Here at CISH Early Years, this is Inquiry!

One of the cornerstones of the IB philosophy is inquiry. Here, at the Canadian International School of Hefei, inquiry is an integral part of the learning experience.

Inquiry is a way of learning where students drive their own discovery. Instead of memorizing isolated facts, they explore big, meaningful concepts like change, connection, and responsibility.

But here's what makes inquiry special: it naturally blends subjects together. For example, a single inquiry might ask, "What do plants need to grow?"  In exploring that question in our K3 class, students study science (observing seeds sprout and learning about sunlight, water, and soil), geography (talking about where different plants live—a cactus in the desert, a rice plant in a wet field, or tall pine trees in a cold forest), and social studies (learning how families in different communities grow food and care for plants together).

Inquiry doesn't stop at the classroom door. Students apply their learning to real-world contexts—like planting their own seeds in a small classroom garden, watering a class plant, or visiting a local farm or our school Early Years Garden.

They ask questions, gather information, think critically, and take action. Inquiry doesn't just teach subjects—it teaches children how to think, connect, and make a difference in the world around them. 

We asked our Early Years students what they thought about their experiences in Inquiry and this is what they said…

IB理念的核心理念之一是探究。在合肥加拿大外籍人员子女学校，探究是学习体验中不可或缺的一部分。