Strategic knowledge is a differentiating factor for conveying the design intent when modelling parts in parametric feature-based CAD systems. Nevertheless, it is rarely considered in training or, when it is tackled, it takes a traditional pedagogical approach that is far from ideal for acquiring knowledge with highly cognitive requirements. This paper demonstrates a contextualised instructional approach that is developed in activities following active learning principles. These activities are structured on a modelling procedure that provides trainees with guidelines to think about the modelling rationale and consider alternative strategies. The paper describes one activity in detail, as an example, so that our proposal can be replicated and adapted to other scenarios. Finally, experimental research has been carried out that validates the proposal as opposed to the traditional teaching focus. Its results support the idea that it can have a favourable impact on developing strategic knowledge for CAD modelling.