PYRAMID

DIAGRAM
Lenie Rose B. Noval BEEd II - C
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The Pyramid Diagram (Solon, 1980) guides students in

selecting appropriate information from a reading to be
analyzed and helps them consider possible implications of
this material.
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USING THE STRATEGY

The Pyramid Diagram engages students in both
reading and writing activities. Using this strategy
involves the following steps:
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1
Provide students with a
focusing question that will
help them select relevant
information from a reading.
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2
Distribute index cards to
the students and have them
read a selection.
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Published Wrote an Invented Devised Conducted Studied Delegate to Diplomat to

Poor autobiograp the the experimen weather the France during
Richard’s hy lightning Franklin ts on patterns Constitutional the
Almanack rod stove electricity Convention Revolutionary
War
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3
Model the process of categorizing
the selected information from
reading by soliciting student
responses from their cards.
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4
Ask students to brainstorm
category headings for each
groupings of cards.
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Writer Inventor Scientist Statesman

Published Wrote an Invented Devised Conducted Studied Delegate to Diplomat to

Poor autobiograp the the experimen weather the France during
Richard’s hy lightning Franklin ts on patterns Constitutional the
Almanack rod stove electricity Convention Revolutionary
War
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5
Draw on the chalkboard two
rectangles representing the
top two layers of the
pyramid.
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BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S
ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Ben Franklin’s accomplishments in writing, science,

and government show that he was a man of many
talents and interests.

Writer Inventor Scientist Statesman

Published Wrote an Invented Devised Conducted Studied Delegate to Diplomat to

Poor autobiograp the the experimen weather the France during
Richard’s hy lightning Franklin ts on patterns Constitutional the
Almanack rod stove electricity Convention Revolutionary
War
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6
Students now write a one-
paragraph conclusion that
addresses the focusing
question.
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Benjamin Franklin’s accomplishments in writing, science, and

government show that he was a man of many talents and interests. Franklin
was a well-known writer who published the popular Poor Richard’s Almanack
and wrote an autobiography. He was an inventor, bringing us the lightning rod
and Franklin stove. He also was a scientist who conducted experiments on
electricity and studied weather patterns. Finally, Franklin was an important
statesman who served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and as a
diplomat to France during the Revolutionary War.
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ADVANTAGES

● Students construct a visual representation of how important

details are used to draw conclusions and make observations.

● Students are directive in their reading so that they actively search

for appropriate information from a selection.

● Students gain practice in writing well-organized summaries of text.

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Activity

Instruction:

1. Read the selection.

2. Complete the cards with information that deals with the focusing
question.
3. Sort the cards into groups based on its category.
4. Complete the pyramid.
5. Write a one-paragraph conclusion.
6. Do the activity within 5 minutes.
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Focusing Question:
What were Francis
Hopkinson’s
accomplishments?

Francis Hopkinson accomplishments in writing, music

art, and government show that he was a man of
extraordinary talent and charm.

Conclusion: