Activating Strategy - Anticipation Guide

Brenda Hill
Feb 08, 2010

An Anticipation Guide is sometimes called a Prediction Guide and is used to assess students' thoughts and prior knowledge about a topic. Students complete the Anticipation Guide by answering questions or responding to statements provided to them by the teacher on the topic or subject using their own experiences and background knowledge.

How is the Anticipation Guide used?

The Anticipation Guide is used to activate thinking by asking students to respond to questions or statements on a selected topic prior to teaching the lesson. Students use their own background knowledge and life experiences to answer and respond to these prompts. Time may be provided for students to discuss and justify their answers based upon what they already know about the topic. The use of an Anticipation Guide as an activating strategy provides the teacher with valuable insight into how much students know about a topic or concept. As with the Wordsplash, opportunities are provided during the lesson for students to reflect on their responses for accuracy and make any needed revisions. Using an Anticipation Guide as an activating strategy requires some strategic planning by the teacher before the lesson is taught, but the information gained from the use of the strategy makes that time well spent.

Steps for Getting Started:

• Choose a topic or subject.
• Identify major concepts about the topic.
• Reflect on how these concepts will support or challenge a student's beliefs or experiences
• Create several statements (3-6) to challenge your students' prior knowledge or beliefs. Be sure to include statements that contain misconceptions, controversial ideas, etc.
• Give each students a copy of the Anticipation Guide and have them respond to the questions or statements
• Students then read or listen to information presented about the topic.
• Students revisit original responses and make any needed revisions.
• Partner and classroom discussions occur as a result of new learning

Example of a Social Studies Anticipation Guide - Branches of Government:

Read the following statements. If you agree with the statement put a check in the blank. If you disagree place an X in the blank.

____The legislative branch of government includes the House of Representatives and the Senate.
____There are three branches of government and each branch has a specific role and function.
____The government was designed with three branches of government to establish a system of "checks and balances" between each.
____The Supreme Court and the President make up the executive branch of government.