KWL/KWHL Grids
A simple grid where learners record what they Know, what they Want to find out, How they will find out, and what they have Learned, structuring inquiry from start to finish.
A kwl/kwhl grids diagram
What is kwl/kwhl grids?
- Draw a grid with columns: K (Know), W (Want to find out), H (How), L (Learned)
- Before starting a topic, learners fill in K and W columns
- During the topic, they complete the H column with research strategies
- After the topic, they fill in L and compare it with their original K and W
A kwl/kwhl grids diagram
How it works
A KWL grid has three columns. K stands for "What do I already Know?" W stands for "What do I Want to find out?" L stands for "What have I Learned?" The KWHL version adds an H column: "How will I find out?"
At the start of a new topic, learners fill in the K column with everything they already know (or think they know). This activates prior knowledge and reveals existing misconceptions. The W column captures their questions and curiosities. The H column (in KWHL) asks them to think about research strategies and sources.
At the end of the topic, learners complete the L column. Comparing L with K shows how their understanding has changed. Comparing L with W shows whether their original questions were answered. Unanswered questions become starting points for further learning.
The grid is simple but powerful because it makes learning visible to both the learner and the teacher. The K column tells the teacher what the class already knows (and what they think they know incorrectly). The W column reveals what learners are curious about, which can shape the direction of teaching. The L column provides evidence of learning progress.
Classroom example
A Year 5 class in a Gwynedd primary school is starting a Humanities topic on the ancient Egyptians. Each learner fills in a KWHL grid. In the K column: "They built pyramids", "They had pharaohs", "They wrapped dead bodies." In the W column: "How did they build the pyramids without machines?", "Why did they make mummies?", "Did children go to school?" In the H column: "Books, websites, ask the teacher, watch a documentary." Over the following weeks, learners add to the L column. At the end of the topic, they compare their L with their K and discover that some of their original "knowledge" was actually wrong.
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KWL/KWHL grids develop the "Plan" strand (activating prior knowledge, asking questions, planning inquiry) and the "Reflect" strand (reviewing what has been learned). They build digital competence through the H column's focus on research strategies and work across all AoLEs.
Rainbow Curriculum's Thinking Tools lens helps you ensure that prior knowledge activation tools are used at the start of every topic across your curriculum, making inquiry-based learning systematic.
Tips
- Do the K column individually first, then share as a class. This prevents confident learners from dominating.
- Do not correct misconceptions in the K column immediately. Let learners discover their errors through the topic.
- A common pitfall: completing only K and W at the start and forgetting to return to the L column at the end. Build the return visit into your planning.
- Display the class KWHL grid on the wall throughout the topic so it remains a living document.
- The W column is gold for planning. If learners want to know something, they are already motivated to learn it.
Related tools
Concept Map
A diagram showing how ideas in a topic are connected, with labelled lines explaining the relationship between each pair of concepts.
Dynamic Topic Starters
An opening activity where every learner brings one piece of relevant knowledge to share, building a collaborative display that activates prior learning and sparks curiosity.
Mind Mapping
A visual organiser where ideas branch outward from a central topic, using colour, images and keywords to map connections and generate new thinking.
Post-it Challenge 1
A retrieval activity where learners write everything they can remember about a topic on individual Post-it notes, then sort and organise them to reveal the structure of their knowledge.
QuADS Grids
A question-classification tool where learners sort questions into four categories based on where the answer can be found: in the text, in my head, in another source, or it cannot be answered.
Source: Adapted from "How to develop thinking and assessment for learning in the classroom", Welsh Assembly Government, Guidance 044/2010.