Year 4 students have been exploring friendship using the process of inquiry learning.  

Primary Teacher Mrs Bek Reid says friendship can be a big issue all through school and the class decided to inquire into it to help strengthen friendships. 

Students identified six key questions to help them work out ‘what makes a friend, a friend’. 

How to make friends? How to keep friends? What are the characteristics of a really good friend? Why is it important to have friends who tell the truth? What are the best ways to stick up for a friend? Why do friends argue? 

Their classroom wall is covered with ideas generated in answering these questions.   

Mrs Reid said the process of inquiry learning gives every child the opportunity to share their thoughts, ideas and findings. It helps them develop the ability to cooperate, collaborate and problem-solve – skills which will benefit them throughout life.  

“It’s helping to develop skills students may need in the future. In University, or the workforce they often need the skills to investigate, negotiate, listen well, hear other points of view and be able to work well with others. 

“Mastering the skills of inquiry learning takes time, but once they have got it, they enjoy it because they all have their own input and they are active in the classroom, rather than being passive.”