Teaching Strategy
Connect, Extend, Challenge
Deepen students' understanding of a topic by having them connect to their prior knowledge.
Subject
- English & Language Arts
- History
- Social Studies
Grade
6–12Language
English — USAvailable in
Published
Updated
Overview
Teaching Strategies
Use our student-centered teaching strategies to strengthen your students’ literacy skills, nurture critical thinking, and build a respectful and collaborative classroom community. These strategies can be paired with any academic content.
What Is the Connect, Extend, Challenge Protocol?
Use this strategy to help students connect new ideas and information to their prior knowledge about a particular topic. The protocol described here engages students in metacognitive reflection by asking them to identify ideas and pieces of information that are consistent with their prior understanding of a topic, those that cause them to revise their thinking, and those that are confusing. This process helps students both deepen their understanding of a topic and become more thoughtful and independent learners.
This strategy works best after students have already been introduced to an idea or topic and are receiving new information or perspectives that might challenge their initial understanding. 1
- 1Connect, Extend, Challenge is adapted from a thinking routine developed by educators at Harvard University’s Project Zero.
Procedure
How to Use the Connect, Extend, Challenge Protocol
Materials and Downloads
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The handouts below are used in this Teaching Strategy.
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