Graphic Orangizers are powerful tools that help students at all grade levels both comprehend and express ideas. Graphic organizers provide structures within which students can express thier thinkig, using, a minimum of vocabulary and language skills. How to Use Graphic Organizers

1. Build Background

   Before you begin a lesson containing new content, use a graphic organizer to help prepare students for the new material:

   • Use a KWL Chart to bring forward students' proir knowledge about a topic and to surface questions that students hope to answer as they read, watch a video, or go on a field trip.

   • Use a Story Map to preview literature that students are about to read

2. Plan Projects and Writing

   Before students begin an activity, have them use a graphic organizer to organize their thoughts about the topic:

• Use a Cluster or an Idea Web to brainstorm ideas for writing

• Use a Five-Ws Chart to plan a research report

3. Support Comprehension

   During a lesson, use a grahic organizer to support students' comprehension:

• Continue the KWL Chart to record new information students find as they read, watch a vidoe, or praticipate in a field trip.

• Help students add deteials to the Story Map as they read

• Use a Cause-and-Effect Chart to relate historical events

• Use a Sequence Chain or Time Line to track events

• Use Idea Webs or Main-Idea Diagrams to show the comparative importance of ideas

4. Expanding Learning

   After students have studied material, use a graphic organizer to reinforce concepts:

   • Use the KWL Chart to verify or refute proir knowledge and to raise new questions

   • Use the Character Description Story Map to analyise a character in depth

   • Use a Cycle Diagram to review the steps in a natrual or politcal cycle

   • Use a Five-Ws Chart to review historical events