5 W Chart and Other Previewing Tools

Here are a few techniques for helping students orient themselves in an upcoming unit. Part of the process of preparing to teach a new unit is asking oneself, “Which previewing tools will be most beneficial for my students for this particular unit?” Varying the previewing activities will also keep learning exciting for your students. Also included is the 5 W chart, a type of graphic organizer that allows the student to think about and list the “Who, When, Where, What, and Why” of a story or event in a simple visual way. The “Why” variable can be interpreted in many different ways, such as why the event happened or why the event was important.