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KWL Charts Debra Taylor
Know • When doing anything, previous knowledge is generally required. This is what the “K”, Know, column is for. It is the information your students already know and understand. It can be things like the setting, history, title, or whether or not they have previously read the book.
Example • Start out by asking you students what they know and have them write it down. • The example on the right is for Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck • Title: Of Mice and Men • Great Depression caused a lot of job loss • Dust bowl happened during the Great Depression
Want to Know • This column is for everything your students want to know after they have read portions of the story or what you want them to know after reading parts of the story. Write down any questions they may have on the chart and come back to them later when you move onto the third column.
Example • Ask students what they want to know about the book or about anything in general involving the book. • Why is the Great Depression important to this book? • Besides losing jobs how else did the Great Depression affect people? • Does Lennie and George’s dream come true?
Learned • This is the column you write in when the class has finished the book. Students will write the answers to questions from the Want to Know column in the Learned
Example • When you are finished with the book go back to your chart and answer questions from the “want to know” chart, as well as anything else they learned. • George and Lennie never get their dream house. • People would wander around for odd jobs available to them • George killed Lennie to save him from the others • Without the Great Depression the book would have no purpose, because Lennie and George would not have to move around.
KWL charts are not only helpful to the teacher but also to the students. Students can organize their thoughts and questions to help them better understand the things about the novel they may struggle with and it will aid the teacher in knowing what the students need to know and help he or she tailor their lessons to the specific needs of the class.
