Graphic Organizer Resources from TeachersFirst

Whether you call them concept maps, mind maps, KWLs, or graphic organizers, these visual diagrams show relationships between concepts and provide a powerful tool for learning and connecting new ideas. Creating graphic organizers also helps today's visual learners build reading comprehension. This collection of reviewed resources includes tools for creating graphic organizers and many suggestions for ways to use them in teaching almost any subject or grade. Be sure to read the "In the Classroom" suggestions for examples of ways to use graphic organizers as part of a lesson or unit.
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MatchCollege - MatchCollege.com
Grades
8 to 12In the Classroom
Share this site with students and parents to use as a resource for making college decisions. Help students organize their findings by using an online diagramming tool like Lucidchart, reviewed here, to create diagrams, mindmaps, and other visual graphic organizers. Save information gathered into PDF documents, then use Flipsnack, reviewed here, to turn their PDFs into an online flippable book. If you only have a word doc use PDFaid, reviewed here, to convert them to PDF format. As students near a final decision, use Google My Maps, reviewed here, to create a virtual visit to their college of choice.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Listenwise - Monica Brady-Myerov
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): adhd (28), authors (120), biographies (91), listening (87), literacy (107), literature (272), podcasts (57), poetry (219)
In the Classroom
Bookmark Listenwise for use throughout the year in all subjects. Share lessons with students as a flipped learning experience. Have students listen to the broadcast before class, then ask students to discuss their thoughts and answer the comprehension questions using a video tool such as Flipgrid, reviewed here. This site is perfect for use with ESL/ELL and special education students as it allows the opportunity to listen to information as many times as necessary for understanding. Take advantage of the printables included with broadcasts that offer graphic organizers, charts, and much more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hardcore History - Dan Carlin
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): germany (28), greeks (33), nuclear energy (25), religions (68), romans (35), world war 1 (55), world war 2 (142)
In the Classroom
Include portions (or all) of these podcasts as part of your in-depth look at historical events. Have cooperative learning groups create their own podcasts discussing events and characters in history. Use a site such as Podcast Generator, reviewed here. Use an online tool such a Lucidchart, reviewed here, to create diagrams, mindmaps, and other visual graphic organizers to organize historical information. Create a link to podcasts on your class page for students to listen to at home, then discuss in class. Alternatively, flip your class and have students view and react to the podcasts on YouTube using VideoANT, reviewed here. With VideoANT student's can add comments and ask questions as they watch videos.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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World Press Freedom Map - NewseumEd
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): freedom of speech (11), journalism (54), media literacy (65), news (262), newspapers (96)
In the Classroom
Begin by showing students the Freedom House interactive map and read the information in the right column about what a genuinely free press is. Compare that info to a partly free press (explained just under it). Then have students work in small groups or with a partner to fill out the worksheet/chart. Complete a class discussion of the chart, and then have the small groups or pairs choose one of the countries with partial freedom of the press and research what other freedoms the U.S. enjoys that are restricted or repressed for the citizens of that country. Add these to the chart. Challenge students to convert their paper worksheet/chart to an online digital infographic to present their findings using Visme, reviewed here, or to set up their own graphic organizer to show the comparisons using an online tool such as TUZZit, reviewed here. TUZZit allows you to create diagrams, mindmaps, and other visual graphic organizers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Election 2016: Stumped!? - NewseumEd
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): democracy (12), elections (73), presidents (123), primary sources (93)
In the Classroom
Whether the nation or your local government is going through an unpleasant, combative election campaign, or even during a yearly unit on the elections this collection from Newseum will help students understand our political system. Pique student interest by having them take the Political Personality Quiz. In small groups have students discuss whether or not they agree with the results. Next, you may want to use the Candidate Match to refine their political profile further, and then discuss how they feel about the candidate they matched up with and why they feel that way. While using any or all of the case studies with your students, don't forget to download the Activity, Handout, and Worksheet. All of the case studies have discussion topics.All students need to have a voice during discussions, whether discussing as a class or in small groups, allow everyone to share their opinions and concerns using a backchannel tool for the class such as TodaysMeet, reviewed here, or with older students, in small groups, using a tool like Slack, reviewed here. Extension activities encompass making charts, lists, (use tools like 25 Language Arts Graphic Organizers, reviewed here, or Holt Interactive Graphic Organizers, reviewed here), researching a candidate creating a slogan and explaining why the slogan fits that candidate, and creating a campaign event. For the latter two extension suggestions use a tool such as Adobe Spark, reviewed here.
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OK2Ask: Getting Started with Google Draw - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Transportation Systems - Past, Present, and Future - Educator DigiKit - The Henry Ford Museum
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): 1800s (48), 1900s (36), railroads (11), transportation (43)
In the Classroom
Save some time with these ready-to-use free materials for use as an entire unit or as a supplement to current teaching materials. Include information from this site during lessons on the 1800 or 1900's or the Industrial Revolution. Have students create timelines (with music, photos, videos, and more) to demonstrate changes in transportation using Capzles, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: Getting Started with Google Draw - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): Google (29)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Animal Inquiry - ReadWriteThink
Grades
K to 6tag(s): animal homes (61), animals (322), graphic organizers (39), habitats (106)
In the Classroom
This is the perfect tool for students under 13 to use. Share this site on an interactive whiteboard (or projector) and complete organizers together. Have older students complete their own animal inquiry using this site. Have students create an annotated image including text boxes and related links using a tool such as ThingLink, reviewed here, using information they provided on the graphic organizers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ARKive - Wildscreen
Grades
K to 12tag(s): animal homes (61), animals (322), endangered species (41), forests (32), habitats (106), oceans (165), plants (174)
In the Classroom
Use this site as the starting point for individual or group projects. The site grants permission for educational download and use of the images (NOT on a web page), provided you include the copyright information with each image. Have students create sets of images to illustrate a report or make graphic organizers illustrating families of animals from your area and their classifications into kingdom, phylum, etc. By letting students choose their own animals and examples, the task will have more meaning to them. Individuals can set up memberships (click My ARKive) to make "scrapbooks" of images and information. Membership requires a valid email address (info about your registration is sent there), so a whole-class or teacher account may be the easiest way to use it. Create a link on classroom computers for students to explore on their own. If your students are creating an online poster or digital story to present their research, this is an excellent opportunity to point out the copyright on this site and challenge students to find the same information on a website they can use with proper citation.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Story Map - Read Write Think
Grades
1 to 8tag(s): digital storytelling (153), graphic organizers (39), writing (365)
In the Classroom
Introduce your class to Story Map by writing a class story. Use an interactive whiteboard or projector and be sure to point out the prompts to answer with each organizer. Bookmark Story Map on class computers as part of stations when developing a writing project. Put a link to this tool on your website or blog for students to access at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Primary Source Sets - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): 20th century (50), authors (120), black history (56), civil war (144), constitution (88), hispanic (17), jefferson (20), lincoln (84), new deal (5), primary sources (93), segregation (16), thanksgiving (33), veterans (17), washington (29), westward expansion (29), womens suffrage (25), wright brothers (20)
In the Classroom
When introducing a new unit, show students photos from the era and have them describe what they see and what period they think it is. Find plenty of questions and activities (including a blank analysis organizer for students) in the Teacher's Guides. Also look at Library of Congress: for Teachers, reviewed here. Encourage your students to use this tool for projects. Challenge students to find a photo (legally permitted for reproduction), and then narrate the photo as if it is a news report. Have students create a multimedia presentation using Voicethread, reviewed here. This tool allows users to narrate a picture. Include this site on your class webpage for students and parents to access as a reference.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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80 Years of Canadian Geographic Maps - The Royal Canadian Geographical Society
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): animal homes (61), canada (31), disasters (40), explorers (65), maps (298)
In the Classroom
Even if you do not teach in Canada be sure to explore this site for lesson plans and map making information applicable to any country. Adjust lesson plans to your particular area of study. Challenge advanced students to create a presentation using Swipe, reviewed here, demonstrating similar themes. Use an online tool such a Canva, reviewed here, to create diagrams, mindmaps, and other visual graphic organizers comparing and contrasting information found on different maps.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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CommonLit - CommonLit
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): critical thinking (120), literature (272), themes (12)
In the Classroom
CommonLit is an excellent resource for literature teachers, speech and debate teachers, and history teachers. Share the site with students on an interactive whiteboard or projector, and ask the class what themes they would like to investigate. Under each theme are two questions. Divide the class into small groups with each group investigating one of the questions for one of the themes and reading the accompanying text. Differentiate for students by having students read on the same theme, but at their reading level. Challenge individuals, pairs, or small groups to create a graphic organizer for the story they read using a tool like Holt Interactive Graphic Organizers, reviewed here. You could take this to another level and have two groups read different selections on the same theme, use a graphic organizer to make comparisons for how the theme was presented, and then challenge the groups to present their findings to the class via video. Use a simple video creator like Biteable, reviewed here. This site would also work when you have to make substitute plans unexpectedly. Just put the link in your plans and tell the sub what theme you want students to read about, or better yet, let the sub choose!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Twine - Chris Klimas
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): coding (67), computers (102), creative writing (164), game based learning (139), interactive stories (30), writing (365)
In the Classroom
View the Getting Started tutorials together on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) before students begin to write stories. Also, be sure to have the tutorials as a link on class computers and your class webpage. Create a short story together as a class to become familiar with the site. Have students create a story diagram before beginning a story on Twine; then use the site to complete the project. Have students create stories to show what they have learned about literature, geography, history, science concepts, and more. As a more "serious" approach, use Twine to present opinion pieces where you take a position and allow readers to click on questions about it. They could also click on statements expressing opposing views so you can write counterarguments to their points. This idea could end up being a powerful way to present an argument and evidence as required by Common Core writing standards. Using this tool in a computer programming class would be ideal. Going to either Wiki, FAQ, or Forum will show you other development resources such as custom macros, stylesheets, code references, and so forth. Teachers of gifted could use this for students to develop elaborate fictional or informational pieces. Again, a graphic organizer for planning and organizing evidence is a must!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Let's Talk About Insects - University of Illinois Board of Trustees
Grades
3 to 5tag(s): insects (72)
In the Classroom
Use this site as an informational text and audio visual presentation on insects. Share on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Share as an example for an informational report to meet Common Core standards. Analyze the presentation and create a graphic organizer to explore the main ideas and details for increased comprehension. Use the graphic organizer as an example for taking notes. Continue to use the format as an example to make multimedia presentations on other content area subjects. Have cooperative learning groups create podcasts using a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here). Challenge gifted students to take their research to the next level!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ask Smithsonian - Smithsonian Institution
Grades
3 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animals (322), bacteria (30), human body (132), insects (72), plants (174), space (223), time (142), video (278)
In the Classroom
Share a few of these short videos on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Choose a video and have students complete a quick write or Know-Want-to-Know-Learned (KWL) chart to put down what they THINK they know about the topic. Find a ready-made KWL chart at 25 Language Arts Graphic Organizers, reviewed here. Show the video and have students write about what they learned. Use some of them as a segue into a subject you will introduce in class or for mini-research.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Cool Kid Facts - CoolKidFacts
Grades
1 to 7tag(s): animals (322), australia (37), brain (68), china (63), deserts (18), earth (224), egypt (67), greek (41), heart (43), human body (132), italy (15), magnetism (38), mars (41), mexico (33), moon (72), newton (26), photosynthesis (33), rainforests (21), rome (26), sun (69), tornadoes (17), tsunamis (19), volcanoes (66)
In the Classroom
Share this site with students on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) and show them all the different subjects available. Challenge students to find a topic about which they know nothing (or barely anything). This site will give them experience reading informational text on a topic they wonder about. Partner weaker readers with others who may be able to help them read the text-heavier articles. Have students read and research individually or in small groups taking notes using a simple graphic organizer from 25 Language Arts Graphic Organizers, reviewed here. Use this opportunity to teach summarizing, and citing sources. Cool Kid Facts is a great tool to build background knowledge about all sorts of topics!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Holt Interactive Graphic Organizers - Holt
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): concept mapping (20), graphic organizers (39)
In the Classroom
Mark this site on your class web page, put it on your task bar, and add to all student computers. Demonstrate by using and creating your customized graphic organizer. Turn it into PDF format and save or print. Get students in the habit of using graphic organizers to improve achievement, organization, and details.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TUZZit - Christophe Fruytier
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): brainstorming (23), concept mapping (20), graphic organizers (39)
In the Classroom
Have student groups create presentations on TUZZit. The subtopics can serve as talking points. Have students begin projects by making an outline with TUZZit and sharing it with the teacher. As a whole class create a TUZZit organizer at the beginning of the unit showing what the class knows. Add information to the TUZZit throughout the unit. Create lesson plans on TUZZit by outlining the order of topics, links, and documents you will be using. Take notes about lessons/units using TUZZit. Hand out (or provide a link to) the organizer as a visual guide and summary of what they have learned, including documents and links. Share completed organizers with learning support teachers and parents to help struggling students. Ask students to create an organizer of a book or a chapter. Outline characters, setting, and events taking place in stories. Use TUZZit to create a graphic organizer or timeline of important historical events.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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