Finding Out
Finding out is the part of inquiry where you investigate, collect information, test ideas, and begin to build a clearer understanding of the topic.
Explore and gather information
This is the part of the inquiry where learners gather ideas and information. They look closely, listen carefully, search for answers, and begin to notice patterns in what they find.
Use question starters
Strong inquiry continues through good questions. Use these starters to refine your thinking as you learn more about your topic.
Question starter
What do I want to find out about this topic?
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Which sources could help me learn more?
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What information seems most important here?
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What patterns do I notice in what I find?
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What surprises me in my research?
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What is still unclear and worth exploring further?
Ways to find out well
These tips help you gather useful information, choose better sources, and make your inquiry more focused and meaningful.
Choose sources carefully
Use sources that are appropriate, understandable, and connected to your inquiry question.
Look for evidence
Ask: What did I notice? What did I read? What shows this idea might be true?
Gather useful information
Keep track of key facts, examples, observations, and ideas so your learning does not disappear after one activity.
Explore actively
Read, watch, observe, ask, test, compare, and discuss. Inquiry becomes stronger when you investigate in more than one way.
Helpful inquiry tools
Use simple structures and routines to help your findings become visible and easier to sort, connect, and build on.
Research planner
Use a simple template to record what you are researching, what sources you used, and what you found.
Note-catcher
Keep a running list of facts, ideas, quotes, and observations as you explore different sources.
Graphic organiser
Use structures like cause-and-effect, compare-and-contrast, or problem-and-solution to sort your findings.
Question wall
Add new questions as you learn more, and link them back to your original inquiry questions.
Activities to investigate
These quick ideas can help you move from curiosity into active inquiry with research, observation, interviews, or testing.
Source hunt
Find 2–3 sources about your topic. Compare what each one tells you and note which seems most useful.
Observation log
Observe something connected to your topic and write down what you see, hear, notice, and wonder.
Quick interview
Ask one person a few focused questions about your topic and record their answers as evidence.
Fact-check
Pick one claim you find and test it against another source to see if it is supported or not.
Check what you found
Before moving on, ask yourself: What information feels most useful? What patterns am I noticing? What is still unclear? A good finding-out stage leaves you with evidence and direction for sorting out and making conclusions.
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