GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS 3.

Illustrate instructional goal links to testing expectations

A graphic organizer is a visual display that demonstrates 4. To show what each grade will be teaching and how units fit into the
relationships between facts, concepts or ideas. A graphic organizer guides larger picture of curriculum for the whole school
the learner’s thinking as they fill in and build upon a visual map or diagram. 5. Assess student learning
They are also informally used as a term to describe all visual learning 6. Show integration of different topics across the curriculum for a unit,
strategies such as concept mapping, webbing, mind mapping, and more. lesson, or long-range plan
7. Present difficult material in a step by step manner
Concept Maps 8. Plot summaries
Concept maps graphically illustrate relationships between two or more 9. Create cause/effect/solution diagrams to resolve social issues
concepts and are linked by words that describe their relationship. within the classroom
10. Book design elements
Webs 11. Illustrate digestive system
Brainstorming webs show how different categories of information relate to one 12. Local government diagram
another. 13. Defining new terms
14. Introducing a new concept
Mind Maps 15. Note-taking organizer
Mind Maps are visual representations of hierarchical information that include 16. Detailed processes (how to add polynomials etc.)
a central idea or image surrounded by connected branches of associated 17. Creating a storyboard for a PowerPoint presentation
topics or ideas. 18. Comparison activities
19. Historical cause and effect
Outlines 20. Cycles (recycle, weather, etc.)
Outlines can help a writer ensure that every point he or she makes is well 21. To construct a food chain
thought out and includes sufficient detail and support. 22. Map of where items are stored in desk, trapper, or locker
23. Library orientation
Venn diagram 24. Language Arts - character descriptions, plot movement, action that
Venn diagram is extremely effective when the writer plans to compare and leads to the climax
contrast elements, as it helps to visualize similarities and differences. 25. Math-to teach algorithms (especially division)
26. Math-problem solving because it is non-linear
Connected organizational charts and bubble graphs 27. Create instructions for games
These are particularly helpful for visual learners, as they allow writers to map 28. Create picture charts that students can follow if they are
out ideas spatially. communication impaired.
29. Kids can follow picture symbols such as the symbols found on the
Mayer-Johnson Boardmaker software.
BENEFITS OF GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS 30. Help study for a test.
Graphic organizers are tools that can be used to visualize and organize 31. Classroom organization chart with associated responsibilities
information. Because graphic organizers are often used as prompts for 32. How to/step by step for learning new software
students to fill in the blanks, graphic organizers provide many benefits to 33. Developing a course, workshop or training session
students who use them including: 34. Planning a WebQuest
 Helping students structure writing project 35. Documenting job responsibilities
 Encouraging students to make decisions 36. Planning a website
37. Personal professional goals
 Making it easy for students to classify ideas and communicate
38. Concept maps to send home to parents to help explain a unit so
 Allowing students to examine relationships they can help their children study/review
 Guiding students in demonstrating their thinking process 39. Assist cooperative groups in defining projects and dividing job
 Helping students increase reading comprehension responsibilities.
 Making it easy to brainstorm 40. Faculty/district - responsibilities of committees
 Encouraging students to organize essential concepts and ideas 41. Flow charts for behavior plans for either the classroom or a specific
 Making it clear how to break apart a story into the main elements (intro, student
rising action, climax, etc.) 42. Similarities between different units through the use of the same
structure in the graphic organizer.
WHEN TO USE GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS 43. A tool for students to identify when they do not understand
Use Graphic Organizers at any point in the lesson to structure information into information and identify the where the breakdown is in their
understandable chunks: comprehension.
44. To add more depth in a compare/contrast lesson, for example,
 When taking notes about new information in a lesson to organize ideas identifying the important variables by color-coding or other visual
 After reading a book to organize the plot element, and then deciding if the variable is the same or different
 When comparing and contrasting two concepts in the two objects of study.
 As a way to help students classify new information into 45. Showing relationships.
meaningful categories 46. Procedures to follow during an emergency drill such as a fire or
 To help students find similarities and differences by creating analogies storm drill;
 As a brainstorming tool to generate ideas before students begin an 47. Lab procedure explanation
assignment, such as a writing task, a set of word problems, or a lab, to 48. To present lab conclusions and highlight important concepts
gather ideas or formalize procedures (especially prior to completing a written explanation)
49. In foreign language classes create an organizer that shows the
 During the pre-writing stage in the writing process
English word on one side and the foreign language word
equivalent on the other side with pictures as hints.
CREATING GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS SITUATIONS
50. When studying a poem, in the center concept list the name of the
1. Assist students in organizing information and key concepts
poem and the connecting lines contain phrases from the poem.
2. Assist teachers in planning lessons/units/themes Illustrate school's
The subconcept explains the words in the phrase and the literary
goals or plan for Parent-Teacher Organization
technique used such as personification.