KWL Instructional Strategy

Know...Wonder...Learned

Scott Bachman
EDWF 4100 / 5100
What is a KWL Chart?
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 does a KWL Chart Look Like?
K W L

Know Want Learn

What do I want What have I

What do I know?
to know? 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 What do I want How do I find What have I

know? to know? out more? 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 How do I What What What new

What do
I want to find out have I action will questions
I know?
know? more? learned? I take? do I have?

This chart is great for upper elementary age students

How To Do a KWL Chart
 When can a KWL chart be used?
● When introducing new topics
o e.g. Types of businesses, marketing strategies
● Reading
o Enhances comprehension
● Math
o Assistance in understanding story problems
● Many other possibilities...
 Benefits of Using KWL Chart
● 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
 Advantages of 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
 Disadvantages 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
Using KWL to Learn and Confirm
● 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