KWL Lesson

KWL is an instructional strategy that engages students in active learning. The initials refer to K – What do we know? W – What do we want to know? L – What have we learned?

Directions: For this assignment, choose a short informational passage (grades K – 4). Teach the lesson, attach the completed KWL chart, and answer the questions below. Use this as a template to explain each of the items.

Cut and paste the passage with the template.

1. Topic   
2. Grade
3. Group (small group, whole group, pairs or individual)
4. Purpose of the strategy (why is this strategy so useful in teaching comprehension)
5. List the steps that you used for the lesson (When did you teach each part of the chart? How did you verify the L facts?)
6. Attach the entire, completed KWL chart. If you scan the chart, then make sure that it is readable. You can type in the students’ answers to the chart if you would rather not scan. Also, highlight the items on the "W" chart that were not answered in the passage.
7. Reflection:  What are your thoughts about the value of the KWL strategy?  What were the student’s strengths? What were the student’s weaknesses based on the results of the lesson?

Note: Remember the child does not read the passage until after the "W" section of the chart. Also, the "L" column must be more extensive than the "K" or "W" columns since it is a full recall lesson.