Why activate prior knowledge?
In order for new information to be consolidated into long term memory the new information must connect with information that is already there. When we begin to teach our students new information, and they have no prior knowledge in that particular body of information, the brain goes on a hunt, looking for that information. The brain is hunting while you are talking, thus students are not attending to you but trying to find meaning in what you have said. After the brain goes on a hunt and realizes it knows nothing about the subject, that brain puts the attention back on you. By this time you have already gone on with your lesson, and that brain is now more lost than ever. At this time the student who is lost will either try to find out what he missed by talking to someone nearby, day dream, or may cause problems in your classroom. Thus, before we begin teaching new information, we either tap prior knowledge or give an experience which becomes prior knowledge. What strategies do we use w
