7/28/2021 How Students Can Use a Graphic Organizer

SCHOOL LEARNING

How Students Can Use a Graphic Organizer

By Amanda Morin Fact checked by Cara Lustik on August 29, 2020

Roy Mehta / Taxi / Getty Images

Graphic organizers are visual charts and tools used to visually represent and
organize a student's knowledge or ideas. They're often used as part of the
writing process to help students map out ideas, plots, character details and
settings before beginning to write.

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7/28/2021 How Students Can Use a Graphic Organizer

Graphic organizers also are useful when brainstorming ideas, especially as

part of a group project or plan. They can be used for a variety of educational
purposes, including sequencing events, analyzing cause and effect,
comparing and contrasting, and developing concepts in detail.

As part of the reading process, graphic organizers can help a student

comprehend what he has read and made comparisons to other pieces of
writing.

Some popular and useful types of graphic organizers and brief descriptions
are listed below. Try to decide with your child which type of graphic
organizer they think will be most helpful. Let them experiment with more
than one variety, and consult with your child's teacher for advice or
suggestions.

Types of Graphic Organizers

Venn diagrams consist of two or three overlapping labeled circles. Using two
circles, each circle has its own subject, written as a heading or title, and
within the overlap area, your student writes the things that the different
subjects have in common.

For instance, if one circle represents "dogs" and one represents "cats," you
could list characteristics like "have tails" or "make good pets" within the
overlap area. But descriptors like "barks at strangers" would only be
included in the "dogs" circle, and "purrs" would only be listed in the "cats"
circle.

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Related: What Is a Venn Diagram?

A triple Venn diagram allows a comparison of three items, using three

overlapping circles with one overlap area. In the above example, a third
circle could represent "fish," and the overlap area would still be accurate.

K-W-L (Know, Want to Know, Learned) charts are divided into three
columns titled Know, Want and Learned. It's used to help guide students at
their own pace and interest level through a lesson or subject matter.

For instance, for a lesson on stars, students would write what they know
about stars in the first space (I know they are far away, I know they are in
the sky). In the second, or "want" column, the students write what they
want to learn (How are stars formed? Why do stars twinkle?). Once the
lesson is completed, the students write what they actually learned about
stars.

Related: Using KWL to Help Kids With Learning Disabilities

Pie charts are easily understood representations of proportional

relationships. When trying to compare three or more items to determine
which is larger or better-represented, pie charts show the larger item to
have a larger "piece" of the pie.

Flow charts are more complex visual representations of a process and are
probably more suited for older students than younger ones. The steps in a
process are shown using boxes connected with arrows.

Flow charts can be used to devise a solution or plan for a problem,

presenting the steps as a map to be followed. This style of a visual organizer
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is most useful in subjects such as math and the sciences.

Related: Fun Math Activities Kids Can Do at Home

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