Why use graphic organizers?
The human brain naturally looks for connections between old and new information. Additionally, studies have shown that the brain processes information most efficiently in chunks. Graphic organizers complement both of these processes by helping students:
- Visually sort new information into familiar categories
- Analyze the relationships between old and new information
- Create a simple structure for thinking about information in new ways
- Review concepts and demonstrate understanding
Graphic organizers can be used in all phases of learning from brainstorming ideas to presenting findings. Reading A-Z has assembled a collection of effective organizers that may be tailored to most classrooms or students.
What are graphic organizers?
Graphic organizers can support all subject areas, languages, and levels of learning. Reading A-Z provides two collections of graphic organizers--one for primary grades (K-2) and one for intermediate grades (3-6). These collections are arranged according to the reading strategy, comprehension skill, or learning process they best facilitate. The majority of the organizers in both collections can be adapted for use in all classrooms and for learners of all abilities.When using graphic organizers with early readers, teacher guidance may be necessary. As readers progress, they may benefit from completing the organizers independently (the brain remembers best when personal creativity has been invested in the exercise). To facilitate the learning process, encourage the use of a variety of mediums, including colored markers, crayons, and pencils. If possible, it benefits students to have the graphic organizers reproduced on colored paper. Give students as much freedom as possible to create and complete their organizers.
Primary Graphic Organizer (K-2)
Reading Strategy
Ask and Answer Questions
Condense and categorize questions and answers about a subject
Concept Flower
Condense and organize information about a single topic
Draw Connections
Outline self-to-text relationships
KWL Chart
Organize information according to what students know, what they want to know, and what they learn from reading a select text
KWLS Chart
Organize information according to what students know, what they want to know, what they learn through reading, and what they still want to know
Retell Chart
Record important information about a story to improve textual understanding
Web Diagram
Condense and organize information about a single topic
Web Wheel
Condense and organize information about a single topic
Y-Chart
Record prior knowledge about a topic
Condense and categorize questions and answers about a subject
Concept Flower
Condense and organize information about a single topic
Draw Connections
Outline self-to-text relationships
KWL Chart
Organize information according to what students know, what they want to know, and what they learn from reading a select text
KWLS Chart
Organize information according to what students know, what they want to know, what they learn through reading, and what they still want to know
Retell Chart
Record important information about a story to improve textual understanding
Web Diagram
Condense and organize information about a single topic
Web Wheel
Condense and organize information about a single topic
Y-Chart
Record prior knowledge about a topic
Reading Comprehension Skill
Cause and Effect
Outline cause-and-effect relationships
Character Flower
Record the characters, setting, problem, events, and solution
Character Map
Analyze a character's traits
Character Traits Wheel
Analyze a character or person
Draw Conclusions
Use information from text to draw conclusions about characters or events
Fact and Opinion Chart
Distinguish between facts and opinions
Fantasy and Reality
Separate elements of reality from elements of fantasy
Main Idea and Details E-Chart
Identify a main idea and two supporting details
Main Idea and Details Ladder
Condense and organize details about a single topic
Problem and Solution
Identify the problem and solution
Sequence Events Chart
Identify the beginning, middle, and end
Story Elements Map
Identify the problem, rising action, climax, falling action, and solution
Story Map
Identify the characters, setting, problem, events, and solution
Summary Chart
Identify important ideas in text to write a summary
Timeline
List events in chronological order
Topic Web
Condense and organize information by identifying why, who, what, when, and where
Venn Diagram
Compare and contrast two items or topics
Outline cause-and-effect relationships
Character Flower
Record the characters, setting, problem, events, and solution
Character Map
Analyze a character's traits
Character Traits Wheel
Analyze a character or person
Draw Conclusions
Use information from text to draw conclusions about characters or events
Fact and Opinion Chart
Distinguish between facts and opinions
Fantasy and Reality
Separate elements of reality from elements of fantasy
Main Idea and Details E-Chart
Identify a main idea and two supporting details
Main Idea and Details Ladder
Condense and organize details about a single topic
Problem and Solution
Identify the problem and solution
Sequence Events Chart
Identify the beginning, middle, and end
Story Elements Map
Identify the problem, rising action, climax, falling action, and solution
Story Map
Identify the characters, setting, problem, events, and solution
Summary Chart
Identify important ideas in text to write a summary
Timeline
List events in chronological order
Topic Web
Condense and organize information by identifying why, who, what, when, and where
Venn Diagram
Compare and contrast two items or topics
Vocabulary
Word Meaning Map I
Record and define elements of a word
Word Meaning Map II
Record, define, and apply elements of a word
Record and define elements of a word
Word Meaning Map II
Record, define, and apply elements of a word
Intermediate Graphic Organizer (3-6)
Reading Strategy
Anticipation Guide
Make and revise predictions about a topic before and after reading
KWL Chart
Organize information according to what students know, what they want to know, and what they learn from reading
KWLS Chart
Organize information according to what students know, what they want to know, what they learn from reading, and what they still want to know
Note Manager
Record important information about a topic
Topic Web
Condense and organize information by identifying how, who, what, why, when, and where
Web Diagram
Condense and organize information about a single topic
Web Wheel
Condense and organize information about a single topic
Y-Chart
Record prior knowledge about a topic
Make and revise predictions about a topic before and after reading
KWL Chart
Organize information according to what students know, what they want to know, and what they learn from reading
KWLS Chart
Organize information according to what students know, what they want to know, what they learn from reading, and what they still want to know
Note Manager
Record important information about a topic
Topic Web
Condense and organize information by identifying how, who, what, why, when, and where
Web Diagram
Condense and organize information about a single topic
Web Wheel
Condense and organize information about a single topic
Y-Chart
Record prior knowledge about a topic
Reading Comprehension Skill
Cause and Effect
Identify cause-and-effect relationships
Cause and Effect Chain
Identify multiple cause-and-effect relationships in sequence
Character Attributes Web
Analyze several aspects of a character's traits
Character Interaction Map
Describe how multiple characters relate to one another
Character Map
Analyze a character's traits
Fact and Opinion Chart
Distinguish between facts and opinions
Identify Author's Purpose
Identify and support the author's purpose
Main Idea and Details Ladder
Identify main ideas and supporting details for a topic
Make Inferences
Use story clues and prior knowledge to make inferences
Plot Map
identify the beginning, main events, climax, and resolution
Problem and Solution
Identify the problem and solution
Sequence Events Chart I
Identify the beginning, middle, and ending
Sequence Events Chart II
Sequence events in chronological order
Sequence Events Chart III
Sequence multiple events in the order in which they occurred
Solution Evaluation Chart
Identify the problem, possible solutions, and final result
Story Map
Identify the characters, setting, problem, events, and solution
Story Web
Identify the setting, characters, problem, and solution
Summary Chart
Identify important events in text to write a summary
Summary Outline
Identify important ideas in text to write a summary
Supporting Details Web
Identify the main idea and supporting details
Timeline
List events in chronological order
Venn Diagram
Compare and contrast two topics
Identify cause-and-effect relationships
Cause and Effect Chain
Identify multiple cause-and-effect relationships in sequence
Character Attributes Web
Analyze several aspects of a character's traits
Character Interaction Map
Describe how multiple characters relate to one another
Character Map
Analyze a character's traits
Fact and Opinion Chart
Distinguish between facts and opinions
Identify Author's Purpose
Identify and support the author's purpose
Main Idea and Details Ladder
Identify main ideas and supporting details for a topic
Make Inferences
Use story clues and prior knowledge to make inferences
Plot Map
identify the beginning, main events, climax, and resolution
Problem and Solution
Identify the problem and solution
Sequence Events Chart I
Identify the beginning, middle, and ending
Sequence Events Chart II
Sequence events in chronological order
Sequence Events Chart III
Sequence multiple events in the order in which they occurred
Solution Evaluation Chart
Identify the problem, possible solutions, and final result
Story Map
Identify the characters, setting, problem, events, and solution
Story Web
Identify the setting, characters, problem, and solution
Summary Chart
Identify important events in text to write a summary
Summary Outline
Identify important ideas in text to write a summary
Supporting Details Web
Identify the main idea and supporting details
Timeline
List events in chronological order
Venn Diagram
Compare and contrast two topics
Vocabulary
Word Meaning Map I
Record and define elements of words
Word Meaning Map II
Record, define, and apply elements of a word
Record and define elements of words
Word Meaning Map II
Record, define, and apply elements of a word
