In the first column, write down the information that students already know. Invite students to share everything they know about the topic. The facts that the students give you may seem obvious to you but remember that it may not be obvious to your students. Once everything is written in the column, discuss each item with your class and invite students to share their knowledge and experiences.
In the middle column, write down the things that the students want to know about the subject you are teaching. Add all questions, even if they seem obvious or silly. In addition, if students give incorrect information for the first column, add it as a question in the second column. Use this column to guide your learning. As you teach the lesson, refer back to the second column to make certain that you are addressing all of the students' questions.
Once your unit is complete, fill out the final column of the KWL chart with what the students learned. Attempt to answer all the questions in the middle column so that students feel a sense of accomplishment that they learned what they set out to learn. Include any additional facts that the students feel are important.
Use KWL charts whenever you embark on a new unit of study, begin a new book or perform an experiment. For example, before reading a book on living in the city, ask students to tell you what they know and want to know about living in the city. When the book is finished, fill in the last column. Use KWL charts on the first day of preschool to talk about what happens in school, or to learn about new classmates.