For Educators

Turn Curiosity Into Capability

When students investigate questions they care about, they’re not just learning science, they develop critical thinking, creativity, and confidence that serves them for life. We’ll show you how to make it happen in your classroom.

Why Inquiry-Based Learning Matters

You’ve seen it happen: a student who struggles with textbook science suddenly comes alive when investigating something they’re genuinely curious about. They ask better questions. They think more critically. They remember what they’ve learned because they discovered it themselves.

That’s the power of inquiry-based, project-based learning—and it’s more achievable than you might think.

Whether you’re supporting one student through a science fair project or transforming your entire approach to teaching science, Youth Science Canada provides the framework, resources, and community to make it work.

The impact is real:

Students develop 35 essential inquiry skills that transfer across subjects
Engagement increases when learners drive their own investigations
Assessment becomes about process and growth, not just content recall
Your classroom becomes a space where curiosity is cultivated, not just answered

Smarter Science: A Framework That Works

Smarter Science is an open-source framework for teaching K-12 science that emphasizes inquiry, creativity, and innovation. It’s not about adding more to your plate—it’s about teaching science the way it’s actually done: by asking questions and investigating answers.

The framework has been fully adopted by New Brunswick’s curriculum and widely implemented across British Columbia, proving that inquiry-based learning can work at scale while meeting curriculum expectations.

What makes Smarter Science different:

35 defined inquiry process skills from observation and questioning through to analysis and communication
Steps to Inquiry strategy that scaffolds students from simple investigations (Level 1) to complex, student-driven projects (Level 4)
Flexible implementation that works whether you’re doing quick classroom investigations or year-long projects
Assessment tools that focus on process skills alongside content knowledge
Free, downloadable resources including posters, worksheets, and guides

When students regularly practice inquiry in your classroom, participating in a science fair becomes a natural extension of what they’re already doing—not a scary, separate thing.

Classroom Resources for Every Level

All Smarter Science resources are free to download and use. They’re designed to support both you and your students through the inquiry process.

Framework Booklet

Comprehensive guide exploring all 35 skills with classroom-friendly descriptions, examples, and implementation tips

Posters

Our Framework Poster is perfect for your classroom wall as a visual reference of all 35 inquiry skills. For our Steps to Inquiry Posters, Level 1 posters are recommended for students in Grades 1 to 4, while Level 2 posters are best suited for students in Grades 5 to 12.

Documents

Our PEOE worksheet is designed to support a mini-inquiry using the Predict-Explain-Observe-Explain (PEOE) strategy. You can also download a PowerPoint template to design your own inquiry card aligned with the Smarter Science framework.

Prefer printed materials? Professionally printed and laminated posters and booklets are available in our online store.

Professional Development That Excites

We offer comprehensive, full-day workshops (in-person or virtual) that go beyond theory to give you practical strategies you can use immediately. We can also tailor workshops to your specific needs, grade levels, and provincial curriculum expectations.

1. Introduction to Smarter Science

Learn the 35 inquiry process skills and how to use the Steps to Inquiry strategy to help students plan their own investigations. You’ll experience hands-on demonstrations and leave with ideas you can implement tomorrow. Perfect for educators new to inquiry-based learning.

2. Assessment & Evaluation of Inquiry

Discover how to assess for, of, and as learning when students are driving their own investigations. Learn to co-create assessment criteria with students and focus on both process skills and curriculum content. Addresses the biggest question: “But how do I grade this?”

3. Innovation & Creativity Through Inquiry

Transform your current lessons into inquiry-focused explorations. You’ll participate in strategies that help you “walk the talk,” turning practice questions into inquiry challenges and tweaking your favourite lessons to promote deeper thinking.

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Workshop Investment

Full-Day Workshop: $850 + travel expenses (minimum 20 participants)
Virtual Workshop: $850 (no travel costs)
Custom Workshops: Pricing based on specific needs

Travel costs include flights, accommodation, meals, and parking. We provide estimates during initial consultation.

Recommendation: Individual teachers with professional development budgets can pool resources to bring workshops to their school or board.

Smarter Science gave me permission to let students drive their own learning. I was worried about losing control of the curriculum, but I’ve found students actually learn the content more deeply when they’re investigating questions they care about.

Elementary Teacher
New Brunswick

After the workshop, I completely redesigned how I teach. Instead of telling students what to observe, I bring interesting materials into the classroom and let them generate their own questions. The engagement difference is incredible.

Middle School Teacher
British Columbia

Supporting Students Through STEM Projects

When a student wants to take a classroom investigation further, whether for personal interest or a science fair, they might be wanting more detailed guidance on project development.

mySTEMspace is your go-to resource for students developing STEM projects. This free online platform provides everything students need to move from curiosity to completed project:

Spark: An AI-powered tool that helps students discover project ideas aligned with their interests (over 13,000 students have used it!)
Step-by-step project development guides covering every phase from question formulation to presentation
Video interviews with students who’ve successfully completed projects
Templates and organizational tools for research, data collection, and documentation
Project examples across all STEM disciplines and grade levels

How to use mySTEMspace in your classroom:

Direct students to Spark when they’re brainstorming project ideas
Use the platform’s resources to support independent or small group investigations
Reference video interviews when students are looking for inspiration

Connect Students with STEM Fair Opportunities

Science fairs are where inquiry comes to life outside the classroom. They give students authentic audiences for their work and recognition for their efforts.

Supporting Student Participation

School-Level Fairs
Many educators start by hosting a classroom or school-level fair. We can provide modified workshops focused specifically on helping students develop science fair projects.

Regional STEM Fairs
Connect your students with one of 98 regional fairs across Canada. These community-organized events celebrate student inquiry and provide pathways to larger opportunities.

What Students Gain:

Experience presenting complex ideas to authentic audiences
Feedback from scientists, engineers, and industry professionals
Recognition and validation of their hard work
Confidence in their ability to investigate and communicate

What You Gain:

Students who are genuinely engaged in scientific thinking
Authentic assessment opportunities
Professional connections with regional fair organizers
The satisfaction of watching students exceed their own expectations

Running a School Fair: Where to Start

Thinking about hosting a school or classroom science fair? It’s more manageable than you might think.

Basic Approach:

Integrate inquiry investigations into your regular teaching
Have students choose one investigation to develop more fully
Direct students to mySTEMspace for detailed project development guidance
Set aside time for students to create simple presentations (poster boards work great)
Invite parents, other classes, or community members to view projects
Connect interested students with your regional STEM fair

Need guidance? Reach out to your nearest regional STEM fair who can provide advice and possibly even support you in running your school fair.

Frequently Asked Questions

“How do I fit this into an already packed curriculum?”
The Smarter Science framework doesn’t replace curriculum content—it changes how you teach it. Students still learn required concepts, but through investigation rather than memorization. Many educators find they actually cover more ground because engaged students learn faster.

“What if I’m not comfortable with open-ended investigations?”
That’s what the scaffolded approach is for. Start with Level 1 investigations where you provide more structure, then gradually release control as both you and your students gain confidence. The workshops provide concrete strategies for each level.

“How do I support students developing science fair projects when I don’t have time to guide them individually?”
That’s exactly why we created mySTEMspace. Students can access comprehensive project development resources independently, freeing you to provide encouragement and check-ins rather than detailed instruction at every step.

“Do I need special equipment or resources?”
Not necessarily. Many powerful investigations use everyday materials. The framework emphasizes using what’s available and helping students design investigations around accessible resources.

“How do I assess inquiry-based work?”
The Assessment & Evaluation workshop addresses this directly. You’ll learn to assess the 35 process skills alongside content knowledge, co-create rubrics with students, and focus on growth over time rather than just final products.

“What about science fairs – are they mandatory for using this framework?”
Not at all. The framework is designed to improve everyday science teaching. Science fairs are simply one way students can share their investigations, but the skills transfer to any learning context.

Ready to Transform Your Teaching?

Whether you’re curious about inquiry-based learning or ready to dive deep into professional development, we’re here to support you.

Contact Us

If you’d like to learn more about our Smarter Science program, or to express interest in one of our workshops, please submit the below contact form.