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15 Graphic Organizers and How They Help Visualize Ideas

Written by: Orana Velarde

In this guide, you will find 15 different types of graphic organizers:

• Type #1: Circle Map Graphic Organizer
• Type #2: Spider Map Graphic Organizer
• Type #3: Idea Wheel Graphic Organizer
• Type #4: Idea Web Graphic Organizer
• Type #5: Concept Map Graphic Organizer
• Type #6: Venn Diagram Graphic Organizer
• Type #7: Tree Chart Graphic Organizer
• Type #8: Organizational Chart Graphic Organizer
• Type #9: Sequence of Events Chain Graphic Organizer
• Type #10: Cause and Effect Map Graphic Organizer
• Type #11: Brace Map Graphic Organizer
• Type #12: Analogy Graphic Organizer
• Type #13: T-Chart Graphic Organizer
• Type #14: Timeline Chart Graphic Organizer
• Type #15: Storyboard Graphic Organizer

Choose the type of organizer that you want from the navigation above or scroll down to see each of the different types included, one by one.

1 Circle Map Graphic Organizer

The purpose of the circle map is to brainstorm an idea or topic using related information.

A circle map consists of a large circle with another circle inside, where the main topic or idea takes center stage. Surrounding it is the larger circle where corresponding ideas flow.

As the second circle fills up, connections and definitions grow organically and visually. In the second circle, any type of wording can define the main idea; nouns, adjectives or even phrases.

Preschoolers can also use the circle map to learn simple concepts like colors and shapes.

For example, the triangle shape. The word "triangle" goes in the center, and surrounding it are things that have a triangle shape. The outer circle can even include how a triangle makes them feel.

Circle maps are great for brainstorming the very beginning of an idea . You can use it on a whiteboard for a group brainstorm session. With the help of a circle map, great ideas can begin to take shape, and eventually become complete and complex plans.

You can also use a circle map to get the ball rolling with a newly created team!

If the team members don’t know each other very well, a circle map exercise can break the ice and get them to open up about their ideas. Use the interior circle to ask, “What do we want to achieve with this project?” and watch the interaction flourish.

2 Spider Map Graphic Organizer

The spider map's purpose is to define a main topic with specific descriptive connections.

In this instance, the center circle stems off to other circles which surround it, creating a visual image of a spider. Each connected leg and circle will include a defining adjective or phrase.

The difference between a circle map and a spider map is that the circle map is more suited for a brainstorming stage, while the spider map is better for defining a topic in detail.

In schools, the spider map makes a regular appearance in science classrooms. Students learn to define new lessons visually, by defining the main topic with a spider map.

For example, consider the subject of animal families. The center circle is mammals and the surrounding circles represent characteristics like give birth, live young, have fur, etc.

In a marketing setting, you can use a spider map to define an audience persona.

In the middle circle, we state the general idea of the persona, such as "a multiracial millennial male." In the surrounding circles, we add defining adjectives like works for himself, lives in the city, considers his friends his family, and more.

Another use for a spider map is for goal setting. There are a couple of ways to do this. One is to figure out a set of goals in a timeframe, like the spider map example above on yearly goals.

The other idea is to map out why you want to complete a certain goal.

For example, "Why do I need a new website?" can go in the center. The surrounding circles can include things like the design is boring and dated or the UX is not working very well. This can then help sort out the exact things that you need to change on your website!

3 Idea Wheel Graphic Organizer

The idea wheel is like a mixture of the circle map and the spider map.

This graphic organizer works for brainstorming and organizing ideas at the same time. The center of the chart holds the main topic which is being studied and around it there can be other circles or shapes, a sectioned larger circle or connected bubbles.

The purpose of an idea wheel is to organize information hierarchically or as a sequence.

Thoughts are added around the main idea in specific sections, and then explained inside the same circle or with a shape stemming out.

Idea wheels are good for freestyle brainstorming and organizing information about a topic. It helps with taking notes while doing research or getting an idea of the bigger picture.

4 Idea Web Graphic Organizer

The idea web graphic organizer is a combination of two spider maps. It's basically a comparison organizer that defines differences and similarities between topics.

In an idea web, the two central circles contain the main ideas. Stemming out from both are circles of two types. In the two first stemmed circles are the shared similarities. Towards the sides are the circles that define the differences.

This type of organizer is perfect for situations in which concepts or ideas need a visual comparison. School students use idea webs for courses like Language Arts. They compare characters, situations and parts of the story, making it all easier to grasp.

Another situation in which an idea map could come in handy is when making decisions. If you have to choose between two solutions to a problem, an idea web can help you make a final decision.

By comparing and contrasting visually, the option becomes more clear. In the same way, an idea web can be a slide inside a presentation . It can show a comparison between concepts.

Idea webs can also work really well as infographics. The layout of the circles doesn’t need to follow a strict grid. Get creative with organizing the circles as long as they're still understandable.

5 Concept Map Graphic Organizer

Very similar to an idea web is the concept map . This type of graphic organizer can analyze one single topic instead of two or more topics at once.

A concept map and an idea web look very similar with circles stemming out from the center. The difference is that an idea web is for comparing while a concept map is for brainstorming and organizing .

Concept maps sometimes stem out in so many directions that they end up looking really complicated. These types of graphic organizers are good for many stages of content production. From the messy brainstorm stage to the more structured hierarchical organization.

This type of organizational chart usually ends up very large and complex. It's more suited for personal use than for an infographic or presentation. Although, a concept map is sometimes used for data visualizations that show connections between topics.

6 Venn Diagram Graphic Organizer

Venn Diagram organizers are similar to idea webs, but the visual difference is that the circles or sections overlap each other instead of being connected with lines.

Venn Diagrams are great for helping to find similarities and differences between concepts.

The similarities in a Venn diagram are placed in the union between two or more circles, while the differences are placed where the previous circles don’t meet.

Venn diagrams can become quite complex with many circles (or other shapes) overlapping in different areas, showing comparisons and differences between lots of different things.

Another great use for a Venn diagram is to show how one topic can include many different things to define it and how some of these can even be compared to each other, like in the example below.

If you want to create your own Venn diagram, you can find some practical and easily customizable Venn diagram templates inside Visme. Just pick one and start editing.

7 Tree Chart Graphic Organizer

When it's time to classify and organize information, the tree chart can be of great help. Visually, the tree chart resembles a real tree, and some people even associate it with a family tree.

The topmost section is the main title or topic, below that are the qualifiers or subtopics. Below the subtopics, the relevant information forms a list.

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Tree charts can be used in nearly every industry, especially in education. In an elementary school setting, they can help classify concepts, such as animal families or types of sentences.

A tree chart can be used as a visual outline for any type of written project like an essay or blog post. The title and introduction are placed at the top and the paragraphs branch out underneath.

A practical way of using a tree chart is to organize tasks for a large project. The name of the project goes at the top and each team is a subtopic below. Further below are the names of the team members and their relevant tasks.

8 Organizational Chart Graphic Organizer

Although it looks similar to a tree chart, an organizational chart has a different purpose.

A tree chart separates information into sections that stem from each other as classification, while an organizational chart is more about hierarchy.

The most common use for an organizational chart is for internal company purposes. It can help visually organize the positions of the founders and everyone who comes after.

The sections at the top of the chart are for the CEO, CFO, etc. Below them are the managers and so on in hierarchical order. The same system can be used to visualize a team inside a company.

Visme has some great templates for organizational charts that you can easily customize for your own company or project. You can also create one from scratch using the drag-and-drop editor.

Check out this video on how to make an organizational chart in Visme.

9 Sequence of Events Chain Graphic Organizer

A sequence of events chain is pretty much the same as a flowchart. This type of graphic organizer is a visual representation of a process, progression or set of instructions.

The main topic of a sequence of events chain is labeled outside of the map in the rectangle that surrounds it. Connected shapes form the steps in the progression or explanation of the chain. Some shapes can also have an extra one connected to it to describe that particular step.

We see sequence of events chains all the time in infographics about the growth of a startup or a topic’s progress of change. Here at Visme, we used a sequence of events chain to show how our graphics editor improved in 2017 with new feature updates.

Recipes also look great as sequence of events chains. Start at the beginning with the ingredients and then add the step-by-step process of the recipe, filling in each consecutive shape.

Sequence of events chains, just like idea webs, can be quite creative in their design. You can include illustrations, shapes, colors and even animations to make them more interesting.

10 Cause and Effect Map Graphic Organizer

The cause and effect map helps to figure out the causes and effects of certain events. The way to use it is to start with a main event, which fills the main central section of the map.

From the main section, other connected shapes stem out to the left and right. The shapes to the left represent the causes that helped the event happen. The shapes to the right are the effects of the chosen event. In some occasions, an effect can also become a cause, creating a feedback loop.

This graphic organizer can help to show the ways in which something is achieved by using the causes functionality. For example, "Be more productive" can be the main event. Some of the causes on each side could be spending less time on social media, or using a calendar or timer.

Another way to use a cause and effect map is to predict the outcome of a certain event.

For example, "Move the office to a bigger place downtown" can be the main event. To predict possible effects, connect shapes to the right of the main event and fill them in. Some of the resulting effects could be that it would be a longer commute, or we would be closer to networking events.

The cause and effect map can also be combined with a sequence of events chain. This way you can create a progression towards a cause, or a succession of events after an effect.

You could make a combined cause and effect map with a sequence of events chains for flipping a house. The main event would be "Flipping a House." The causes could include looking for a new investment, buying an old house or seeing a great opportunity to invest.

The cause and effect map is one of the most versatile of all graphic organizers.

11 Brace Map Graphic Organizer

A brace map helps analyze the parts of a whole and the relationship between them.

Visually, a brace map looks like a sideways tree chart. The difference is that a brace map spreads out into all the parts of the original whole. The tree chart, on the other hand, is more conceptual and used for organizing rather than separating concepts.

This type of organizer must include a real object or situation as the initial premise. Concepts and ideas are not what brace maps are for.

Math teachers use brace maps to help their students understand the parts that make up large numbers. By separating whole numbers into smaller parts, students can see how a number works visually. When it's time to add or subtract, students can use the knowledge learned through brace maps and feel confident about their conclusions.

For example, the number 563. The number is the initial object and to the right of it is a bracket. Inside the bracket are the parts of the number; 500, 60 and 3.

The number can be further separated by adding a brace next to each part. The parts of 500 are 100, 100, 100, 100 and 100. The parts of 60 are 30 and 30. The parts of 3 are 1, 1 and 1. Reading the brace map from right to left, all the parts add to the original whole, 563.

Outside of an academic setting, brace maps can help visualize the creation of a website. The initial object can be the website as a whole. To the right of it, a brace opens to reveal the main parts, in this case, the website's pages. Each page then opens a new brace which reveals everything that should be inside that page. A brace map can extend sideways until all the parts have been identified.

Another great use for a brace map is for workplace organization. A beautifully designed brace map can be made into a poster showing all the sections of a startup office, including who works where and where to find them. Or for a premier co-working space that houses all sorts of enterprises. A fun brace map can be used as an outline to show everyone how they can network with each other.

12 Analogy Graphic Organizer

A more unique example of a graphic organizer is the analogy organizer. This is an organizer used to find similarities between things and create analogies. In a few words, an analogy is a comparison of two things by showing their similarities.

This is how an analogy works:

Superman has the power of flight as Spiderman has the power of web-slinging.

We are comparing Superman to Spiderman by using what they have in common, a superpower.

For children, creating analogies is an important part of language development. Analogy organizers make it easier for them to internalize this knowledge.

An analogy organizer can be used to create a narrative style for a piece of written work. By using the main words in an idea and creating analogies with them, it can make content more appealing. From business proposals to informative blog posts, analogies can add a personal touch.

Another use of the analogy organizer is for a training session of a new team member. With the use of analogies, the training can be more fun than just a bunch of information they need to learn.

13 T-Chart Graphic Organizer

A T-Chart is a simple, but quite versatile organizational chart.

It's used mainly for comparing two topics . The most common use for a T-Chart is to compare the pros and cons of a decision that needs to be made. For example, what are the pros and cons of revamping your website ? Seeing it all mapped out can help you make the right decision.

Other visual uses for this type of organizational chart is to compare two things through their differences. T-Charts are not for finding similarities between things.

Visually, a T-Chart has a large heading at the top with the title and two columns side by side that are filled in with information according to each topic. It visually resembles the letter T. The information can be organized as a list with text or with images to support visually.

14 Timeline Chart Graphic Organizer

A timeline chart is a long line representing a span of time. All along the line, connected shapes stem out depicting events happening on certain dates. The events are organized in chronological order.

The main line that depicts a span of time can be visualized horizontally, vertically or as a freeform shape. A timeline chart can sometimes look like a sequence of events chain.

The difference between the two is that a timeline chart visually depicts the dates of things that have happened while a sequence of events chain is timeless.

This particular organizational chart is a good visualization tool for the classroom . It can be used for history projects and a better understanding of historical events.

15 Storyboard Graphic Organizer

The last organizational chart in this list is the storyboard. A storyboard visually looks like a simple comic strip . The purpose of a storyboard is to visualize a story with images .

Image Source

A common use for a storyboard is for video and film production. Each square in the storyboard can represent one scene in the film.

Another use for a storyboard is for UX designers to create customer personas and possible situations in which the website, app or product is used. Storyboards are also used in schools to teach sequencing and cause and effect in stories and fables.

A storyboard doesn’t need to be a static page with squares, it can also be cut into sections and used for creative writing organization. Writers can sketch the scenes in their story and organize the visual squares in any order until they are happy with the final outcome.

Create Your Own Graphic Organizer

As you can see, graphic organizers are a rich resource when it comes to creative analytical thinking processes. They help us visualize even the most complex ideas and make them tangible.

Sometimes, when we take on a new project, it can feel daunting and enormous. By using graphic organizers, we can relieve our brains of excessive thought work.

You can easily create most of the graphic organizers mentioned above in Visme with little or no design knowledge. Our library is full of professionally designed templates that you can use by simply plugging in your content, changing the colors, adding new shapes and more.

For example, it will take just a few minutes to create an idea web by adding circle shapes, lines and text. You can customize the colors, add background images and even animation and interactivity to make your graphic organizer more engaging.

Sign up for a free account and take Visme for a test drive.

How do you plan to use a graphic organizer? Which one is your favorite? Let us know your feedback, suggestions and questions in the comments section below.

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About the Author

Orana is a multi-faceted creative. She is a content writer, artist, and designer. She travels the world with her family and is currently in Istanbul. Find out more about her work at oranavelarde.com

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Blog Graphs and Charts 19 Graphic Organizer Examples to Simplify Complex Concepts

19 Graphic Organizer Examples to Simplify Complex Concepts

Written by: Danesh Ramuthi Nov 28, 2023

Graphic organizers serve as essential visual aids that assist students in structuring and displaying information in a clear, accessible manner. These tools are particularly effective in simplifying and demystifying complex topics, ensuring that intricate concepts are easier to understand and remember.

From Venn diagrams to concept maps, these organizers play a pivotal role in enhancing comprehension and retention of the main idea, especially in educational settings.

Each type of graphic organizer offers a unique approach to organize information, making it easier to grasp complex concepts and brainstorm ideas. These organizers are not just tools for visual representation, but also catalysts for deeper understanding and creative thinking.

Discover these engaging tools on Venngage and sign up today to start creating your own effective graphic organizers for enhanced learning.

By signing up , you gain access to a diverse array of graphic organizer templates, enabling you to create your own effective graphic organizers. 

Click to jump ahead:

Venn diagram

Concept map, double bubble map, hierarchy chart, cluster diagram, sequence chart, idea web graphic organizer, spider map graphic organizer, circle map graphic organizer, hexagon organizer, idea wheel graphic organizer, tree chart graphic organizer, sequence of events chain graphic organizer, cause and effect map graphic organizer, problem-solving chart, organizational chart graphic organizer.

• Bottom line 

A venn diagram is a highly versatile tool used to visually represent the relationships between different sets of items. Typically composed of overlapping circles, each circle represents a distinct set of items or ideas, with the overlapping areas indicating commonalities. 

Venn diagram is particularly effective in comparing and contrasting concepts, highlighting similarities and differences in a straightforward, easily comprehensible manner. Venn diagrams are widely used in various fields ranging from education to business, aiding in problem-solving, data analysis and brainstorming sessions. 

They offer a clear and concise way to visualize the connections and distinctions among multiple groups or concepts, making them an invaluable tool for organizing complex information.

Mind maps are dynamic tools used for brainstorming, planning and organizing thoughts in a visually appealing and structured manner. Centered around a single, central idea, they branch out into various related sub-topics, creating a spider-web-like structure. 

A mind map helps in visualizing the relationships between different ideas, fostering creative thinking and memory retention. Mind maps are commonly used in educational settings for note-taking, essay planning and studying, as well as in business for project planning and strategy development. 

Their flexible nature allows for the integration of words, images and colors, making them an engaging and effective way to explore and expand upon ideas, both simple and complex.

Concept maps are graphical tools used for organizing and representing knowledge. They consist of concepts, usually enclosed in circles or boxes, connected by labeled arrows in a downward-branching hierarchical structure. 

These maps are designed to illustrate the relationships among various concepts, often capturing complex structures of understanding or knowledge. 

Concept maps are particularly useful in educational settings for learning, teaching and assessment, as they encourage deep understanding and integration of new information with existing knowledge. 

In professional contexts, they aid in problem-solving, decision-making and explaining intricate processes or systems. 

Concept maps are a powerful tool for making sense of complex topics by visually breaking them down into more manageable components.

Story maps are specialized graphic organizers used for dissecting and understanding the elements of a story or narrative. They typically focus on identifying key components such as the setting, characters, plot, conflict and resolution. 

By breaking down a story into its fundamental elements, these maps provide a clear framework for analyzing and comprehending narratives. They are particularly useful in educational environments for teaching literary analysis, improving reading comprehension and assisting in creative writing. 

Story maps not only aid students in summarizing and understanding literature but also provide a structured approach for planning and outlining their own stories, ensuring a coherent and well-structured narrative flow.

The double bubble map is an effective graphic organizer used for comparing and contrasting two items, concepts or events. It features two central bubbles representing the items being compared, surrounded by outer bubbles that contain attributes or characteristics of each item. 

The unique aspect of this map is the inclusion of additional bubbles in the overlapping area, highlighting the similarities between the two central items.

A double bubble map provides a clear visual representation of how two entities are alike and different, making it a valuable tool in educational settings for critical thinking exercises, literary analysis and enhancing comprehension of complex topics.

The double bubble map helps students organize information systematically, encouraging them to explore and understand the nuances of comparison and contrast.

A hierarchy chart, also known as an organizational chart, is a graphic organizer that illustrates the structure of an organization or a system. It is structured in a top-down manner, with the highest level at the top (like a CEO or the main concept) and subsequent levels representing different ranks or sub-categories.

This type of chart is crucial for visualizing the chain of command within an organization or the breakdown of complex systems into smaller, more manageable parts.

Hierarchy charts are widely used in business for depicting organizational structures, in education for breaking down concepts and in project management for outlining the structure of a project. They offer a clear, easy-to-understand representation of relationships and roles within any hierarchical system.

The T-chart is a simple yet versatile graphic organizer that helps in comparing two aspects of a single topic. It consists of a large ‘T’ shape, with the vertical line dividing the page into two columns. Each column represents a different aspect, viewpoint or characteristic, allowing for a clear, side-by-side comparison.

T-charts are widely used in educational settings for analyzing texts, comparing historical events, or weighing pros and cons in decision-making processes. They are particularly helpful in enhancing students’ analytical skills, as they encourage them to organize their thoughts and view topics from multiple perspectives.

The simplicity of the T-chart makes it an accessible tool for students of all ages, fostering critical thinking and structured analysis.

Cluster diagrams, also known as cloud diagrams, are graphic organizers that help in brainstorming and organizing ideas around a central concept. The main idea is placed in the center, usually within a circle, and related ideas or subtopics branch out from it, forming a cluster-like structure.

This diagram is particularly useful for visualizing the relationships between a main concept and its various components or aspects. Cluster diagrams are widely used in brainstorming sessions, idea generation and planning phases of projects.

They encourage creative thinking and help in the exploration of complex topics by breaking them down into smaller, interconnected parts. This organizer is an effective tool for both individual and group activities, aiding in the visual representation and organization of thoughts and ideas.

Sequence charts are essential graphic organizers for outlining the chronological order of events or steps in a process. They are particularly effective in helping students understand the time-based progression of events in history, literature or scientific processes. 

Sequence charts typically consist of boxes or arrows that guide the viewer through a series of steps or events, emphasizing the order and interconnectivity of each part. 

In educational settings, they assist in simplifying complex sequences and timelines, making them more accessible and easier to remember. 

They are also used in project planning and workflow management, providing a clear visual representation of stages in a process or project.

Idea web graphic organizers are designed to visually map out the connections between a central idea and related concepts. 

At the heart of the web is the main topic, from which various lines or branches extend to link to secondary and tertiary ideas or details. This spider-web-like structure is ideal for brainstorming sessions, where it helps in organizing thoughts and fostering creative associations. 

Idea webs are widely used in educational contexts for essay planning, story writing and exploring complex concepts. They encourage students to think divergently, making connections between different ideas and expanding upon the central theme in a visually coherent way.

Spider map graphic organizers, resembling a spider’s web, are used for detailing the attributes or components of a central idea or theme. The main concept sits at the center, with lines extending outward to secondary nodes that represent related information or subtopics.

Spider maps are versatile tools in education for note-taking, studying and brainstorming, enabling students to visually organize and interconnect ideas. 

They also serve as valuable tools in project planning and conceptual mapping in various professional fields.

Circle map graphic organizers are utilized for brainstorming and defining concepts in a clear, concise manner. They consist of two concentric circles: the inner circle hosts the main idea or topic, while the outer circle contains information, attributes or related ideas. 

This map is particularly effective for initiating thought processes around a new topic, gathering prior knowledge or brainstorming ideas before delving into more detailed study or analysis. 

Circle maps are popular in educational settings for introducing new concepts, encouraging students to explore and connect their existing knowledge with new information, thereby facilitating a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Hexagon organizers are dynamic graphic tools used for exploring connections and relationships between various ideas or concepts. Each hexagon represents a unique idea or piece of information, and these hexagons are arranged next to each other to demonstrate how they interconnect.

Hexagon organizers are popular in brainstorming sessions, for mapping out systems or processes, and in educational settings to help students understand the interdependent nature of certain concepts or events.

Idea wheel graphic organizers are circular tools that help in brainstorming and organizing ideas around a central theme or question. The central hub of the wheel represents the main idea, and spokes radiate out to smaller circles or sections where related ideas or details are noted.

This organizer is effective for visualizing the components of a topic, planning essays or projects, and encouraging creative thinking. 

In educational settings, idea wheels assist students in exploring topics thoroughly, ensuring that all aspects are considered and helping them to see how different ideas connect to the central theme.

Tree chart graphic organizers are hierarchical tools used to represent the structure of ideas or concepts. Resembling a tree, the main idea forms the trunk and branches represent subtopics or related information. 

It is particularly effective for breaking down complex information into manageable parts, making it easier to understand and analyze.

Tree charts are widely used in educational environments for studying biology, corporate structures or family genealogies, as well as in business for mapping organizational hierarchies or decision trees. 

They provide a clear, visual method of showing relationships and hierarchies within a topic.

Read Also: What is a Decision Tree and How to Make One [Templates + Examples]

Sequence of events chain graphic organizers are linear tools designed to help visualize the order of events or steps in a process. Each link in the chain represents a sequential event or action, clearly illustrating the progression from one stage to the next.

It is invaluable in teaching narrative structure, historical timelines or scientific processes, as it helps students understand the temporal relationships between events. 

Sequence chains are also beneficial in project planning and workflow management, offering a straightforward method to track the progression of tasks or stages.

Cause and effect map graphic organizers are used to visually display the relationships between various causes and their effects. 

Each cause is linked to its direct effect, often using arrows or lines, allowing for a clear representation of the impact of various factors.

These organizers are particularly useful in scientific studies, history and literature analysis, as they aid students in understanding the interplay between different elements and their consequences. 

Cause and effect maps are also beneficial in problem-solving and decision-making processes, helping to identify potential outcomes of various actions.

Problem-solving charts are effective tools used for breaking down and analyzing complex problems into more manageable components. They typically involve identifying the problem, exploring possible causes, brainstorming potential solutions and then evaluating and selecting the most feasible options.

These charts are instrumental in both educational and professional contexts, aiding in critical thinking, decision-making and creative problem-solving processes.

By providing a structured approach to tackling challenges, problem-solving charts help individuals and teams to systematically address issues, ensuring that all aspects of a problem are considered before arriving at a solution.

Organizational chart graphic organizers are used to depict the structure of an organization or a group, illustrating the hierarchy and relationships between different roles and departments.

These charts typically represent higher-level positions at the top, with lines branching down to subordinate roles, clearly showing the chain of command and communication pathways.

They are essential in business and institutional settings for providing a clear overview of the organizational structure, facilitating better understanding and communication within the organization.

In educational settings, organizational charts aid in teaching concepts of management and organizational behavior, helping students visualize and understand complex organizational dynamics.

Related: 40+ Charts & Graphs Examples To Unlock Insights

Bottom line

Graphic organizers play a crucial role in learning and information processing due to their ability to visually structure and simplify complex information.

By leveraging the power of graphic organizers, you can transform the way information is absorbed and presented.

With Venngage’s user-friendly platform, the creation of your own custom graphic organizers is just a few clicks away.

Sign up on Venngage today and gain access to a treasure trove of graphic organizer templates, ready to be tailored to your educational needs. 

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12 Graphic Organizer Examples for Teachers and Students

Every teacher wants their students to fully understand the concepts taught in class. However, you may encounter topics that are difficult to teach and understand. It is necessary to employ an innovative approach in order to assist students in comprehending a challenging subject.

Graphic organizers are powerful tools that make complex concepts easier to teach and understand. They also help students develop visual literacy skills . Teachers find graphic organizers helpful for explaining difficult concepts, and students find them engaging. Graphic organizers are also great for presenting research data if, for example, the teacher wants to share a case study with students.

Now, what if you could quickly find and customize graphic organizers without spending hours brainstorming from scratch?Because there is a sea of engaging templates to choose from, you can create compelling visuals with just a few clicks. These graphics can be used for a number of different purposes, including teaching. With Piktochart, you can access and customize engaging graphic organizer templates in minutes – no design skills required. Simply create a free account to get started.

In this article, we will look at the 12 graphic organizer examples that greatly assist teachers and help students retain information for a longer period of time. 

What is a Graphic Organizer?

Graphic organizers are tools that help visually organize information and complex concepts in a way that is easy to understand and memorize. Graphic organizers effectively organize and visualize information by creating links between concepts or facts. By visually illustrating the relationships between concepts, graphic organizers make it easier to analyze and internalize information. 

We know that every mind works differently. Presenting information in a systematic, visual format enables students to follow along at their own pace and grasp relationships more easily than via verbal explanation alone. They can also be an invaluable tool for visual learners.

12 Graphic Organizer Examples for Different Learning Objectives

There are countless types of graphic organizers out there, as information can be organized and visualized in many different ways. We’ll focus on 12 of the most helpful types of graphic organizers for teachers and students, organized by the primary purpose each one serves.

Graphic Organizers for Brainstorming and Organizing Ideas

Some graphic organizers are specifically great for organizing ideas for brainstorming. Here are three examples. 

Mind maps are graphic organizers that organize information in a structured and visually attractive fashion. When a mind map is finished, you will get a structure that looks like a spider web. An example of the graphic organizer is the following mind map on Piktochart . It shows the values of a company, with different values branching out from the central idea, that is, company values . 

We all know that information retention can become quite difficult, especially when a number of different subtopics link to one main topic. A student could use a mind map to break down the taxonomy of living things, with ‘Organisms’ in the center, ‘Kingdoms’ branching out one level, ‘Phyla’ branching out from each ‘Kingdom’ and so on.  

Concept Map

Concept maps are another type of graphic organizer that excels at representing hierarchical information. They use boxes or circles to represent different concepts, with lines or arrows labeled to illustrate the relationships between them.

Concept maps have many uses in educational settings. They help in the sequential understanding of different concepts for students. For example, if a teacher has to break down a country’s government structure, he or she will most likely use a concept map to show the branches and subbranches of different government institutions systematically. 

Cluster Diagram

Cluster or cloud diagrams help brainstorm different ideas around a main concept. This type of graphic organizer is called a cluster because the topic or ideas related to the main idea form a cluster around it. For example, a cluster diagram can assist students determine how much they know about a topic and what areas need further research.

 This type of graphic organizer is very useful when generating ideas for a project or planning its different phases. Cluster diagrams break down a complex subject into smaller parts, both for individuals and for groups, for example, during defining scope of a project in its early stage.  

Graphic Organizers for Comparing and Contrasting

 The next type of graphic organizer helps you to compare two or more concepts. You can use this organizer to compare and contrast ideas, people, events, and policies. For instance, say you’re teaching a unit on different forms of government. You could use a compare and contrast graphic organizer to help students parse out key similarities and differences between a democracy and a dictatorship. This type of graphic organizer will be your go-to option. 

It is important to know that when you use this type of graphic organizer to compare two concepts, you are covering both the similarities and differences between those concepts. However, with contrast, only the differences are mentioned. Some examples of this category of graphic organizers are given below.

Venn Diagram

A Venn Diagram usually comprises two to three overlapping circles. The commonalities between the concepts are written in the shared or overlapping area, whereas all the distinct or unique features are mentioned in the part of the circle that does not overlap with any other circle. 

For example, you could have your students draw Venn diagram for the fruits and vegetables that red or orange. The common area between the two circles will contain vegetables like tomatoes that come in both these categories. The Venn diagram below shows the comparison of mitosis and meiosis. 

Another brilliant graphic organizer for comparing and contrasting is the “T Chart.” A T-chart is simply a table with two columns, usually comparing two items or ideas, or sorting data into categories. This type of graphic organizer is super quick to create and easy to understand, especially for students. T charts can also be used to categorize and jot down pros and cons.

The T chart is a popular option for both teachers and students because its layout is straightforward, and it offers a wide array of functions. For example, if the students are planning to go on a field trip but are not able to choose a location, then T charts can help a great deal. 

Teachers can ask the students to make a T chart of potential places and list the advantages and disadvantages of each of the locations in their respective columns. Also, a T chart is a great graphic organizer to show upsides and downsides of a topic.

Graphic Organizers for Sequencing and Cause-Effect

Next on the list are graphic organizers, which show the sequence or timeline of events. Sequence and timeline graphic organizers are particularly useful for teachers when presenting events in chronological order is important. Some of the graphic organizers that help students visualize the relationships between steps in a process or links in a chain of events are as follows.

A timeline graphic organizer shows a sequence of events in chronological order. History subjects make great use of timelines . Because major historical events can be shown in a proper sequence using a timeline. Along with dates, timelines give the flexibility to mention locations as well. For example, a timeline of the American Revolution could chart major turning points like the Boston Tea Party, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the Battle of Yorktown.

Timelines can also be used to show how a certain phenomenon has progressed over time, such as a business’s growth. The Piktochart timeline template below charts key events in the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Notice how the combination of images and concise text makes the chronology engaging and easy to follow. 

This type of graphic organizer shows the steps of a process and how all the steps combine in a sequence to make the process happen. Flowcharts systematically and clearly document and communicate how a process works and what steps are involved in it, from start to finish. When a process is mapped using a flowchart , potential areas or steps of improvement can be identified. 

Cause and Effect Diagram

As the name suggests, a cause-and-effect diagram groups those causes of a problem that either have already happened or might happen. Relationships between different contributing factors can also be shown using a cause-and-effect diagram.

Often referred to as an Ishikawa diagram, or a fishbone diagram, a cause-and-effect visual is one of the basic tools of quality . While often associated with root cause analysis in business and manufacturing, cause-and-effect diagrams are equally powerful for getting to the bottom of issues in the classroom. By mapping out all the potential contributing factors to a problem, students can start to identify patterns and actionable solution.

Source: Noria Corporation

Graphic Organizers for Main Idea and Supporting Details

This category of graphic organizers shows a main idea and its supporting ideas. It defines and visualizes a core concept and all its supporting details. It is a great tool that helps students develop an outline of a topic for better understanding. Some of the examples are given below.

Main Idea Web

This type of graphic organizer starts with a main idea and branches out into related sub-ideas. The key point behind web graphic organizers is sometimes referred to as a light bulb. It is predominantly  used to brainstorm ideas for writing purposes. For example, if a student wrote a report on photosynthesis, they could put “photosynthesis” in the center, then branch out to related subtopics like ‘chloroplasts’, ‘light-dependent reactions’, etc.

Herringbone Diagram

A herringbone diagram is used when processes are involved. This type of web organizer helps you break down variations in a process or causes that lead up to an effect. A herringbone diagram is particularly important for avoiding an event before it happens.

Graphic Organizers for Writing and Note-taking

Another group of graphic organizers we’ll explore focuses on writing and note-taking. Writing, especially essays, proves challenging for many students as they struggle with arranging ideas. Here are a couple of graphic organizers for writing, which can be of great help to you.

Essay writing is an important skill that students use throughout their lives. An essay map graphic organizer is a brilliant tool for students, as it helps them to chalk out the outline in a systematic manner without missing any detail. Once a student is done with his or her essay map, writing becomes a walk in the park.

Cornell Map

This graphic organizer is a popular technique for note-taking. Particularly during lectures and textbook reading, the Cornell Map template comes in handy as it helps students to jot down all the important ideas and information systematically. It usually has a cue column, a note-taking column, and a summary section. 

When students are taking notes, the key ideas, important dates, formulas and other such details would go into the “note-taking” column. They will add questions, cues, and headings in the “cue” column. Whereas, the “summary” section will include a summary of the notes as one or two key learning outcomes. This helps students identify important details when they revise their notes later on.  

Tips for Using Graphic Organizers Effectively

It is important for teachers to use graphic organizers in a manner that maximizes the chances of effective learning. Some of the tips to make sure a graphic organizer effective are given below.

• Simple is Always Better —Your graphic organizers must always be simple. This will help students learn quickly. For example, avoid complete sentences unless absolutely necessary.
• Offer a Variety of Graphic Organizers – Expose your students to different types of graphic organizers day-to-day. This will bring out the best in them in terms of creativity.
• Use the to Assess Student Learning – Give the students a task along with a graphic organizer focused on the skill in focus. Use their graphic organizers to assess their standing in the class. 
• Use them Frequently —Using graphic organizers frequently helps students internalize what is being taught. The more often students use these tools to engage with content, the more adept they’ll become at using them independently. 

A graphic organizer is a tool for teachers to explain complex problems to their students. Similarly, graphic organizers help students visualize the information being taught in class. 

There are different graphic organizers, each suited to a specific purpose or thinking process. Whether it’s brainstorming ideas, comparing and contrasting, sequencing events, mapping out an essay, or taking structured notes, there’s a graphic organizer that can help.Teachers can encourage their students to generate ideas by using graphic organizers in their lessons. Students can use graphic organizers to enhance their writing skills.

Piktochart is a one-stop solution that lets you create your own graphic organizer within seconds. It has both one-pager templates and multi-pager templates to cater to all kinds of requirements. Sign up on Piktochart now and make learning fun!

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6 Types of Graphic Organizers for Teachers and Students

What is a Graphic Organizer?

3 reasons why you should use graphic organizers , 6 graphic organizers that you can use in your class , start organizing your learning material today.

Being a teacher, you are always looking for opportunities to make learning engaging and simple for your students. And here, a graphic organizer is a tool that helps teachers visually organize learning material for students. In addition, it provides visual presentations to students for quick learning and understanding.

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This post will walk you through different graphic organizers and how they can help teachers provide an interactive learning environment. But, first, let’s explore the topic. 

A graphic organizer is a robust visual learning tool that helps teachers organize their students’ ideas. Educators can use graphic organizers to present complex concepts through interactive visuals. 

Students and teachers can use graphic organizers to brainstorm ideas and make hard decisions. In short, graphic organizers are visual tools to organize and present information. 

Graphic organizers are powerful teaching tools that help present information in an easy-to-understand format. Using different graphic organizers like charts and diagrams, teachers can create adaptive and simple learning material. Besides this, graphic organizers can help teachers in many ways, like:

1. Deeper understanding 

The best thing about graphic organizers is that they help students understand complicated things. In addition, when you pair graphic elements along with reading material, it will provide a visual perspective to your students. 

For example, when you teach students the life cycle of butterflies, they might not understand how a cocoon turns into a beautiful butterfly. However, showing a proper diagram of butterflies’ life cycle will provide a deeper understanding to your students.

Therefore, you should pair graphic tools with reading material to improve their comprehension. 

2.Helpful for all students 

It is challenging for teachers to create a learning material that can help everyone in the class. Especially if you have sensory-challenged children in your class, it is impossible to help all students with a learning resource. 

Fortunately, graphic organizers make learning easy for everyone. For example, attractive visuals can help physically disabled children understand things they can’t read. Similarly, children who are slow at learning can leverage visuals. This way, teachers don’t have to create different learning resources for each student. That will save them a lot of time. 

3. Increase engagement 

A big block of words can scare anyone. When your students see big paragraphs and no images, it will reduce their engagement. They will feel bored and uninterested in a lesson even before the beginning. 

On the contrary, they can process the information faster with colorful elements, various shapes, and diagrams. Graphic organizers will increase student engagement in learning. When students are engaged and focused on their learning material, it will automatically uplift their academic performance.

Several different graphic organizers are available for teachers in classrooms based on the available information and context. According to your data, you can use these types of graphic organizers in your class, such as:

1. Circle Map

A circle map graphic organizer is used to explain related concepts or brainstorm ideas. There is one large circle in this organizer and one small circle inside it. 

The main topic is defined in the small circle, and then the large circle is filled with related information. This organizer helps to establish connections and definitions to move organically. Teachers can use these graphic organizers to teach simple concepts to preschoolers, like colors or shapes. 

For example, you can write the color red in the small circle and mention all the red items in the outer circle, like apples, roses, etc. This will help your students identify all the red objects.

2. Spider Map

This graphic organizer comes in handy when explaining things with descriptive connections. This organizer looks like a spider web, so it’s called a spider map.

You have to draw a big circle with connecting arrows to create this map. This map helps to explain a definition that belongs to a group. For example, you can write mammal in a big circle and draw connecting arrows to mention all the animals that belong to a mammal family cows, dolphins, etc. 

3. Idea Wheel

As the name suggests, this graphic organizer helps to brainstorm ideas. It is a combination of a spider map and a circle map. In this diagram, you have to put the main idea in a small circle, and around it, you can create other circles or shapes to segment your concept. In the end, the organizer will look like a wheel.

4. Venn Diagram

Venn diagram is a popular web graphic organizer. This diagram helps explain the differences and similarities between the two concepts. In this graphic, two large circles are created, intersecting each other at a point where you will mention the main topic of the study.

5. Tree Chart

The classic tree chart is the perfect graphic organizer for categorizing and subcategorizing a topic into several sections. Using this chart, you can present extensive information in small sections for easy interpretation.

6. Sequence of Events Chain

This graphic organizer is similar to a flowchart. However, you will use graphics and visuals to establish the flow of different processes and procedures. For example, professionals use this organizer to create business presentations.

Whether creating learning material for preschoolers or high schoolers, using accurate graphic organizers will add more value to your resources. Students can better understand lessons and complex problems through visual presentation.

As you have already seen, there are multiple types of graphic organizers available. You have to select the right organizer to present your information attractively and effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does a graphic organizer do.

Graphic organizers are learning and teaching tools that help understand and interpret information faster. Various visual and text elements are used to create graphic organizers to make information accessible to everyone.

Is table a graphic organizer?

Yes, tables are also graphic organizers as they help categorize information into different blocks along rows & columns for easy understanding. Teachers can use tables to show attributes of items, compare and contrast topics, and evaluate information.

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The Ultimate Guide to Visual Note-Taking for Students and Teachers

Updated on: 5 January 2023

In the age of digital education, note-taking has taken on a new role. Where classes are held online over Zoom calls and lessons are explained with the help of an online whiteboard , note-taking is also increasingly becoming more digital in form. 

Students and teachers are using online document editing apps and visual collaboration tools to record and share information instead of writing everything down in a book. 

The use of visuals to map out ideas and to showcase interrelationships between them has become extremely popular over the last few decades, especially because visuals help the brain process information much faster and enhance memory and understanding better. 

In this post, we’ll dive into simple yet powerful visual note taking techniques students and educators can use along with tips on how to use them effectively. Whether you choose to do it by hand or use a digital tool like Creately , these methods can help you record information much faster in a structural manner.  

Templates provided are free and can be edited online; you can export them and take printouts or you can use them right away on Creately during your classes.

What is Visual Note-Taking?

Visual note-taking, also known as graphic visualization, visible thinking, and sketchnoting, combines both text and visuals to record information that is shared or experienced. 

As opposed to the traditional text-heavy form, visual note-taking makes use of images, structuring, connectors, and text to record information in a way that makes sense to the note-taker and helps them understand and comprehend the information quickly and easily.

Visual Note-Taking Techniques 

Visual note-taking represents information non-linguistically, which entails using pictures or drawings. While you can use sketches or doodles, you can also use more structural methods such as the ones listed below. You can also combine both sketching and the following diagram types for visual note-taking in a way that best suits you.

Mind maps are an easy yet powerful way to capture thoughts and visualize them in a logical manner. The tool focuses on relationships and hierarchy, hence it’s ideal for simplifying complex ideas. 

A mind map connects information around a central idea or topic. It has subtopics branching out of the central idea, revealing greater details about the subject and how they are interrelated. 

During note-taking, you can use mind mapping to record ideas without losing what’s about to come next. Plus it provides a good structure to your notes and helps them from getting messier or too crowded. Even if you are not adding any drawings, you can incorporate the elements of color and connectors into your mind mapping activity to make it more effective in terms of visual note-taking.

How To Do a Case Study Analysis Using Mind Maps

Concept Maps 

Concept maps are another great way to record knowledge. It also incorporates keywords, shapes, and connectors to visualize concepts . The central topic goes at the center and related ideas are placed surrounding it. They are then connected by arrows that have a brief explanation (1-2 words) on them to explain the type of relationship between the two ideas.

By using a concept map for note-taking you can easily organize your ideas, dig deeper into concepts, and find relationships that you would have missed when you heard about it first.

The Ultimate Guide to Concept Maps

How to Use Concept Maps for Studying and Organizing Information

Flowcharts 

Flowcharts visualize the flow of a process or event step by step leading to its outcome. It’s a great tool to graphically capture the thinking process in a logical and organized manner during note-taking.  

In business use, drawing a flowchart involves the use of many symbols, however, for education purposes, the basic shapes of Start and End (oval), Process (rectangle), and Decision (diamond) will suffice. Arrows are used to connect the steps and indicate the flow of action.

Ultimate Flowchart Tutorial

Flowcharting Basics: How to Create a Simple Flowchart

Thinking Maps 

Thinking maps include 8 visual-verbal learning tools that help visualize our thinking and thus give concrete images to abstract thoughts. Thinking maps enable meaningful learning as they help organize ideas and information in a way that is easy to understand. 

They also help break down complex information into easily comprehensible sections and discover connections in between. And they can be very useful during critical and creative thinking exercises. 

They include,

• Circle Map – Defining in context and brainstorming 
• Bubble Map – Describing using adjectives 
• Flow Map – Ordering and sequencing 
• Brace Map – Depicting the whole of something and its parts 
• Tree Map – Classifying and grouping 
• Double Bubble Map – Comparing and contrasting 
• Multi-flow map – analyzing causes and effects 
• Bridge map – Seeing analogies

Refer to our guide to effectively using thinking maps to learn how to effectively use them in the classroom for note-taking.

Graphic Organizers 

A graphic organizer is a tool that is used to organize information and ideas in a way that is easy to comprehend and internalize. It combines text, shapes, and connectors to simplify concepts and show connections between their elements.

Persuasion maps, sequence charts, story maps, learning maps are some of the popular types of graphic organizers out there.  Here are 19 types of graphic organizers with templates that you can easily utilize for visual note-taking during lessons.

Venn Diagrams 

Venn diagrams are used to compare ideas, concepts, or items. At a glance, they reveal the differences and similarities between or characteristics of two or more things. During a lesson where the teacher is comparing two concepts, students can use Venn diagrams to note down connections and disparities between them.

Visual Note Taking Tips 

Like any other note-taking method, visual note-taking also may vary based on the user. Whether you would like to rely on sketching or a well-structured method like mind mapping, here are a few tips on making your visual-notes more effective. 

Adding Images

The purpose of adding images to your visual notes is to make them more memorable and comprehensible. Therefore, any illustration you add should always be directly related to the information in order to avoid confusion. 

Always write down information before adding illustration, and always accompany an image with text in your notes to provide more clarity. 

Adding Text 

Equally important as visuals in visual note taking is text.  The good thing is that you don’t have to write down everything your teachers say – only capture the key points and meaningful quotes without trying to summarize everything. 

When adding text, use them in a visually appealing way. 

• Include different fonts and font sizes, so that you can emphasize the important words or sentences on your notes
• Avoid long sentences by adding symbols, abbreviations, and images 
• Avoid making lists or creating outlines and rely on chunking information to leave as much white space for clarity as possible
• Add containers (boxes, circles, thought clouds, etc.) around the text to provide more structure and for emphasis  

Using Connectors 

Use arrows and lines to connect ideas and highlight relationships or the flow between them. They help easily distinguish between the key concept and supporting ideas. 

Structuring

Follow a proper structure to maintain a sensible flow of information. Place the key topic or central theme in the middle of the canvas. Related pieces of information are to be added surrounding the topic at the center. 

Or you can organize it from top to bottom, with the key subject at the top and the other pieces of information cascading down, creating levels of hierarchy.

Place the unfamiliar concepts or words on one side of the canvas under a further research section, to easily spot them and as a reminder.  

• Use a framework for your visual notes; the techniques discussed above can be used here
• Use white space as much as possible to separate major ideas 
• Limit your notes to one idea or concept per page 

Using Colors 

Colors, like different font types and sizes, are another great way to highlight key areas on your notes and differentiate between information. Use between 2-3 colors to keep things clear.  

What’s Your Take on Visual Note-Taking? 

Human beings are highly visual – from cave paintings in the stone age to modern-day emojis, communicating visually is something that we’ve always loved and visuals accompanied by text have always been a powerful way to capture and share ideas.

Where 65% of the population identifies themselves as visual learners, visual note taking is a no-brainer. And learning the visual note taking techniques above can help you one way or the other. 

Let us know any other visual note taking technique that you love to use in the comments section below.

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The Great and Powerful Graphic Organizer

October 22, 2017

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Some of our most powerful instructional tools have been hanging around forever, just waiting for us to notice them.

One of those tools is the graphic organizer. It’s so simple—just a few shapes and lines, nothing fabulous, no bells or whistles—and yet beneath its simplicity lies an absolute dynamo, a vehicle that can cement learning more firmly than a lot of the other stuff we try, in a lot less time.

Let’s look at why graphic organizers are so powerful, explore some ways to use them that you may not have tried, and consider a few important tips for using them with the greatest impact.

Why Graphic Organizers Work So Well

According to Allan Paivio’s theory of dual coding , humans process information in both visual and verbal form. When we see the word “book,” we picture a book in our minds, because we’ve had plenty of real-life experiences with books. When we’re learning new words or concepts, it’s helpful to try to form mental images for those ideas to reinforce their meanings.

While some approaches like doodling  and the mind’s eye strategy apply this theory by having learners create physical and mental pictures of concepts, a graphic organizer keeps the words, but arranges them on a page visually so we better understand how concepts are related. Decades of research with various age groups and in different content areas has shown that in general, when graphic organizers are incorporated into instruction, student learning improves (Hall & Strangman, 2002).

Graphic organizers also help us meet the needs of all learners. Presenting information in both text and graphic formats is one of the most basic ways to make a lesson accessible to more students—the basis of  Universal Design for Learning —and graphic organizers definitely fit the bill there. In fact, much of the research on graphic organizers has focused on how powerfully they can impact the learning of students with learning disabilities and special needs (Dexter, Park, & Hughes, 2011; Douglas, Ayres, Langone, & Bramlett, 2011).

10 Uses for Graphic Organizers

1. note taking.

Have students use graphic organizers to take notes on their reading, when doing research, while watching a film, or while listening to a podcast. If you are already familiar with the content and how it’s structured, you might choose or design an organizer ahead of time for students, which research says can be more effective and efficient than having students create their own. (See the Tips section below for more information on this.)

2. Lecture Support

Instead of giving a lecture with a standard PowerPoint or an outline, present your content in a graphic organizer. This will instantly give students a way to visualize how the concepts are related to each other. If students ever give their own presentations, have them try using graphic organizers to present their information.

3. Pre-Writing

Having students use graphic organizers to plan and structure their ideas before putting them into a draft is a common practice in English language arts classes. If you’ve never tried it, it’s worth adding this into your writing process, especially if you teach a content area where writing isn’t a regular part of student work. A warning:  Do not treat the organizers as the writing piece ; have students just jot notes down in these, rather than complete sentences. The bulk of student writing time should be spent actually drafting their piece.

4. Text Illustrations

When students do expository or argumentative writing, consider having them add a graphic organizer to their finished product to illustrate a concept in their piece. In this case, the organizer would NOT be a pre-writing tool, but a supportive diagram to aid in their own readers’ comprehension. This may not work for all topics, but if a student is writing about how bees make honey, for example, a diagram that shows the process from flower to honey would go a lot further to help the reader understand than a downloaded image of a bee hovering over a flower. As students create diagrams to support their own texts, they will be more likely to pay attention to those that appear in the texts they read.

5. Pre-Reading

As students get older and are faced with more challenging texts, especially in content areas outside of English language arts, their comprehension gets a considerable boost if they are trained to identify the text structure prior to reading (Baxter & Reddy, 2007, p. 23). Some common text structures are compare and contrast, description, problem-solution, cause and effect, and sequence of events . Once the structure has been identified, students can complete a supporting graphic organizer while they read and fill in the components as they encounter them.

Another pre-reading graphic organizer is the KWL chart , which helps activate prior knowledge before reading and primes students to read with a purpose. KWL charts can work for any age group and can be used for single texts or at the beginning, middle, and end of an entire unit.

To read a comprehensive overview of research on graphic organizers as a reading strategy, see Manoli & Papadopoulou, 2012.

6. Assessment

Instead of assessing student learning with a quiz, try having students complete a graphic organizer that shows the relationships between various terms or concepts, or use this type of activity as one question on a quiz or assessment. Although this will not work for all content, it might be just right for evaluating whether a student understands the bigger picture of a body of content.

7. Thinking Tools

When we deliver content to students through lecture, readings, or video, our next step should be to have students interact with the content in some way. This can be accomplished with class discussions , lab work, or project-based learning . Another simple class activity that gives students a chance to grapple with the content is completing a graphic organizer: In groups, pairs, or even on their own, have students organize chunks of the content into graphic organizers, then compare their results to other groups. For example, if a foreign language class is studying vocabulary words for food, they could use a hierarchical organizer (like the one shown above) to organize “food” words into smaller groups, like meats, fruits, vegetables, and so on. This kind of sorting gives them more interaction with the terms and helps them work with similarities and differences, another powerful instructional strategy.

8. Unit Planning

When introducing a unit to students, show them how the parts of the unit fit together with a graphic organizer. Not only will this give them a sense of where you are in the unit at any given time, it should also help them understand why they are learning the individual parts. Bonus: Doing this exercise yourself could help you decide what concepts are most important for students to learn, and identify other things that may be “nice to know,” but aren’t necessarily vital to student understanding.

9. Classroom Management

Too often we hear “management” and think of dealing with problems, but a huge part of effectively managing a classroom is making your policies, procedures, and expectations crystal clear. Teachers often make signs listing class rules and procedures in writing, but putting the most important ones into graphic form will increase the likelihood that students will follow them.

10. Retrieval Practice

Just recently we covered the power of  retrieval practice to help students learn and retain information more effectively. One retrieval practice technique is called a Brain Dump, where students try to recall as much as they can about a given topic, without the aid of any supporting texts. After doing the dump, students are then allowed to check their texts to confirm, correct, or add to the information they retrieved. But if we added a step—having students sort their dumped information into some kind of graphic organizer, possibly even working in pairs to do so— then have them go to the text, it could further solidify the benefit of the retrieval and help them get very clear on where they have gaps in their knowledge.

Tips for Using Graphic Organizers Effectively

• Model how to use the organizers. If students aren’t taught how to use graphic organizers through teacher modeling and guided practice, they won’t get much from them. So take the extra step and model their use.
• Avoid complete sentences. Unless you have a very good reason to insist that students use complete sentences on their organizers, don’t do it. Complete sentences take up too much space, they take longer to write, and the effort to hold students accountable misses the whole point of the organizer. Show students how to use bullet points and sentence fragments to get ideas down and show how they are related.
• For complex material, consider teacher-generated organizers. In a 2007 study, students who were presented with author-created graphic organizers along with reading materials produced evidence of deeper learning in less time than those who had to produce their own graphic organizers (Stull & Mayer, 2007). When you present these to students, consider filling them only partially and having students complete the rest ; this has been shown to help students recall information more effectively and teach them how to take graphic organizer notes on their own (Robinson et al., 2006).
• Let students color outside the lines. Literally. As sketchnotes grow in popularity, educators are starting to recognize the power of doodling as a learning tool. Graphic organizers can be enhanced with small doodles and other notes that fall outside the basic structure of the organizer. As long as the student can still see the original structure and the drawings make sense to him or her, these “enhanced” organizers can reinforce concepts even more deeply.
• Offer a variety of organizers for day-to-day use. Once students become familiar with a certain type of organizer, they may find other uses for it that you haven’t even thought of. If you make these available to them in the same way that you might provide dictionaries or pencil sharpeners, you might find that students start using them even when they haven’t been assigned.

Want Them Ready-Made?

My Graphic Organizer Multi-Pack contains 15 beautiful designs, all done on editable PowerPoints and Google Slides, so you can customize them to suit your needs. The pack also includes video tutorials that show you exactly HOW to customize them. Click here to get a pack for your classroom!

References:

Baxter, S., & Reddy, L. (2007). What content-area teachers should know about adolescent literacy. National Institute for Literacy. Retrieved from https://lincs.ed.gov/publications/pdf/adolescent_literacy07.pdf.  PDF

Dexter, D. D., Park, Y. J., & Hughes, C. A. (2011). A meta‐analytic review of graphic organizers and science instruction for adolescents with learning disabilities: Implications for the intermediate and secondary science classroom. Learning Disabilities Research & Practice , 26 (4), 204-213.  PDF

Douglas, K. H., Ayres, K. M., Langone, J., & Bramlett, V. B. (2011). The effectiveness of electronic text and pictorial graphic organizers to improve comprehension related to functional skills. Journal of Special Education Technology, 26 (1), 43-56.  PDF

Hall, T., & Strangman, N. (2002). Graphic organizers. Wakefield, MA: National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum. Retrieved March 20, 2009. PDF

Manoli, P., & Papadopoulou, M. (2012). Graphic organizers as a reading strategy: Research findings and issues. Creative education, 3 (03), 348.  PDF

Robinson, D. H., Katayama, A. D., Beth, A., Odom, S., Hsieh, Y. P., & Vanderveen, A. (2006). Increasing text comprehension and graphic note taking using a partial graphic organizer.  The Journal of Educational Research ,  100 (2), 103-111.  PDF

Stull, A. T., & Mayer, R. E. (2007). Learning by doing versus learning by viewing: Three experimental comparisons of learner-generated versus author-provided graphic organizers.  Journal of Educational Psychology ,  99 (4), 808.  PDF

What to Read Next

Categories: Instruction , Learning Theory , Podcast

Tags: learning & memory , teaching strategies

28 Comments

Hi! I’m very interested in using graphic organizers in my classroom. Does this approach work well in a high school science classroom?

High school science would be a perfect place for graphic organizers! I would suggest starting with uses #2 and #7 if you haven’t used them with students before, but really, all ten would work great in high school science, so dive in!

Hi Chelsea and Jennifer, I teach secondary school science in the UK and love using graphic organisers to help the students make notes, understand the links between different things and make comparisons. e.g. we used Venn diagrams in Year 7 (age 11/12) recently to compare two different specialised cells; and a spider web style organiser to summarise structure and properties of small covalent molecules. Sometimes I prepare graphic organisers with prompts or questions in boxes to help the students complete them ‘independently’. Thank you for your work Jennifer, I love reading your posts, and can’t wait to try out your suggestions in the classroom!

I love your work! I work with new teachers and you have simplified the how and clarified the why. I recommend your work to everyone. I recently shared your Single-Point rubric at a state meeting. Thank you!

Hey Jenn, Another graphic organizer tool for students to use is SmartArt in MS Word or PowerPoint. These are simple shapes preset in various arrangements, but the power is the outline pane that allows you to easily increase or decrease the number of shapes. It’s great in the context of your article because there is not a preset number of “boxes” to fill in. While the teacher can determine which SmartArt arrangement to use, this allows the student to decide how many to make use of. Thanks for the article! I especially like the idea of using a Graphic Organizer as an assessment tool. I plan to try that this week. I’ve started to refer to your weekly topic often in my department meetings. It’s proven to be a great way to start an awesome discussion! –jeff

Jennifer, Thanks for posting this! I love graphic organizers and this is a wonderful resource. I wonder if you have come across David Hyerle’s Thinking Maps in your research on GAs? Here are a couple of links, if you haven’t. I think Hyerle has come up with something really powerful.

http://www.thinkingfoundation.org/ http://www.thebalancebetween.com/

Hyerle also has several books in print. I have no connection with Hyerle, just a big fan.

Thanks so much for these links, James. I have been referred to Thinking Maps over and over, and they seem wonderful. I have to admit, it’s been frustrating, because it’s like standing outside a beautiful store I can’t go into. Everything I’ve read about Thinking Maps indicates that the only way to learn about them is through an in-school training, and since I am no longer in the classroom, I can’t take advantage of that. I really wish they had some kind of online resources for people outside of school systems to learn. I would imagine homeschoolers must feel the same frustration! If you’re aware of how an ordinary Joe like myself can learn more, I’d love to take advantage of it. Thanks.

I’m not a teacher in a classroom, but I’ve started drawing mindmaps in organizing my always racing brain. It really helps to see my ideas laid out in picture form in a nice, logical flowchart. I can see how this technique would be invaluable in the classroom. Thanks for sharing!

Hi Jennifer! I’ve recently discovered your podcast and, as an instructional coach, have taken away great ideas/research to share with my teachers! Looking at your collection of graphic organizers on TPT, I noticed they are recommended for grades 6+. What’s the most effective way to use graphic organizers with elementary school kids? I’ve used them in the past, but always love when I can find research to back it up.

Hi, LeeAnn!

I work for Cult of Pedagogy, and also taught at the elementary level for many years. It’s funny because I remember years ago when I kind of stopped using graphic organizers, because I just didn’t see them making much of an impact on student learning. In hindsight, I think it’s mostly because I really didn’t know how to use them with intention or with an end goal in mind. I needed to be more purposeful and direct with my teaching, helping kids understand how organizers are a tool that helps them plan their ideas, make connections, and see how concepts are related. I think I was using them just to use them, or maybe because some of them looked kinda cute. Now I’m back to graphic organizers with a whole new intention! As with any tool, and with at any age, I think as long as teachers are doing lots of modeling, direct teaching, and being really clear on how and why we use organizers, they’ll be effective. Circles, lines, words, doodles…even with the youngest of kids, are effective when used with intention. As a side note, although Jenn’s organizers say for grades 6+, I’ve used them with younger kids too. In addition to Jenn’s post , here are a few other resources that may interest you. I hope this helps! Teaching and Learning with Graphic Organizers and How to Use Graphic Organizers to Enhance Learning .

Great resource!

Hi Jennifer, Thanks you for this great resource, and for all the great work you do in this space on the craft of teaching! I am a late-starter to the education sector but loving it!

Something that I would like more guidance in, and I think it is related to this area, is the issue of starting an extended response (essay).

A question I often get from students is how do I start the essay, to which my standard response (based on my “How to write an introduction” model: Thesis statement; Roadmap; Glimpse of my conclusion), is to use my classic Essay starter…”This essay offers a discussion / reflection / explanation on…” (This is how I actually used to begin all of my essays at University. I know – I’m just not very creative!). Other tips I would give my students is to use key words from the actual question provided, so that the language is correct, and that they address the question right away. I never suggest that they repeat the question.

I know there isn’t a simple formulaic response but if you can point me in the right direction I would be very grateful.

Kindest regards, Tivoli

I’m thinking that an inductive learning lesson could work really well with helping kids understand what goes into an effective introduction. See what you think!

I think this article is helpful and yet the irony is that there is no graphic organizer to show how this tool can be useful or how to develop them for your content. There are only lists and bullet ponits. Consider adding one?

This author reminded me of the power and effectiveness of graphic organizers in helping students organize, make meaning and see the connections to the items they are learning or thinking about.

This information was a great reminder on the power of GO’s!

I am a very visual person and so I like to use graphic organizers a lot. Good to know it can be beneficial for the students as well.

I teach highly gifted K2. I’m looking for a visual way to help my students (who may be smart, but don’t always like to write) organize their thoughts and get them onto paper (or digital doc)! Do you have suggestions?

If you haven’t already, take a look at the resources below and see what you think. They all offer a way for kids to visually organize and represent their thinking outside of the structure that graphic organizers typically provide.

Hexagonal Thinking: A Colorful Tool for Discussion A Simple Trick for Success with One-Pagers To Boost Higher-Order Thinking, Try Curation Note-Taking: A Research Roundup Dual Coding Strategy

Hope this helps!

These are so useful. I love using graphic organizers (not all fit every student). I love the jotting note part instead of using it as the whole paper!

Fantastic knowledge and reminders of how impactful graphic organizers can be for students to have as a resources to gather and collect their thoughts and ideas.

Great reminders.

This was such a great reminder of how powerful graphic organizers are. They are a simple tool with endless opportunities to enhance learning. I love the idea of having a student create a G.O. as a text illustration for a piece of writing that they do. This encourages reflection, metacognitive thinking, and deeper thinking.

We’re so glad you enjoyed the post, Erica!

What is more effective for grades 4-6, digital or paper graphic organizers. Same question for grades 6-8?

Hi Deb, Now that we have so many amazing digital resources, it can feel like we need to incorporate them into our lessons all the time. Though there doesn’t seem to be a definitive answer in terms of one being more effective, teachers can still use both. Certain activities might make sense with one over the other, or if given a choice, students might demonstrate a preference. If you’re looking for ideas on making your lessons more tech-friendly, try 16 Ideas for Student Projects Using Google Docs, Slides, and Forms . And if you’re thinking about whether your tech tools are actually helping your students meet their learning goals, this article, Quality-Check Your Tech: 6 Strategies might be helpful as well.

My students have a tendency to want to use graphic organizers as a first draft rather than a list of ideas. Do you have a strategy for teaching how to put ideas into bullet points rather than going straight to sentence writing?

Felicia, if you haven’t already, check out the section Tips for Using Graphic Organizers Effectively at the end of this post. One simple, but effective, strategy for teaching students how to capture their ideas using bullet points is modeling and guided practice. For instance, you might consider creating a partially-generated graphic organizer to accompany a complex text. This would serve not only to scaffold the text itself, but also to provide guided practice for students in the use of graphic organizers. I hope this helps!

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10 Free Graphic Organizer Templates for Any Subject

Different lessons require different types of content to help students learn. Here are 10 free graphic organizer templates to use for any subject.

Most students are returning to the classroom in Fall 2021, but everyone’s learning methods have had to change over the past two years. It’s important to adapt as an educator with new techniques , digital materials, and fresh content to keep students engaged .

For any subject, graphic organizers provide effective ways to introduce, teach, develop, and test new material. But different lessons require different types of content to help students learn best. I’m going to give you 10 free graphic organizer templates to use for any subject – just use the Make It button to customize, label, and download your graphic organizer.

• Venn Diagram
• Plot Pyramid
• Brainstorm Chart
• Concept Map
• 5-Paragraph Essay Outline
• 4 Square Writing Chart

1. Flowchart

The Flowchart is one of the most versatile and recognizable forms of graphic organizer out there, ideal for project planning and science experiments. A goes to B goes to C goes to D . With this version, you can copy and paste sections of the chart to make it as long or as short as you need, label each section with specific details, and add a title and other information for your assignment.

2. Timeline

The Timeline is similar to the flowchart , with events spaced out along a single path . In a Timeline, however, the intervals between the events is important to the graphic organizer as a whole. Using this template, you can drag events from one point of the Timeline to another, and add text labels for years and events.

3. Venn Diagram

One of the most widely-used graphic organizers, the Venn Diagram provides a simple way for students to compare and contrast 2 or more distinct ideas. With this template, you can copy and recolor the Venn Diagram circles to compare any number of items with each other.

4. Plot Pyramid

This graphic organizer is most commonly used in elementary and middle school English, language arts, and literature classes. It’s used to identify and map the various stages of a plot arc , from exposition to conclusion. Use this template to title the Plot Pyramid and add any other relevant information you need.

5. Brainstorm Chart

The Brainstorm Chart is a far more freeform type of graphic organizer than most others on this list, and can be arranged almost any way you like. All it requires is a central idea or “problem” to solve, along with an array of other ideas and concepts that are connected to it, and supporting details for these connected points. The freeform nature of the Brainstorm Chart allows students to think creatively and originally on any subject.

6. Concept Map

The Concept Map is similar in form to the Brainstorm Chart, but with slightly more limitations on how it’s used. It’s used to illustrate the relationships that exist between various related concepts , filling in different sections of the organizer to show how the different parts are connected. The Concept Map is perfect for introducing students to a new set of related vocabulary terms in any subject.

7. 5-Paragraph Essay Outline

While some of your students may not remember the 5-paragraph essay too fondly years later, it’s an important step in developing their persuasive writing . This classic 5-paragraph planner is perfect for helping students construct their arguments, counter-arguments, supporting data, and conclusions before they put pen to paper.

8. 4 Square Writing Chart

The 4 Square Writing Chart is similar to the 5-paragraph essay outline, it gives space for looser organizational styles and more creative types of writing structure . The central area contains the main idea or argument, and the surrounding squares are filled with supporting arguments, sections of a narrative essay, personal experiences, or several sides to the same story.

9. Story Map

The Story Map is used for a similar purpose to the Plot Pyramid, but with a broader approach to narrative plot arcs. In the Story Map, students not only recount the plot progression of a story, but detail the setting , characters , and central problems and outcomes . There are dozens of ways to organize your own Story Map, so I recommend you use this template to include whatever areas are most important for your students to identify and analyze.

10. KWL Chart

KWL Charts ask students to write on three different things before and after completing a lesson, activity, or reading: what they Know already about the topic, what they Want to learn from the lesson, and, afterward, what they Learned from the experience. It creates more of a big-picture exercise than most of the graphic organizers on this list, allowing students to identify what they gain from their lessons.

I hope these graphic organizer templates help you engage students effectively in every subject you teach. For more tips and tutorials on creating great digital content in 2021, check out the Kapwing YouTube channel or read through some related articles on education materials:

• 10 Back to School Frames for Fall 2021 • The 4 Best Ways to Learn Video Editing Online • How to Add Subtitles to a Lecture Video • How to Make a Frayer Model Online

The Ultimate Back-to-School 24-25 Guide to Teacher TikTok

10 Fun Morning Announcement Ideas for Schools, Backed by Pedagogical Research

How to Translate Videos to Support ELL/ESL Learners Using AI Dubbing

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Free Graphic Organizer Templates

Help your students classify ideas and communicate more effectively with these free graphic organizer templates, available for download. They can be used to structure writing projects and help in problem solving, decision making, studying, planning research, and brainstorming.

Printable Graphic Organizers

Select a blank graphic organizer from the following categories depending on your curriculum needs.

Sequence of Events

• Step-by-Step Chart
• Sequence Chart
• Time-Order Chart

Main Topic and Key Details

• Garden Gate
• Describing Wheel
• Cluster/Word Web 1
• Cluster/Word Web 2
• Cluster/Word Web 3  
• Idea Rake  
• Ticktacktoe
• Four-Column Chart
• Inverted Triangle
• Persuasion Map
• Ice Cream Cone

Compare/Contrast

• Venn Diagram

Story Planning

• Story Map 1
• Story Map 2
• Story Map 3
• Planning Chart

Essay Planning

• Introduction Paragraph Outline
• Five-Paragraph Essay Outline

Other Graphic Organizers

• Sense Chart
• Problem/Solution Chart
• ISP Chart (Information, Sources, Page)
• Fact and Opinion
• Five W's Chart
• Goal-Reasons Web
• Observation Chart

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Graphic Organizers 101: Why and How To Use Them

An incredibly valuable tool for every student, every subject.

Even if you’ve never heard of graphic organizers, chances are good you’ve been using them in one form or another all your life. That pros and cons list you made before making a big purchase? The family tree you’re working on? Your school’s org chart? They’re all graphic organizers. Here’s what you need to know about using this powerful tool with students of all ages.

What are graphic organizers?

Source: @thecomfortableclassroom

Put simply, graphic organizers are a way of organizing information visually to help students understand and remember it. They’re tools that let kids make connections, create a plan, and communicate effectively. A good organizer simplifies complex information and lays it out in a way that makes it easier for a learner to digest. Graphic organizers may include text and images, depending on the purpose and student’s learning style.

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How do I use them?

Source: @yourteacherbestie

You can provide students with pre-printed organizers or encourage them to draw their own. Either way, teach students how to use them by modeling the behavior first. Consider making anchor charts for commonly used types so students can refer back to them as they work.

With younger students, work to help them understand how to choose certain types of organizers depending on their goals. For instance, students taking notes while they study may find a concept map most helpful. When comparing two topics, a Venn diagram or T chart is probably the best choice. Here are some ways to use graphic organizers in various subjects (and explanations of them below).

Language Arts

• Use a story map or story mountain to diagram the characters, setting, and key plot points.
• Try a web organizer to keep track of character relations and connections.
• Learn vocabulary words with a Frayer model that lays out meaning, synonyms, examples, and illustrations.
• Map out the topic, main ideas, and supporting facts of an essay before you start writing.
• Use a story map or mountain to plan creative writing.

Math and Science

• Use a Frayer model to define and understand terms and formulas.
• Compare two or more concepts with a Venn diagram (like area and perimeter).
• Create a visual representation to solve a story problem.
• Plan an experiment with a sequence organizer.
• Start the exploration of a new topic with a KWL organizer to understand what students already know, what they want to learn, and what they do learn.
• Draw a timeline to understand the order of events in history.
• Use idea webs or concept maps to keep track of information as you read and help you study.
• Dig deeper into a topic with a cause and effect organizer.

What types of graphic organizers should I use in my classroom?

Graphic organizers come in a wide array of styles. Here are some of the most common types to try with your students.

Source: Mrs. Byrd’s Learning Tree

This is one of the first organizers many kids learn to use. For little ones, story maps are simple, laying out the setting, characters, and beginning, middle, and end. Older students can expand the map to take in more details.

Timeline and Sequence of Events

Source: Growing Kinders

Here are two more common organizers kids will recognize. Timelines are generally used in history and social studies classes, though they can be helpful when reading books too. Use sequencing organizers to lay out the steps of a procedure or science experiment.

Story Mountain

Source: @goodmorningmissbagge

A story mountain is helpful both when reading and preparing to write. Students map out a story from start to finish, building up to a climax and back down to the conclusion.

Source: Mrs. Kurt’s All Star Kindergarten Blog

KWL (What I K now, What I W onder, What I L earned) charts are a terrific way to help kids think about what they want to learn about a topic and hold them responsible for actually finding out that information. The first column is a list of everything they already know. The second column lists what they’d like to learn, and the third one provides new information acquired along the way.

Source: Krazy for Kindergarten Goes to Third Grade

When there’s a lot of information to remember about a subject, idea webs are a terrific way to organize it all. It’s a more interesting way to explore a subject than just making a list or taking notes and one that’s more likely to help kids actually remember the information.

Concept Map

Source: Evidence-Based Teaching

A concept map takes an idea web to the next level. It’s really a series of idea webs, with connections drawn between. These can get very large, so encourage older students to explore online programs that can help them create useful diagrams.

Source: Joyful Learning in KC

Circle maps are terrific for brainstorming or thoroughly understanding a specific concept. In some cases, circles can continue to expand outward. For instance, a circle map could begin with your hometown in the middle, with a larger circle for your state, another for your country, then your continent, and so on. Inside each circle, students write info relevant to that subject.

Source: A Learning Journey

Graphic organizers are especially useful when planning any kind of writing. OREO and Hamburger models are common, but you’ll find a lot of other options out there too. The key is to make sure the organizer helps students define their main idea, gather supporting evidence, and draw a conclusion supported by the facts.

Frayer Model (Vocabulary)

Source: What I Have Learned

The Frayer model has a lot of uses but is most often applied to vocabulary. The term goes in the middle, with four sections surrounding it for definition, characteristics, examples, and non-examples. Another version has sections for definition, synonym, an illustration, and using the term in a sentence.

Cause and Effect Graphic Organizer

Source: Around the Kampfire

When you want students to dig deeper into the material, try a cause and effect organizer. You can use it in pretty much any subject to make connections between actions and results.

Source: @ducksntigers13

A T chart is a very simple way to compare two related subjects. Many people use these all the time, especially when writing pros and cons lists.

Venn Diagram

Source: Teach With Me

A Venn diagram is another way to compare and contrast material, looking for similarities and differences. The simplest version has two overlapping circles, with more overlapping circles added for more complex subjects.

Where can I find free graphic organizer printables?

While you don’t need to use a pre-printed organizer every time, they can be especially helpful with younger students as they learn how this valuable tool works. The internet is full of graphic organizer printables, both free and for purchase on sites like Teachers Pay Teachers. Here are some free options we’ve created for teachers to try.

• Summary Graphic Organizer
• Summarizing Graphic Organizers (Grades 2-4)
• Predictions and Inferences Organizer
• Scientific Method Graphic Organizer
• Continents Graphic Organizer

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Plus, anchor charts 101: why and how to use them ..

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11 Helpful Note-Taking Strategies Your Students Should Know

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Taking Notes with Graphic Organizers

Of course, other note-taking differences merit investigation as well.

For example: if students take handwritten notes, is it better to give them:

a complete lecture outline,

a partial lecture outline,

a bare-bones lecture outline,

a complete graphic organizer,

a partial one, or

an empty one?

Over at the Learning Scientists, Carolina Kuepper-Tetzel explores this question , and adds some thoughts of her own.

One Man’s Experience

This article particular caught my eye because it applies so directly to my own work.

When I talk with teachers, students, or parents about brains, I always provide them with option #5 above: an incomplete graphic organizer.

My goal: reduce working memory load. (I’m always focused on reducing extraneous working memory load.)

The informal feedback I get is strongly positive. Many teachers, in fact, tell me that they’ve started using the same form with their own students.

When you read Dr. Kuepper-Tetzel’s post, you’ll see how well (if at all) my practice accords with the research we have.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrew watson.

Andrew began his classroom life as a high-school English teacher in 1988, and has been working in or near schools ever since. In 2008, Andrew began exploring the practical application of psychology and neuroscience in his classroom. In 2011, he earned his M. Ed. from the “Mind, Brain, Education” program at Harvard University. As President of “Translate the Brain,” Andrew now works with teachers, students, administrators, and parents to make learning easier and teaching more effective. He has presented at schools and workshops across the country; he also serves as an adviser to several organizations, including “The People’s Science.” Andrew is the author of "Learning Begins: The Science of Working Memory and Attention for the Classroom Teacher."

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Learning Organizers with Graphics

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The template that we've just released is a multi-purpose one that can be useful for education. If you have lots of data and you need to organize them somehow (for example, to complete homework), you can try these slides. The most important feature here is the simplicity of the layouts and the little illustrations of stationery.

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Graphic Organizers

What is a graphic organizer.

A graphic organizer is a visual representation of knowledge that structures information by arranging important aspects of a concept or topic into a pattern using labels (Bromley, et al., 1998). They are effective tools for thinking and learning as they help students to: 

• Represent abstract ideas in more concrete forms,
• Depict the relationships among facts and concepts,
• Organize ideas, and
• Store and recall information (Billmeyer & Barton, 1998)

How can graphic organizers help your students?

Graphic organizers can be used before a lesson to activate prior knowledge, guide thinking, and to develop vocabulary. During a lesson, the graphic organizer can help students organize information and stay focused on the content material. After a lesson, the graphic organizer allows the students to confirm or rethink prior knowledge and to relate the new concepts to the old. 

How can you implement graphic organizers in order to effectively meet the diverse learning needs of students?

Baxendell (2003) has established the following three principles in order to guide the effective use of graphic organizers in the classroom, which are referred to as the "three Cs".

• Create a standard set of graphic organizers
• Establish a routine for implementing them in a classroom
• Provide clear labels for the relationship between concepts in graphic organizers
• Limit the number of ideas covered
• Minimize distractions
• Use during all stages of lesson design
• Incorporate during homework and test review
• Add illustrations
• Implement with cooperative groups and pairs

What are the different types of graphic organizers?

• Hierarchical organizers, present main ideas and supporting details in ranking order,
• Comparative organizers, depict similarities among key concepts,
• Sequential organizers, illustrate a series of steps or place events in a chronological order,
• Diagrams, depict actual objects and systems in the real world of science and social studies (Marchand-Matella, et al., 1998),
• Cyclical organizers, depict a series of events that have no beginning or end,
• Conceptual organizers, include a main concept with supporting facts, evidence, or characteristics (Bromley, et al., 1998).

How do you decide on what type of graphic organizer to use?

The content and organization of material usually determines the type of organizer to be created. Another factor is the learning or cognitive style of the person creating the organizer. Individuals will often have a preference for one type of graphic organizer. For example, the nonlinear and open-ended quality of the conceptual organizer is often appealing to more holistic, creative thinkers, as opposed to a more sequential thinker who might prefer the super-ordinate structure of the hierarchical organizer and chronological structure of the sequential organizer. Most importantly, however, is having experiences with a variety of organizers to allow you and your students to pick and choose the type most appropriate for the subject and purpose (Bromley, et al., 1998).

How do you construct your own graphic organizer?

• Analyze the information to be taught and highlight key words and phrases. Key concepts will provide the categories under the big idea, while key word/phrases provide the elements that are the most important for students to understand. Note that a concept typically identifies a class or category of things, ideas, or processes which fall under a big idea. These categories have characteristics in common, while a fact can be an example or characteristic of a concept.  

If you want to show...

then use...

series of items

lists or sequential framework, cycle diagram

a comparison

parallel lists, Venn diagram, t-charts

super ordinate/subordinate

branching, web diagram

classification

web diagram, matrix, t-chart

data reporting

graphs/tables

part to whole

pictures, branching

cause and effect

fishbone, cycle diagram, flow charts, matrix

• Arrange information into a logical order.  

-If using as a presentation technique ... it must not be too cluttered, and it must be big enough for all to see (at least 24 pt font). Empty spaces that are filled in as the presentation occurs (i.e., scaffolding) can encourage active participation by students.

-If posting information ... it must be clear, with key words and relationships identified. Color can be used to capture interest and cue the student to key components.

-If using as a learning or note-taking guide ... provide spaces with enough room to write all key information.  

• Add pictures, icons, etc. to "grab" students' attention/interest and make vague concepts more obvious.  
• Remember to think about student abilities so that the form and complexity of the graphic organizer facilitates understanding rather than causing confusion.

Where can you find more information about graphic organizers?

Research Articles

Descriptive Articles

Education Place This site allows you to download, print, and make copies of over 40 different graphic organizers for use in your classroom.

The Graphic Organizer This site contains resources you might find useful for writing and using graphic organizers. Especially helpful are the links to articles and books on the web.

Teach-nology Make your own graphic organizers on this site by filling out a simple form. The materials are made instantly and can be printed directly from your computer.

North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL) The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping schools - and the students they serve - reach their full potential. NCREL specializes in the educational applications of technology. Use the search function on the home page to search the site for useful information on graphic organizers.

ProTeacher ProTeacher is a professional community for elementary school teachers, specialists, and student teachers in grades preK-8. The open membership includes visitors from across the United States and guests from around the world. The site features over two dozen active discussion boards and an extensive archive and directory of teacher-selected lesson plans, teaching ideas, and resources.

Inspiration 7.0 Powered by the proven techniques of visual learning, Inspiration 7 supports improved achievement for students grade 5 to adult, strengthening critical thinking, comprehension, and writing across the curriculum. Students use Inspiration to tap creativity, build new knowledge, analyze complex topics, and improve organizational skills. Educators use Inspiration to customize instruction, achieve standards, assess student progress, and energize learning.

Kidspiration Kidspiration, the tool to help young students build strong thinking skills with visual learning, supports visual and auditory learners using pictures, words, and audio. 

Kidspiration is designed to help students: 

• Brainstorm ideas with words and pictures
• Organize and categorize information visually
• Create stories and descriptions using engaging visual tools
• Explore new ideas with thought webs and visual mapping

For more information on Inspiration or Kidspiration: Engaging Minds Tel: 541-593-9339 Toll Free: 866-593-9339 Fax: 707-215-7713 PO Box 2007 #111 Sunriver, OR 97707  

Examples of Different Types of Graphic Organizers

Spider Maps 

Compare and Contrast Diagram 

Venn Diagram 

Cycle Diagram 

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Note-taking Graphic Organizer

Updated:  01 Jun 2023

A graphic organizer for students to use when taking notes.

Editable:  Google Slides

Non-Editable:  PDF

Pages:  1 Page

• Curriculum Curriculum:  CCSS, TEKS

Grades:  3 - 6

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.8

Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.8

Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; take notes and categorize information, and provide a list of sources.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.8

Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.8

Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources; assess the credibility of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources...

ELAR 3.7(E)

Interact with sources in meaningful ways such as notetaking, annotating, freewriting, or illustrating;

ELAR 3.13(C)

Identify and gather relevant information from a variety of sources;

ELAR 4.7(E)

Elar 4.13(c), elar 5.7(e), elar 5.13(c), elar 6.6(e), elar 6.12(d).

Use this teaching resource when students are required to take notes from a particular source of information e.g. a nonfiction book, a website, a podcast, or a video clip.

Students can record the main idea, key vocabulary, and important information in the table. There is also space to summarize the text and list the source of the information.

Use the drop-down menu to choose between the PDF or google slide versions.

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Ser vs Estar Notes Practice Presentation | Graphic Organizer | PRINT + DIGITAL

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Are your students struggling with the differences between verbs SER and ESTAR ? Use this graphic organizers for students. Students will love the reference space for the conjugations of both ser and estar. They will also fill in the examples to fit the acronyms DOCTOR and PLACE .

Looking for a variety of activities? Save 20% on the SER vs ESTAR Activity Bundle!

This download includes two versions:

• Guided notes for the verbs with note-taking space for acronyms DOCTOR and PLACE
• Guided notes for the verbs with note-taking space for acronyms DOCTOR and PLACE with an additional practice section for students
• Ser vs Estar Graphic Organizer Google Slides Version

Graphic organizers are a great reference for students throughout the semester or school year. This graphic organizer is very easy to implement. Simply print and use in your classroom! Related Products

• Ser vs Estar Digital Learning Stations + PRINT | Distance Learning

• Ser vs Estar Digital Task Cards | BOOM CARDS | Distance Learning

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• SER vs ESTAR Freebie #COVID19WL

⭐ Click here to save by buying the Complete Graphic Organizer Bundle! ⭐

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