Students will already have assumptions about nutrients and food groups when it comes time for this unit, and it can be helpful for them and you to keep track of what they think or know coming in and what they learned by the end. Using a KWL chart is a perfect way to track progress and identify any misconceptions that students may have upon entering the lesson!
Students can keep this worksheet and hand it in at the end of the unit, or they can fill out the first two boxes and then hand it in. This second way allows you to see what students are excited about learning and what they already know so that you can tailor what you're teaching to them. Then, pass the chart back and have students complete the third section to use as a review of the unit!
Clicking "Use This Assignment" will copy the worksheet into your teacher account. This worksheet can be scaffolded and customized as desired in order to tailor it to your students. Feel free to add a fourth section to turn the worksheet into a KWHL chart! Once you've finished editing, just save and print it for students to fill out.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Adapt the KWL chart for students with varying learning needs by offering choices for how they record their thoughts, such as drawing, dictating, or using sentence starters. Encouraging multiple modes of expression helps every student participate and demonstrate their understanding.
Demonstrate the process by filling out a KWL chart together using a familiar topic, letting students see your thinking and how to move from prior knowledge to new questions. This builds confidence and clarifies expectations before students tackle their own charts.
Facilitate peer discussion by having students share what they wrote in each section with a partner before class discussion. This boosts engagement and allows students to learn from each other's perspectives.
Analyze students' 'What I Want to Know' responses to identify interests and misconceptions. Use these insights to adjust your instruction, ensuring lessons are relevant and targeted to your students' needs.
Review the completed KWL charts as a class, highlighting new learning and addressing any remaining questions. This reinforces knowledge and gives students a sense of accomplishment for how much they've grown.
A KWL chart is a graphic organizer with three columns: What I Know, What I Want to Know, and What I Learned. In a food and nutrition lesson, it helps students record their prior knowledge, set learning goals, and reflect on new information, making learning more personalized and effective.
Start by having students fill out the first two columns: what they know about nutrition and what they want to learn. Teach the unit, then ask students to complete the final column with what they learned. This tracks progress, reveals misconceptions, and helps tailor instruction.
KWL charts actively engage students by connecting prior knowledge to new concepts. They help teachers identify misconceptions, personalize instruction, and encourage student reflection, making them especially effective for complex topics like food groups and nutrition.
Yes, KWL chart worksheets can be scaffolded or customized to fit different grade levels or learning needs. You can add a fourth column (KWHL), adjust prompts, or modify the chart to support your students’ goals and curriculum.
A KWL chart has three columns (Know, Want to know, Learned), while a KWHL chart adds a fourth column for How I will learn. The extra section encourages students to think about research methods or resources, deepening engagement in nutrition lessons.