Inquiry in Action
Free K-5 physical science lesson plans, student activity sheets, animations, and hands-on investigations from the American Chemical Society.
Website previewAbout Inquiry in Action
Inquiry in Action is a free American Chemical Society teacher resource with fully developed K-5 physical science lessons. The lessons use inquiry, hands-on investigations, student activity sheets, animations, and the 5-E model across weather, materials, dissolving, density, and chemical reactions.
Age and access
This resource is listed for ages 5–11. It is available as Website, Downloadable and is listed as free. The listed language coverage is English.
What stands out
- Provides a complete lesson structure instead of isolated activity ideas
- Includes student sheets and animations alongside hands-on investigations
- Aligns listed kindergarten, second-grade, and fifth-grade lessons with NGSS topics
How the score is built
Lessons use observable phenomena and physical science investigations.
The 5-E format gives educators a clear sequence from engagement to evaluation.
The official page identifies K-5 and provides grade-specific lesson groups.
The American Chemical Society labels the lesson resource free and provides activity materials.
Parent notes
- The resource is written primarily for adults leading lessons, so younger children need an educator or caregiver.
- The ACS page includes safety notes and permissions; adults should follow the individual lesson instructions and material guidance.
- The stored preview shows the official page after its cookie banner was dismissed, with no ad overlay or placeholder image.
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