How Does Inquiry Engage Students in Social Studies?

4. 13 Days in October

Inquiries can be done with paper copies of sources in the classroom, or they can be done digitally.  For this inquiry, students are members of a team of analysts with the CIA in October, 1962. Their task is to determine what's happening in Cuba and provide recommendations to the President on how to best proceed.

Here is the 13 Days in October inquiry.  This inquiry utilizes the actual documents, intel reports, and photographs given to President Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  Take a few minutes to go through the inquiry.  Then, respond to the following questions:

1. How does the use of primary sources in this inquiry immerse students in this historical event?
2. How does this inquiry encourage students to be curious, to wonder, and ask questions, as opposed to a textbook?
3. How does the completion of a newscast require students to apply their historical knowledge and skills?

This inquiry was created using a Hyperdoc.   Hyperdoc templates can be found for free online.  Here is one source to get you started.