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The K-W-H-L Strategy
For To Kill a Mockingbird
Purpose of this Strategy:
The purpose of this strategy is to find out what students know about
prejudice, what they want to know about it, how they will find that information out,
and record what they have learned or still want to learn after reading To Kill a
Mockingbird. This activity allows students to share their previous knowledge of
prejudice with others, as well as pointing them to good sources to learn more about
this topic.
Directions:
Step 1: Introduce the Strategy
You, as the teacher, will introduce this strategy by placing a blank copy of
the accompanying handout on the overhead. Explain why prejudice is important to
understand before reading the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Prejudice plays a major
roll throughout the entire novel and the students need to know what it is and how it
affects society. Place a big K-W-H-L worksheet in the classroom that will include
the students’ knowledge and questions about prejudice. Add to this worksheet as
the weeks move on to motivate the students to keep learning. Plan about 12-15
minutes for this step.
Step 2: List What is Known
Begin by asking the students to tell you everything they know about
prejudice. Write these ideas down on the overhead in the “K” section. Write down
everything the students say, even if you know it is false. Assure the kids that you
will come back to this list after reading to confirm the answers. Take 7-9 minutes
for this.
Step 3: List What They Want to Learn
Begin this section by asking the students “What questions do you have about
prejudice?” List all the responses in the “W” section on the overhead. Generate
more questions by aiding the students’ questions (ask more questions such as “Is
there still prejudice today?” “Why is there prejudice?”)
Step 4: Students Generate Their Own Questions
Break the students up into groups of two or three. Pass out a blank copy of
the K-W-H-L worksheet to every student. Leave the overhead up for students to
refer back to. Have the students generate questions of their own that they want
to find out more about and have them write the questions on the paper.
Morgan, 2001
Step 5: Discuss How to Find Answers to Questions
As a class, discuss different sources on where to find out more about
prejudice. This list could include magazines articles, novels, encyclopedias, and the
Internet. Depending on how literate your class is in this area, this step will take
between 3 and 10 minutes.
Step 6: Read to Find Out
Allow the students time on their own to do further research about
prejudice. Encourage them to look to sources beyond the text to find answers to
their questions. Remind them that if they think of more questions as they read,
they can add these to their list. A day at the library devoted to this topic is ideal.
Step 7: What We Have Learned
Invite students to share what they have found in their research about
prejudice. This works best if done multiple times during the reading of To Kill a
Mockingbird. Have the students share any additional questions that have arisen
since their research started. Discuss their responses. Allow 15-20 minutes for
this part.
Step 8: Follow-Up Activities
Use the K-W-H-L results to create further learning activities including
graphic organizers, maps, outlines, learning logs, reports, journals, and written
summaries.
Assessment
The students’ effort can be assessed through their K-W-H-L worksheet. In
addition to this, have the students write what they have learned in a short writing
assignment. They will state what they researched, how they researched it and
what they learned. Post a big K-W-H-L chart in the classroom to promote further
learning about this topic.
Morgan, 2001
K-W-H-L Worksheet
Subject:
What I Know
Morgan, 2001
What I Want to Learn
How I Will Find Out
What I Learned
Subject:
What I Know
Hatred towards
another
Slavery
Frederick Douglas
Slave trade
Underground railroad
Discrimination
Bias
Civil war
Between different
cultures and ethnic
backgrounds
Segregation
Desegregation
The South
Blacks vs. Whites
Morgan, 2001
K-W-H-L Worksheet
Prejudice
What I Want to Learn
How I Will Find Out
What causes prejudice?
Encyclopedia articles
Does prejudice still
Internet searches under Blacks, South,
happen today?
prejudice (try:
What role does slavery http://www.coax.net/people/lwf/slavery.htm)
play in prejudice?
Interviews with people from the South or
What role does
who have experienced prejudice firstprejudice play in
hand
society?
Frederick Douglas’ Autobiography
How come police
His Promised Land: The Autobiography
officers had to enforce
of John P. Parker, Former Slave and
Desegregation?
Conductor on the Underground Railroad
What is “Separate but
Paula Fox’s Slave Dancer
Equal”?
Alex Haley’s Roots
What are the court
Gary Paulsen’s NightJohn
cases that go along with
Newspaper articles
“Separate but Equal”?
Magazine articles
Movies such as Glory and Roots
What I Learned
Have the students fill
in this section with
what they have
learned from their
research. Have them
include answers to
their questions and
specific research,
such as an interview.
Morgan, 2001