Abstract: As one of the research-based teaching methods inquiry-based teaching can stimulate students’ independent learning, which is an effective teaching concept and method for cultivating innovative talents in modern higher engineering education. Mechanical Graphics is a professional basic course that lays the basic quality of mechanical engineering. It has the characteristics of training whole brain thinking, and the weakness of traditional teaching is obvious. Through the introduction of problem-driven, analytical comparison, case teaching, combination of theory and practice in the inquiry-based small class teaching to different stages of the mechanical graphics course, the classroom is more lively and enthusiastic, and the teaching becomes more targeted, and it is able to mobilize the subjective initiative of students with different levels of knowledge and inspire innovative thinking. The inquiry-based teaching is worthy of promotion in higher engineering education.