Schema

We learned that schema is everything we know about a topic. We talked about how our brains work like file cabinets. When we read or listen to a story our brain "pulls that file" or topic and immediately begins to use the information we already know to help make sense of new info. For example....we read a nonfiction book about pumpkins. As soon as we identified the topic (pumpkins), we began using our pumpkin schema. It was interesting to see the wide variety of background knowledge. 

The seeds show our schema! 

After sharing each other's schema, we then read the book. We put our new learning on the leaves and found that we had we can use our schema to help make sense of new information. Our schema grows as we read, read, read!