Building Background Knowledge

Building Background Knowledge

The Science of Reading
Zarkia Foster​

What is Background Knowledge?

• Refers to the information and experiences a reader already possesses before engaging in a reading activity.

• This includes prior knowledge, related vocabulary, concepts, and experiences that help a reader understand and make new connections with the text.

• Background knowledge helps readers make sense of the text, make predictions, and draw inferences.

​What can Building Background look like in the classroom?

Previous Lessons

Texts

​​Videos

​​Music

Real-Life Connections

In-Class Activities

Combine Content Areas

Activity Instructions

On the next slide, you will see an image. In the response box, type one or two words that come to mind when you see this image.

Word Cloud

Brain Dump:

When you see this logo, what words come to mind?

• Students can begin making connections based on the responses of their peers

• Helps the students start thinking about the concept on a deeper level

Benefits of a Brain Dump

• Designed to promote critical thinking, making connections, debating, and providing evidence to support their reasoning.

• ​Can be completed individually or in small groups

​

Hands-On: Hexagonal Thinking

Activity Instructions

• Using the hexagon manipulatives, you will create a pathway using the hexagons with words that relate to one another.

• Think of each hexagon as a puzzle piece without a picture on top.

• One hexagon may connect to one or more hexagons.

• There are no wrong answers, but you must explain your connections.
  

• Customizable for all subject areas (words, pictures, equations, etc.)

• Can be completed individually or in a group

• Helps the students make meaningful connections

• Higher order thinking

• Student engagement

Benefits of a Hexagonal Thinking

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