The Project Approach—as outlined in Judy Harris Helm and Lilian Katz’s Young Investigators: The Project Approach in the Early Years—remains one of the most inspiring frameworks for engaging young children in authentic inquiry.

Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) in early childhood is not simply a method, but a mindset where children’s questions drive their growth. Unlike traditional “teacher tells – child repeats,” IBL invites children to observe, wonder, predict, test, and explain their ideas.