Activating Prior Knowledge Lesson Plans, Grades 3 & 4

As a literacy specialist, I believe one of the most important things I can do for my students is to teach them a myriad of strategies to interpret texts independently. I want all my students to have what I call a reading strategy toolbox to be able to tackle any text in school or out. I tell my students this toolbox is kept in their heads, so it is always available in class, at home, in the library, or even at the beach. Throughout the year, I focus on strategic reading to empower my students to be able to take ownership of their learning.

One of the reading strategy tools I focus on early in the school year is activating prior knowledge. This “tool” gives students the confidence to independently read and comprehend a text. I always tell my students that activating prior knowledge is a good way to get your brains warmed up and ready to learn. I use a sports analogy: Just like athletes stretching before the game, activating prior knowledge is like stretching your brain before the big read!

Below are two activating prior knowledge lesson plans you can use with your third- and fourth-grade students to learn or review activating prior knowledge. I use the first activating prior knowledge lesson plan with my third-grade students. Its a four-day strategy lesson that uses multiple texts featuring bats. The CCSS suggests that elementary school students read 50% fictional texts and 50% nonfiction texts. With this is mind, most of the lesson plans I write pair a fiction text with a corresponding nonfiction text. In this lesson plan, I use two picture books: Bat Loves the Night by Nicola Davies and Stellaluna by Janell Cannon. I also incorporate two nonfiction articles about bats from the San Diego Zoo. I use the second activating prior knowledge lesson plan with my fourth graders. I use a similar format, but different texts. The nonfiction article is about Hyenas from National Geographic and the fiction texts are Pinduli by Janell Cannon and Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull.