KWL (Know, Wonder and Learn)

Useful at any grade level, KWL boards are a great way to learn how much students know about a topic, what they are curious to learn, and what they’re taking away at the end of the unit. KWL boards also allow students to reflect on the way they take in new information, of example, a lesson on owls.

To set up the board, write out the topic and the headings “What We Know,” “What We Wonder,” and “What We Learned” in separate columns on Post-it® Super Sticky Big Notes.

Before digging into a new unit, have students write down everything they already know about owls on orange Post-it® Super Sticky Notes. This step isn’t about pointing out wrong answers; if students share wrong information, that will be an important part of the learning process.

Write down everything students are wondering about the lesson on blue Post-it® Super Sticky Notes.

At the end of the unit, have students write down what they have learned on green Post-it® Super Sticky Notes. Together, go back and review the first two columns. Were all of their questions about owls answered in the course of the unit?

Although the sample lesson is geared toward younger children, KWL boards can be used to structure material that is much more complex. For middle school or high school students, they are especially useful for text based lessons, where the wonder section can be expanded into a personal reflection writing exercise.