This document defines graphic organizers as visual displays that depict relationships between facts, terms, and ideas. It provides examples of common graphic organizers like timelines, flow charts, and Venn diagrams. Each type is described, including how timelines can show a sequence of events and flow charts depict processes. The document outlines benefits like how graphic organizers make information easier to understand and remember. It recommends their use for all learners and subjects. Teachers are advised to model their use and match organizers to concepts.

1. Graphic
Organizers
Jessica Vaught
Andy Wren

2. Graphic
Organizers:
Defined
"A visual and graphic display that
depicts the relationships between
facts, terms, and or ideas within a
learning task. Graphic organizers are
also sometimes referred to as
knowledge maps, concept maps, story
maps, cognitive organizers, advance
organizers, or concept diagrams."

3. Common Graphic
Organizers
Timelines
Flow Charts
Venn Diagrams
T-Charts
Guided Notes
Concept Maps
Clustering
Plot Diagrams
W’s Organizers
Storyboards

4. Uses of Common
Graphic Organizers
Timelines
• Timelines are used to show a
sequence of events. This can be
important events in history, or
when making a plan for the future.
• Flow charts are used to give a
visual representation of a process.
This can be something like the
water cycle, the life cycle of an
animal, or instructions that show
the steps to complete a task.
Flow Charts

5. Uses of Common
Graphic
Organizers (cont.)
Venn Diagrams
• Venn Diagrams are used to
compare and contrast two different
things. For example, you could use
them to have your students show
how two stories the class has read
are similar and different.
• T-Charts are used to examine two
different aspects of a particular
topic. Students could use them to
list pros and cons, advantages and
disadvantages, or facts and
opinions about a topic.
T-Charts

6. Uses of Common
Graphic
Organizers (cont.)
W’s Organizers
• The W’s Organizer is a great tool
to arrange information pertaining
to a certain topic, such as the
moon landing, by asking the
questions who, what, when, where,
and why?
• Concept maps help to organize
information stemming from a
central idea or topic. Students can
utilize this tool as an effective form
of pre-writing.
Concept Map

7. Uses of Common
Graphic
Organizers (cont.)
Clustering
• Clustering, also known as
brainstorming or webbing, groups
information pertaining to a central
main idea together. Like the
concept map, it is a great tool for
pre-writing.
• Guided notes are a good way to
keep students engaged during a
lecture. Like most graphic
organizers, guided notes does not
really have a uniform design to use
every time. It is a graphic
organizer that must be modified by
the teacher before it can be
effective for students.
Guided Notes

8. Uses of Common
Graphic
Organizers (cont.)
Plot Diagrams
• Plot diagrams are used to help
students visualize the structure
and elements of a story. They are
effective when both reading and
writing stories.
• Story maps are similar to plot
diagrams in that they are useful for
pre-writing, and they provide
students with a better
comprehension of the components
of a story like the title, setting,
characters, problem, main events,
and the resolution.
Story Maps

9. Benefits of
Graphic
Organizers
• Graphic organizers provide an
easier way for students
comprehend important information.
• They lessen amount of information
students have to process.
• They help students learn skills to
become more efficient learners.

10. Learners Who
Benefit from
Graphic
Organizers
• Visual
• Tactile
• Analytical
• Special Needs
• ESL
• Gifted and Talented
However: ALL learners benefit from
graphic organizers! Assimilating
information leads to critical thinking
andthe presentation leads to better
content internalization.

11. Information
Processing
Theory
Breaking down information into main
ideas and creating visuals helps
students move material from short- to
long-term memory
Students process the information bit
by bit instead of all at once, giving
them time to build upon what they’ve
already learned.

12. Using Graphic
Organizers in
the Classroom
Work for all disciplines
Model the organizer first; ensure
student understanding
Keep them simple
Match the organizer to the
concepts you want your students
to meet
Don’t make the organizers
busywork, make them
scaffolding/supports

13. Teacher
Resources
Listed to the right are links to
online resources where teachers
can access and create graphic
organizers to use in their own
classrooms.
Education Place
ThinkPort
Creately
UDL Tech
Teach-Nology

14. Work Cited
Baltimore County Public Schools. “Learning Styles.” BCPS, 2016,
https://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/models/tips/styles.html
Chapman, Sandy. “Graphic Organizers Enhance Student Comprehension.” Colorado
State University, 2016, http://teaching.colostate.edu/tips/tip.cfm?tipid=176
“Graphic Organizers.” Maryland Public Television, 2016, http://thinkport.org/graphic-
organizers.html
McKnight, Katherine, PhD. “Use Graphic Organizers for Effective Learning.” Teach
Hub, 2016, http://www.teachhub.com/teaching-graphic-organizers

15. Work Cited (continued)
Rini, Ellen. “Information Processing Theory: Chapter 8.” EDF 219, Ed Psych Text.
2016. Power Point Lecture.
“Tips and Tricks for Using Graphic Organizers.” Teaching History, n.d.,
http://teachinghistory.org/teaching-materials/ask-a-master-teacher/25149