A KWL chart records what participants Know, Want to know and have Learned. It surfaces existing knowledge, directs investigation and reviews how understanding has developed.
How to use this tool
Record what is known
Record what participants already know.
Capture what they want to know
Capture what they want to understand.
Carry out the investigation
Conduct the investigation or learning activity.
Record what was learned
Record what has been learned and any remaining questions.
References & further reading
Ogle, D. M. (1986). “K-W-L: A Teaching Model That Develops Active Reading of Expository Text.” The Reading Teacher, 39(6), 564–570.