4.11 The Drum Calls Softly

Comprehension Strategy: Activating Prior Knowledge

Good readers activate prior knowledge before reading.

What does this mean? Good readers constantly try to make sense out of what they read by seeing how it fits with what they already know. If you "activate" what you already know BEFORE reading about a topic or situation, it is easier to understand the text!

Let's activate your prior knowledge now! What do you know about First Nations peoples in Canada? What was their culture like before explorers and immigrants came from around the world, the time "before contact"?

Go to your Learning Guide response #1 and brainstorm six facts you know about the traditional way of life for First Nations people in Canada. What did they eat? What kind of shelter did they have? How did they celebrate? What was important to them?