Free KWL Chart: Template, Explanation, and Example Available
KWL charts are effective educational tools used in classrooms to assist students in organizing their thoughts and enhancing learning outcomes. Specifically designed for classroom settings, these charts enable students to identify their existing knowledge, areas of interest for further exploration, and new information acquired throughout the learning process. In this review, we will discuss the KWL chart template and its uses; keep reading the following content to make your learning process clear!
- Part 1. KWL Chart Template
- Part 2. KWL Chart Example
- Part 3. Bonus: MindOnMap, Best Mind Map Creator
- Part 4. FAQs about the KWL Chart
Part 1. KWL Chart Template
What is the KWL chart template?
KWL charts are a type of graphic organizer that can be used to help students reflect on their learning. Before delving into the topic, let's first clarify what KWL stands for. The KWL acronym represents the three columns on the chart, each symbolizing a distinct aspect of the learning process:
K stands for Know, which indicates what I know. This assists in thinking about existing knowledge and prepares for the introduction of new information.
W stands for Want, which means what I want to know. This promotes curiosity and active involvement in the learning process.
L stands for Learn, which represents what I have learned. It also strengthens student’s memory and enables self-evaluation.
Overall, KWL charts are an effective tool for involving students in a new subject. It is intended to lead students' thoughts and make them engage in the whole learning process.
The Benefits of Using the KWL Chart
First, divided into three main parts, the KWL chart is clear and easy to understand whether students or teachers.
Second, with the contents of what I know, what I want to know, and what I have learned, students can easily see the knowledge gaps between comparison of before and after learning.
Third, the KWL chart has a strong, logical, but simple format, almost adopted by everyone, even the KWL chart for preschool. And, it can be customized for various subjects or teachings.
Fourth, with the completion of the KWL chart, students can see their improvement more completely and increase their confidence. Teachers can also get a better assessment of how well students are learning by checking the chart.
KWL Chart Template
A basic KWL chart template consists of three sections: K, W, and L. We can easily find a lot of templates online, below is a blank KWL chart template to help you know the basic form of a KWL chart.
The KWL chart template is a great tool for educators to assess their student's knowledge gaps and gather their input on new topics. The template provides designated spaces for students to write the subject they are studying. It also features three columns labeled What I Know, what I Want to Know, and What I Learned, where students can record their current understanding of the topic. When the chart is given to the teacher, it is also easy for them to grasp the current situation of the student’s learning process.
Part 2. KWL Chart Example
After knowing the basic KWL chart sample, let’s see an example to understand to see how it can be beneficial for us. This KWL chart example is utilized by educators to gather input from all students in the class before and after a lesson on seasons.
Each student shares their prior knowledge and questions about the topic before learning. In the first section, students who have some knowledge about the topic share their information. The second section is for students to ask questions about the topic. In the third section, students write about what they have learned after studying the topic.
From the above charts, we can visualize the original situation of the students, their curiosity, and what they gained from the lesson. It’s easy for students to make it in Google Docs or Microsoft Word. And KWL chart may have a lot of formats, as long as it contains the essential elements we mentioned above, such as the picture below also is a good KWL chart example.
Part 3. Bonus: MindOnMap, Best Mind Map Creator
When it comes to creating mindmaps, MindOnMap is a standout tool. It is a user-friendly software that offers people a professional tool for creating and customizing KWL charts easily. With a simple design and clear functions, it provides comprehensive functionality to help users effectively organize and plan their topics.
Secure Download
Secure Download
Key Features
• Personalize the shape, font, text effects, and other features of the icons.
• Improve your mind map by adding topics, subtopics, connecting lines, summaries, images, links, and comments.
• Access past mind-mapping data for revisions.
• Share your mind map with others through a unique link.
Detailed Guide
After finishing the installation and logging in to your account, welcome to the mindmap-making journey!
Select New from the left panel and you can select the desired template, such as the popular Mindmap, Org-Chart Map, Tree Map, Fishbone, Flowchart, and more.
You can easily add sibling topics by pressing enter on your keyboard, right-clicking your mouse and selecting Add Topic from the list that appears, or clicking on Topic from the top toolbar.
To include subtopics, simply follow the same steps outlined in the section for sibling topics. Right-click and choose Add Subtopic, or click on Subtopic in the top toolbar. In the end, don’t forget to save your work.
Moreover, it has many other powerful functions, such as adding a line or summary and inserting images, links, or comments.
MindOnMap offers a wide variety of mind map options. The software's interface is not only visually appealing but also user-friendly, making it a pleasure to use during work. With its diverse range of mind map types, it can meet all of your needs. Using this software can help you clear your thinking and improve efficiency.
Part 4. FAQs about the KWL Chart
What can I use instead of a KWL chart?
If the KWL chart can't meet your needs or is not suitable for the project you are working on, you can use a lot of organizational-chart, such as treemap, fishbone, flowchart, and so on.
What are the four components of a KWLH chart?
K represents what students already Know about the topic.
W represents what students Want to Learn by this text.
L represents what students have Learned while reading this text.
H represents ideas of How to learn more after reading this text.
What is a KWL chart best used for?
KWL charts are best used for teaching. It can be used to understand students' prior knowledge and interest trends before class and as a means of evaluating students' classroom effectiveness at the end of the class.
Conclusion
This article covers the definition of the KWL chart and its advantages and provides a KWL chart template along with additional examples. As a bonus, we introduce a product called MindOnMap to help you better organize your project plan or work structure better. Give it a try, and it definitely deserves your time. Overall, I hope this article helps you well.
