Free Printable KWL Chart Template
What is a KWL chart?
A KWL chart is a three-column graphic organizer that tracks learning: what students already Know, what they Want to know, and what they Learned. Students fill in the first two columns before a lesson or unit and the third afterward. Teachers use it to activate prior knowledge, set a purpose for reading and show growth.
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Print the labeled KWL chart template now
A blank, letter-size sheet with three columns labeled What I Know, What I Want to Know and What I Learned. Print it free, right from this page.
Free downloads for educators coming soon
KWL chart sheet · 1 page · US Letter (8.5 × 11 in)
Free to print and copy for classroom use · Free Use Terms
KWL chart designs
Each one is a different look. Open any design to see it larger.
- Coastal Tidepool
- Stone Courtyard
- Clockwork Workshop
- Editorial Grid
- Solid Black Plaques
- Paper Clip Lines
- Architectural Drafting
- Soft Felt Classroom Board
- Woodland Trail
- Sticky Note Studio Wall
- Geology Strata
- Washi Tape Lines
- Rainy City
- Movement Gym
- Dark Academia
- Midcentury Design
- Geometric Blocks
- Spectrum Gradient Frame
- Duotone Coral Teal
- Bold Cut Paper
- Gradient Stroke
- Quiet Linen
- Storybook Meadow
- Minimal Mono
- Highlighter Strokes
- Bamboo Lines
- Botanical Field Notes
- Tropical Canopy
- Rounded Pill
- Technical Blueprint
- Comic Panel
- Monochrome Court
- Athletics Track
What goes where on a KWL chart
Track what students know, want to know and learned about a topic.
LayoutThree columns, left to right.
- KnowWrite what students already know. Accept everything; some items may need correcting later.
- Want to KnowWrite questions students want answered, as questions, not topics.
- LearnedWrite answers to the questions, plus anything else students learned.
TipFill in the first two columns before the lesson and the last after it. Go back to Know to correct anything wrong.
Step by step
How do you use a KWL chart?
- Before
Write the topic at the top of the sheet.
- Before
Fill in the K column together. List what students already know, and accept everything: some items will turn out to be wrong, and that is useful.
- Before
Fill in the W column with questions, not topics. “Why do volcanoes erupt?” works better than “volcanoes.”
- During
Teach the lesson or read the text. Pause to match new facts to the W questions.
- After
Fill in the L column with answers to the W questions, plus anything else students learned.
- After
Go back to K. Correct anything that turned out wrong, and circle W questions that are still unanswered.
Keep the chart where everyone can see it during the unit, and add to it as new facts come up. When the unit ends, ask students to compare the K and L columns out loud.
Using a nonfiction text instead of a lesson? Read in short chunks and add to the L column after each one, rather than waiting until the end. Stop at each W question to check whether the text has answered it.
What does a completed KWL chart look like?
| What I Know | What I Want to Know | What I Learned |
|---|---|---|
| Volcanoes can erupt. | Why do volcanoes erupt? | Melted rock called magma rises and erupts as lava. |
| Lava is very hot. | Can a volcano stop erupting for good? | Scientists call a volcano extinct when no one expects it to erupt again.3 |
| Every volcano is always erupting. (a mix-up) | How often do volcanoes erupt? | Most volcanoes erupt only now and then. |
Notice the third row: the K item was a mix-up, and the L column fixed it. Going back to K at the end is where the chart earns its place.
Benefits
Why use a KWL chart? When should you use it?
It starts with what students already know
That gives new facts something to attach to.
It turns curiosity into questions
W questions give students a reason to read or watch.
It shows growth
A full L column is a record of learning for students and teacher.
KWL was designed for reading nonfiction,1 so it fits the start of a unit or a text best. To compare two things, use a Venn diagram. To teach a key word, use a Frayer model. To put events in order, use a sequence chain.
Variations
What are the variations of the KWL chart?
Teachers extend the chart in several ways:
- KWHL adds H, “How will I find out?”, so students plan their research.
- KWLS adds S, “What do I still want to know?”, for follow-up questions.
- KWL Plus adds mapping and summarizing to the K-W-L strategy.2
Each version keeps the three core columns, so the chart still starts with what students already know.
By grade
How do you use a KWL chart in each grade band?
Grades K–2
Fill in K and W together on chart paper with pictures and short words. Read the L column aloud at the end of the unit.
Grades 3–5
Have students write their own W questions on sticky notes, stick them in the W column, and move each one to L when it is answered.
Grades 6–8
Add a source line under L: students note where each answer came from, such as the text, a video or an experiment.
Grades 9–12
Use it to launch a research project. K surfaces assumptions, W becomes the research question, and L feeds the first round of notes.
Compare
KWL chart or KWHL chart: which should you use?
Use a KWL chart for a single lesson or text. Choose KWHL when students are planning their own research and need a step for finding answers. Both start with what students already know.
| Feature | KWL chart | KWHL chart |
|---|---|---|
| Columns | Three: Know, Want to know, Learned | Four: Know, Want to know, How will I find out?, Learned |
| Order of use | K and W before, L after | K and W before, H while planning, L after the research |
| Best for | A single lesson, a text or a short unit | Projects where students choose their own sources and methods |
| Limits | No step for planning how to find answers | More to fill in, so slower for a short lesson |
Can you print a KWL chart at 24×36?
Print it at 24×36. Any sheet here prints poster-size too. Printed poster-size, a KWL chart becomes a class anchor chart everyone can see and add to throughout the unit. A school poster maker prints it for as low as $1.30 per 24×36 poster.
Questions
What do teachers ask about the KWL chart?
What is a KWL chart used for?
A KWL chart activates what students already know, gives them questions to answer and shows what they learned by the end. Donna M. Ogle introduced the model in 1986 as a three-step way to help students read nonfiction actively.1 Common uses are the start of a unit, the lead-in to a nonfiction text and the launch of a research project.
What are some KWL chart examples?
A KWL chart fits any subject, so examples range from a science unit on volcanoes to a social studies unit on ancient Egypt. The worked example above is a grade 4 chart on volcanoes. For ancient Egypt, a grade 6 class might start with “Pyramids are tombs” in K and “How were pyramids built?” in W. In reading, students can chart what they know about a nonfiction topic before reading a text about it.
What can I use instead of a KWL chart?
Try a KWHL chart if students need a plan for finding answers, or a KWLS chart if you want a place for follow-up questions. A 3-2-1 summary is a quick alternative: three things learned, two interesting facts and one question. To teach a key word, use a Frayer model instead.
How do I create a KWL chart?
Draw three columns and label them Know, Want to know and Learned, then fill in the first two before the lesson. Fill in the third after it. Write the topic at the top, and keep W as questions rather than topics. Or print the sheet above and write on it.
What are the benefits of using a KWL chart?
A KWL chart brings students’ existing knowledge into the lesson, turns curiosity into questions and shows growth when the L column fills. It also tells you what to teach: a K column full of mix-ups points to what needs the most time. Students own the questions, which gives them a reason to read.
Need an editable KWL chart?
Yes: insert a table with three columns in Google Docs or Word, label the columns K, W and L, and fill in the rows.4 The sheet on this page is also print-and-write: print it and fill it in by hand, or project it and fill it in together.
Sources
- Donna M. Ogle, “K-W-L: A Teaching Model That Develops Active Reading of Expository Text,” The Reading Teacher 39(6), 564–570 (February 1986). DOI 10.1598/rt.39.6.11 · Publisher’s abstract page (Internet Archive copy, September 2008): https://web.archive.org/web/20080911024548/http://www.reading.org/publications/journals/rt/selections/abstracts/RT-39-6-Ogle.html · ERIC record EJ329558: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ329558
- Eileen Carr and Donna Ogle, “K-W-L Plus: A Strategy for Comprehension and Summarization,” Journal of Reading 30(7), 626–631 (April 1987). ERIC record EJ350560: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ350560
- U.S. Geological Survey, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, “Active, dormant, and extinct: clarifying confusing classifications”: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/active-dormant-and-extinct-clarifying-confusing-classifications
- Google Docs Editors Help, “Add and edit tables”: https://support.google.com/docs/answer/1696711