This study utilized pre-service teachers' philosophy statements to connect their beliefs for science teaching with inquiry-based constructivist classroom practice. The major findings of this study suggested that before entering the classroom prospective teachers are strongly aligned with inquiry-based, constructivist-based theories, and describe teaching science as a process approach. However, after entering public classrooms the teacher candidates often abandoned those notions of constructivist, inquiry-based science in favor of a more traditional approach to science instruction. This study addresses a method to engage prospective teachers in designing inquiry-based science pedagogy as well as developing their professional pedagogical confidence.