Graphic Organizers and Note-Taking Strategies

• "Argumentative Essay G.O."

This helps students organize essays by breaking down parts of an argumentative essay in different sections.

• "Cause and Effect Template 1 G.O."

This cause and effect template shows how a single cause can have multiple effects.

• "Cause and Effect Template 2"

This cause and effect template emphasizes that multiple causes can lead up to and be responsible for an event (or the effect in this case).

• "Cause and Effect Chain Template"

Students identify actions that caused other actions and their effects. I would love to see this used in science or social studies classes where students are asked how something happened and are forced to work backwards.

• "Chain of Events G.O."

Describe the stages of an event, the actions of a character, or the steps in a procedure.

• "Character Analysis Pyramid"

Identify major points of the specific characters of a story using this pyramid graphic organizer.

• "Character Map Template"

Students list important information about a character, like what the character looks like, says, and thinks, and what the student feels and thinks of the character.

• "Character Study Web"

Use this graphic organizer to describe a character in detail by writing from that character's perspective.

• "Clustering Web"

This is a nonlinear activity that generates ideas, images, and feelings around a stimulus word. As students cluster, their thoughts tumble out, enlarging their word bank for writing and often enabling them to see patterns in their ideas. Clustering may be a class or an individual activity.

• "Compare/Contrast Matrix"

Use this graphic organizer to show the similarities and differences between two things.

• "Comparing Concepts"

Use this graphic organizer to explore the analogous as well as non-analogous characteristics of the two concepts related to a given topic.

• "Concept Word Map"

Use this graphic organizer to define, describe, and provide examples of concept words.

• "Cycle Diagram (3 Steps)"

A three-step cycle diagram is used to show how a series of events interact repeatedly through a cycle.

• "Cycle Diagram (4 Steps)"

A four-step cycle diagram is used to show how a series of events interact repeatedly through a cycle.

• "Decision-Making Model"

Use this to identify a problem and list possible solutions to said problem.

• "Evaluation Chart Template"

Lets students identify criteria, explain whether it was successful and why, and provide evidence.

• "Fishbone Diagram"

A fishbone diagram (also called a cause and effect diagram or Ishikawa diagram) is a visualization tool for categorizing the potential causes of a problem in order to identify its root causes.

It is useful in brainstorming sessions to focus conversations. After the group has brainstormed all the possible causes for a problem, the facilitator helps the group to rate the potential causes according to their level of importance and diagram a hierarchy. The design of the diagram looks much like a skeleton of a fish.

• "Fishbone Planner Template"

Students can list the advantages and disadvantages of a topic. You can also use a T-Chart for this task, but this emphasizes the advantages and disadvantages being about a comparable part of the topic.

• "Flow Chart Template"

Students can display the linear relationship among several things.

• "Frayer Model Template v.1"

Provides a framework for thorough understanding of new words.

• "Frayer Model Template v.2"

This document provides a framework for thorough understanding of new words. This layout places a visual emphasis on the word you are learning about.

• "Frayer Model Template (Modified)"

This changes the traditional Frayer Model's "examples" and "non-examples" boxes to boxes containing information on how the focus word is used in a sentence and one on examples or illustrations.

• "Hexagonal Thinking Template"

Start by identifying a problem, and then write various components or issues surrounding the problem on separate hexagon-shaped pieces of paper, matching together the ideas that are connected. Patterns and relationships will then begin to develop.

• "IVF Summary Topic Sentences"

IVF stands for "Identify the item, select a verb, and finish your thought." Use this graphic organizer to teach students how to begin a summary and/or write a topic sentence.

• "KLEW Chart Template"

The KLEW Chart is similar to the KWL Chart; however, the KLEW Chart leaves room for further questions to be asked (these could possibly be used for a Genius Hour project) and places an emphasis on using evidence to support student findings.

• "KWHL Chart Template v.1"

This variation on the KWL Chart encourages students to develop their own means of how they will discover more information.

• "KWHL Chart Template v.2 (KWL 4 Column)"

This is a group instruction activity that serves as a model for active thinking during reading.

This copy provides a more thorough description of the activity beforehand.

• "KWL Chart Template v.1"

A KWL Chart (also known as a KWL Table) is a brainstorming and guiding graphic organizer used to show what students already know as a lesson begins, what they want to know, and what they ultimately learn. It activates students' prior knowledge and sets a purpose for a lesson or unit.

• "KWL Chart Template v.2"

A KWL Chart (also known as a KWL Table) is a brainstorming and guiding graphic organizer used to show what students already know as a lesson begins, what they want to know, and what they ultimately learn. It activates students' prior knowledge and sets a purpose for a lesson or unit.

This is the same as the one above, but it is less colorful and a little cleaner.

• "Mind Maps Web"

Mind Maps show the associations between ideas and concepts. This can be useful to identify problems and the relationships between them as well as planning a piece of writing.

• "Plot Mountain Graphic Organizer v.1"

This document shows the five stages of plot.

• "Plot Mountain Graphic Organizer v.2"

This shows the five stages of plot, as well as the conflict, effects of setting, theme, and details of the exposition.

• "P-M-I Chart"

One way to differentiate assessment is through the Pluses, Minuses and Interesting/Intriguing (PMI) chart. Through this chart or graphic organizer, students examine the “+”, “-“, and Interesting things associated with a topic, idea, or decision.

• "Sequencing Chart (6-Steps) Template"

Students fill out this chart to show the sequence of events, like the "Cause and Effect Chain Template," but it can also be used by students to show the steps for following specific instructions.

• "Spider Map Web"

This graphic organizer is used to describe a central idea: a thing, process, concept, or proposition with support.

• "State or Country Research Web"

Have students fill in this graphic organizer's boxes with information about the state or country they are researching.

• "Story Map 1"

Use this to have students enter information about the plot of a story, specifically its beginning, middle, and end.

• "Story Map 2"

Use this to have students enter information on the characters, setting, problem(s), and solutions to a problem(s) in a story.

• "T-Chart"

These are a type of chart in which a student lists and examines two facets of a topic, like the pros and cons associated with it, its advantages and disadvantages, facts and opinions, etc.

• "Think About Your Thinking Template"

This helps students think through their decisions and how they arrived at their conclusions.

• "Timeline Template"

Timelines can be used to show the order steps should go in or to show the passage of time for a historical event. These can easily be created in Google Drawings or in Google Slides.

• "Venn Diagram Template (Two Circles)"

Use a Venn diagram to show the similarities and differences between two characters, stories, events, arguments, etc.

• "Venn Diagram Template (Three Circles)"

Use this Venn diagram to show the similarities and differences between three characters, stories, events, arguments, etc.

• "Venn Diagram Template (Two Rounded Rectangles)"

Use a Venn diagram to show the similarities and differences between two characters, stories, events, arguments, etc. I prefer using this more squared-shaped Venn diagram as students sometimes say they don't have enough room to write when circles are used.

• "Vocabulary Concept Map"

This graphic organizer lets students make connections to other words from a specific vocabulary term.

• "Word Study Diagram"

Fill a word in the center box, and then fill in the rest of the diagram to define and explain the word.

• "Word Web/Semantic Map Template"

Students branch ideas out from a main topic into subtopics.

• "Y-Chart"

Use this graphic organizer to share three pieces of information about a topic.

• "Taking Notes Using Cornell Note Style"

This document explains how students should create and take Cornell notes.

• "Cornell Note-Taking Template"

This note sheet organizes students' notes, helping them list main ideas and support the main ideas with evidence and details. Upon completion of the notes, students are asked to summarize their notes.