Thinking Before Starting
Before starting something new, stop and think: what do I already know about this topic?
How to tell they’ve got it
Tick these off as you see them — no test required.
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Try this together
When your child is about to learn something new — say a new topic in science or a new type of word problem — do they first think about what they already know?
Where this sits on the map
Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.
Builds on
Persisting When It's Hardages 5–6Activating prior knowledge requires the foundational habit of persistent engagement with new material
Thinking Before Startingthis skill · ages 6–7
Unlocks
Connecting New & Old Ideasages 7–8Making connections between new and old ideas requires the habit of activating prior knowledge first
Teaching It Backages 7–8Explaining in your own words requires connecting new learning to existing knowledge already held in mind
Connecting reading to experienceages 5–7Linking reading to own experiences is the English-domain application of the universal prior-knowledge activation habit
Evidence from the Pastages 6–7Understanding that knowledge of the past comes from surviving evidence builds on the habit of activating prior knowledge — what do I already know, and where did that knowledge come from?
solid = must come firstdashed = helps
Curriculum alignment
Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).
This skill aligns to ACARA’s General Capabilities rather than a learning-area code.