?
- What makes you feel brave?
- What helps you feel calm?
- Who helps you?
- What is something kind you did?
- What is your favourite song?
- Where would you go on an adventure?
- What do you want to be when you grow up?
- What is the funniest thing you saw today?
- What do you wonder about?
- What should we do together this weekend?
For group settings, ice breaker questions for preschoolers are shorter and aimed at helping children get to know one another.
How to ask and respond
- Wait. Give a child several seconds to think before you add another question or hint.
- Ask one question at a time. A string of questions can feel overwhelming.
- Accept all answers. Curious or silly answers are part of exploring. Try “Tell me more” rather than “No, that’s not right.”
- Follow their lead. If they want to examine the worm, let them, and ask about the worm.
- Model wondering. Say “I wonder why…” aloud.
- Write down their ideas or draw them, so they can revisit later.
Safety for hands-on investigations
Inquiry often leads to experiments and exploring objects, so plan ahead:
- Supervise water, plants, animals and any tools.
- Avoid small items such as beads, coins and pebbles for children who still mouth things. Use larger items for sink/float tests.
- Do not let children taste or smell unknown substances, and never use household chemicals.
- Teach children to wash hands after handling soil, plants or animals.
- Watch for allergies, for example to pollen, foods or animal fur.
- Keep clear of insects or animals that sting or bite, and do not encourage handling wild animals.
Challenges and tips
Inquiry-based approaches can take more preparation, and some children participate more quietly than others. Use flexible plans and let them respond by showing, drawing or acting, not only speaking. Shy children may prefer to answer in pairs or with a toy or puppet.
More ideas
For related hands-on exploration see hands-on activities for 5 year olds, and for a broader look at early thinking see intellectual activities for 3 year olds.