If you are teaching a topic which may be familiar to most of the students, you can capitalize on their background knowledge by asking them what they already know. With younger kids, you can do this together as a group. This doesn’t have to be written inorganized, line-by-line format – they can write their ideas in a random jumble –like graffiti.
Then after a minute or two, ask them to share with everyone. At the front of the classroom on the board or on chart paper, draw your own large box and fill in the ideas that each person shares. Refrain from making any “judgment”on their ideas – even if what they say is incorrect, write it down. Then, at the end of the lesson, you can return to the graffiti box and ask them what changes and additions they can make. Encourage them to look for ideas that were incorrect or inaccurate, that need to be fixed. Also, ask them what they can add to the box that they didn’t remember or know before the lesson.
For older kids, have them draw a big box on a piece of paper and ask them to write down a fewthings they remember about the topic. You can also have them pair up and share the ideas in their graffiti box, rather than share with the whole group.