KWL Instructional StrategyKnow...Wonder...Learned

Scott BachmanEDWF 4100 / 5100

A strategy that educators use that allows students to use their prior knowledge and discuss what they:

● know about the subject● want to learn about the subject● learned about the subject

The chart uses a series of columns to organize and record thoughts.

What is a KWL Chart?

What does a KWL Chart Look Like?

K W L

Know Want Learn

What do I know? What do I want to know?

What have I learned?

This chart is the original chart.

This chart is great for lower elementary ages.

Alternative KWL Chart

K W H L

Know Want How Learned

What do I know?

What do I want to know?

How do I find out more?

What have I learned?

This chart is great for upper elementary aged students.

Alternative KWL Chart

K W H L A Q

Know Want How Learned Action Question

What do I know?

What do I want to know?

How do I find out more?

What have I

learned?

What action will

I take?

What new questions do I have?

This chart is great for upper elementary age students

How To Do a KWL Chart

● When introducing new topicso e.g. Types of businesses, marketing

strategies● Reading

o Enhances comprehension● Math

o Assistance in understanding story problems● Many other possibilities...

When can a KWL chart be used?

● Keep students engaged in topic● Facilitates classroom discussion● Enhances group collaboration● Organizes students’ thoughts● Draws references from past

experiences● Challenges students to want to learn

more

Benefits of Using KWL Chart

● Allows students to create questions● When students discuss and listen to

other responses, their written responses are of higher quality

● Students strengthen their knowledge, expand cognitive learning, show interest, and provide personal experiences

Advantages of KWL Chart

● Could be misconceptions about the topic being discussed

● Teachers may feel that if students don’t have prior knowledge on a topic, the chart will not be a successful tool

Disadvantages of KWL Chart

● Can be applied to assist meeting Common Core standards

● Students need to be able to identify what they have learned and support it with text

● Students need to look beyond the superficial and explore with questions

● Allows students to have deeper thought when organizing their reading and writing

Using KWL to Learn and Confirm