KWL charts are powerful tools for student-centered learning. They help learners activate prior knowledge, set learning goals, and reflect on what they’ve learned. Whether you’re teaching preschoolers or high school students, KWL chart examples can bring structure and engagement to any subject, from science and math to English and vocabulary.
This guide explores 15 practical KWL chart examples by grade level and subject, along with editable templates you can use in your classroom.
What Is a KWL Chart?
A KWL chart is a three-column graphic organizer that stands for:
- K – What I Know
- W – What I Want to Know
- L – What I Learned
First introduced by educator Donna Ogle, KWL charts support inquiry-based learning by encouraging students to make connections, ask questions, and track their progress throughout a lesson or unit.
Grade-Level KWL Chart Examples
1. Preschool KWL Chart: Farm Animals
Kids draw or use picture cut-outs to show what they know about animals like cows and chickens, ask questions like “What do pigs eat?” and reflect with new drawings after a farm visit or storytime.
2. Kindergarten KWL Chart: The Weather
Use a template with sentence starters (“I know rain is __”), weather icons, and fill-in visuals.
3. Elementary KWL Chart: Solar System
Students write what they know about planets, pose questions like “Why does Mars look red?”, and reflect after completing a science unit.
4. Middle School KWL Chart: Ancient Civilizations
Used in history lessons to explore topics like Egypt or Mesopotamia. Students list prior knowledge (e.g., pyramids), ask cultural or technological questions, and summarize key takeaways.
5. High School KWL Chart: Climate Change Research
Students organize what they already understand about greenhouse gases, set goals to learn about real-world impacts, and reflect on sources and statistics post-research.
Subject-Specific KWL Chart Examples
6. Science KWL Chart: Chemical Reactions
Before lab experiments, students list what they know (e.g., signs of reactions), ask procedural questions, and summarize observations.
7. Math KWL Chart
Students write what they remember about fractions, ask questions like “How do I add them with different denominators?”, and reflect on techniques used.
8. English KWL Chart: Novel Study
For example, the students are studying the novel ‘Of Mice and Men’. They list prior knowledge about the Great Depression, ask about character motivations or themes, and reflect on what the novel taught them.
9. Vocabulary KWL Chart: Academic Word List
Learners enter words they think they already know, set goals to learn meanings and usage, and fill in real examples after practice.
10. Spanish Language KWL Chart: Conversational Phrases
Learners complete a KWL chart in Spanish with headers like Sé, Quiero saber, and Aprendí to explore topics such as greetings, travel questions, or directions.
Special Use Cases and Learning Contexts (Corporate Edition)
While KWL charts are commonly used in classrooms, they are equally effective in corporate learning environments. From onboarding and training to innovation workshops, these KWL chart examples help teams activate prior knowledge, clarify learning goals, and reflect on takeaways.
11. Employee Onboarding KWL Chart: Company Culture & Policies
New hires use a KWL chart to list what they already know about the company (e.g., from interviews or job listings), ask questions about values, tools, or HR policies, and reflect on what they’ve learned during onboarding sessions.
- Use Case: Streamlines onboarding by making it interactive and reflective
- Editable Template Tip: Add prompts about core values, benefits, and team structure
12. Sales Training KWL Chart: Product Knowledge
Sales reps start by listing what they know about product features or competitors, ask questions about positioning or objection handling, and record insights from training.
- Use Case: Helps identify skill gaps early and track learning progress
- Template Tip: Include fields for common FAQs and sales pitch frameworks
13. Project Kickoff KWL Chart: Team Alignment
During a new project kickoff, team members fill in what they know about the project scope, list uncertainties (e.g., “Who owns integration?”), and later update the chart as the project progresses.
- Use Case: Improves team alignment and reduces knowledge silos
- Editable Feature: Add stakeholder lists, deadlines, or linked resources
14. Leadership Development KWL Chart: Communication Skills
Participants in a leadership workshop reflect on what they know about effective communication, set goals (e.g., giving better feedback), and log strategies or aha moments.
- Use Case: Supports soft skills training and coaching programs
- Add-on: Include reflection prompts or peer feedback fields
15. Innovation Workshop KWL Chart: Brainstorming New Solutions
Before ideation sessions, team members list current challenges or assumptions, raise key questions, and reflect post-session on promising solutions and next steps.
- Use Case: Ideal for design thinking, process improvement, and strategy sessions
- Bonus: Pair with SCAMPER or affinity diagram templates in Creately
How to Create a KWL Chart Using AI-Powered Templates
Creately’s AI features help teachers generate personalized KWL charts in seconds:
- Enter your topic or subject
- AI suggests content for all three columns based on learning objectives
- Customize the chart with visuals, attachments, or translation
- Invite students to co-edit or comment in real-time
Whether you’re teaching KWL chart high school units, Spanish language lessons, or special education learners, AI templates simplify lesson planning and ensure learning goals are always aligned.
Best Practices for Using KWL Charts in the Classroom
- Model the process: Demonstrate filling out each column with an example
- Encourage student voice: Let learners add their own prompts or drawings
- Revisit and revise: Update the chart mid-lesson or after activities
- Integrate with tech tools: Use version history and comment threads
- Support differentiation: Use grade- and ability-appropriate templates
