The Activating Strategy is about engaging students and preparing their minds to link new knowledge to what they already know. Prior knowledge is the glue to which new information will stick! When students lack adequate background knowledge, most importantly vocabulary knowledge, they are unable to extract meaning from instruction.

Extensive research has provided data that background knowledge is something that increases learning, and without it, prevents learning. Therefore, it is one of the strategies that you should pay close attention to and build into every lesson.