Scientific inquiry provides the framework for the content and strategies recommended in the National Science Education Standards (NRC 2000). It's a hot topic at workshops and conferences, and many feel a bit guilty that they aren't doing more of it. Why is scientific inquiry currently at the forefront of science education reform? Inquiry works! Students engaged in inquiry-based science are learning to solve problems, organize their own knowledge, and use higher levels of thinking. Teaching and learning soar beyond memorization of facts and concepts (NRC 2000). When students form their own questions and make them the framework of learning, they take an exciting ownership of their education. By following some simple steps, teachers may find it surprisingly easy to engage students in real scientific inquiry.