Colegio BennettPrimary Section

Fifth Grade

Graphic Organizers (GO) are pictorial or graphical ways to organize information and thoughts for understanding, remembering, or writing about. Graphic organizers, mind maps and concept maps are powerful tools that can be used to enhance learning and

create a foundation for learning. 

Is a picture worth a thousand words?

 A graphic organizer (GO) forms a powerful visual picture of information and allows the

mind 'to see' undiscovered patterns and relationships. We use them everyday in our

lives.

Uses of GOGraphic organizers (GO) (some of

which are also called concept maps, entity relationship charts, and mind maps) are a pictorial way of constructing knowledge

and organizing information. They help us convert and compress a

lot of information into a structured, simple-to-read,

graphic display. The resulting visual display converts complex

information in a simple-to-understand manner. 

Graphic organizers can be used to structure writing

projects, to help in problem solving, decision

making, studying, planning research and

brainstorming.

Steps to make a GOStep 1. List the key concepts. Look over your textbook or notes and choose a key concept. Write the most important ideas related to the concept on a sheet of paper. Include relevant terms, proper names, dates and details in the list. Step 2. Arrange the concepts and titles (defition, types, examples, pictures, dates, importance, functions, etc) in order of importance. Write the main concept at the top of a separate sheet of paper. Jot down specific elements across the bottom of the paper. Write the supporting details throughout the middle of the paper.

Step 3. Draw a circle or square around each concept or title.

Step 4. Connect the concepts or topics. Draw lines between the concept or topics circles. Add words (connectors) that

explain the relationships between the concepts. Use verbs, verb phrases or prepositions to describe how the concepts

are related.

 Step 5. Review GO. Check the GO for accuracy Fix errors and delete any . Add missing concepts, connectors or

definitions to the GO.

TIPS…..First draw your GO with a pencil, then go back over it with a

pen or marker. After the GO has been created, look at the organizational patterns to see if the pieces fit together and make sense and if there is anything

missing. Have fun when you make a GO and save time doing it

in computer.

In reviewing your concept map, consider the following attributes: 

• Accuracy and Thoroughness. Are the concepts/topics and relationships correct? Are important concepts/topics missing?

• Organization. Was the GO laid out in a way that higher order relationships are apparent

and easy to follow? Does it have a title?• Appearance. Was the assignment done with

care showing attention to details such as spelling? Is it neat and orderly or is it messy?

• Creativity. Is it interesting, complete and complex without being distracting?

Types of GO

  

Remember……Graphic Organizers (GO) are

graphical tools for organizing and

representing knowledge. They include concepts,

usually enclosed in circles or boxes of some type, and

relationships between concepts indicated by a

connecting line linking two concepts. Words on the

line, referred to as linking words or linking phrases, specify the relationship

between the two concepts.