Educational researchers suggest that physical education can not only address the physical fitness of students but can also provide students with unique opportunities to actively engage in learning and the development of cognitive capacities. The contemporary teaching technique, inquiry-based learning, is identified as an active, engaging and effective student-centered teaching approach that can be used in the context of physical education. In this article, the authors identify, examine and demonstrate how physical educators can effectively use inquiry-based learning to foster motor skills, cognitive skills, and the development of a more relative meaningful understanding of the importance of physical education in their lives.