With multiple ways of communicating the same information, teachers can have direct and accurate knowledge of each child's level of science learning. It also gives teachers direct knowledge of the child's capacity to successfully carry out inquiry. As a result, teachers are thus better able to help children advance their knowledge of science, science inquiry, and of the nature of doing science. Inquiry contributes to children's social development, as well as to their intellectual development. Science inquiry in school is carried out in a social context.
Children discuss plans and work collaboratively in carrying out inquiry activities.
As they work, they keep science notebooks containing written and pictorial records and reflections. They also prepare themselves and present their work in a public forum to their classmates, who serve as critical friends. These activities not only foster collaboration among children, they also help develop language and literacy capacity. By reading and comprehending this material, children join the larger scientific community on the topics they study. At first, children's inquiries center on directly observable and often accessible phenomena.