Which part of the lesson plan actively engages students at the beginning?

The anticipatory set is a crucial component of a lesson plan designed to actively engage students at the beginning of a lesson. Its primary function is to capture students' interest and prepare them for the new material they are about to learn. This is achieved by connecting prior knowledge to the new content or presenting an intriguing question, scenario, or activity that piques students' curiosity. By doing so, the anticipatory set sets a positive tone for the lesson and creates an environment where students are mentally prepared to participate and learn.

In contrast, other components like assessment focus on evaluating student understanding at the end of a lesson, bellwork usually involves tasks that students complete upon entering the classroom to settle them, and closure is aimed at summarizing and reflecting on what has been learned, solidifying the knowledge acquired during the lesson. While these elements are important in their own right, they do not serve the same purpose of engaging students right from the start as effectively as the anticipatory set does.