Virginia SOL 3.RI.3.A
The Standard
Use prior (experience) and background (content) knowledge as context for new learning.
Virginia Standards of Learning for English · Integration of Concepts
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students recall useful experiences and facts before and during reading. They connect that knowledge to new information so the text makes more sense.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students name a relevant experience or fact they already knew. They clearly explain how it helps them understand a new idea or detail in the text.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may share any personal story, even when it does not help explain the text. They may also treat an old belief as correct when the new information shows otherwise.
How to Assess It
- After reading a short passage about animal migration, ask, "What did you already know that helped you understand one new fact? Explain the link."
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs a pinecone to observe, then read a short tree passage and mark facts that connect to their observations.
Ask, "How did something you knew about weather help you understand this article?" Students answer with one linked detail.
Play Connection Match: students pair new fact cards with useful knowledge cards, then explain each match to a partner.
Read a cafeteria recycling notice, then have students use their lunchroom experience to explain why each rule appears.
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Printable 3.RI.3.A Worksheet
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