Which activity allows students to demonstrate prior knowledge about an upcoming unit of study?

The activity that allows students to demonstrate prior knowledge about an upcoming unit of study is constructing a K-W-L chart. This model is effective because it encourages students to actively engage with the content before the unit begins. The chart has three columns: "K" for what students already know, "W" for what they want to learn, and "L" for what they have learned after the unit. By filling out the "K" column, students reveal their existing knowledge on the subject, facilitating a starting point for instruction and informing the teacher about the students' baseline understanding. This method not only assesses prior knowledge but also stimulates curiosity and sets a purpose for learning, making it a dynamic tool in the classroom.

Other options, while useful, do not serve the same dual purpose as effectively. For instance, a teacher-generated pre-test mainly evaluates comprehension of the content rather than providing a collaborative opportunity for students to express their preconceptions and questions. Writing everything they know in notebooks allows for individual reflection but lacks the structured approach that K-W-L provides for assessing the collective understanding of the class. Lastly, constructing a concept map is valuable in visualizing relationships between ideas, yet it may not clearly articulate what students know prior to the instruction in a straightforward manner