Which component of a lesson plan refers to the pre-existing knowledge that students are expected to have?

The component of a lesson plan that refers to the pre-existing knowledge that students are expected to have is the prerequisites. Prerequisites outline the essential skills, knowledge, or experiences that students should possess before engaging with the new material. This understanding helps instructors tailor their lessons to ensure that students are adequately prepared to grasp the new concepts being taught.

In designing a lesson plan, recognizing these prerequisites allows educators to assess whether students have the foundational knowledge necessary for success in the course. This can also help identify any gaps that may need to be addressed before diving into new content, thereby facilitating a smoother learning experience for students.

The other components, while important to a lesson plan, serve different purposes. Evaluation pertains to assessing student understanding, learning objectives define what students should achieve by the end of the lesson, and assignments are tasks given to reinforce or apply what has been learned. Each of these elements contributes to the overall teaching strategy but does not specifically address students' prior knowledge like prerequisites do.