Activating Prior Knowledge

Generally, students learn a topic best when they already know some information about it. A lot of the time the information is inside their heads, but they don’t know how to access it. It is important to help students activate their prior knowledge.
Here are some ways you can help students acquire prior knowledge about a topic.

• Have your students read about the topic in sources other than the textbook.
• Take your class on a field trip related to the topic.
• Have your students view videos about the topic.
• Have your students search the Internet for information about the topic.
• Invite parents or other guest speakers share their knowledge about the topic with your class.

Here are some ways you can help your students activate their prior knowledge about a topic:

• Have your students discuss what they already know about the topic before reading the textbook.
• Have your students predict the information they will find in a textbook chapter based on its title.
• Have your students predict the information they will find in a textbook chapter by looking at any visual aids such as pictures, charts, and diagrams.