50 Using Graphic Organizers

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Using Graphic Organizers Opening Page

Start-Up Activity

Read aloud a passage from a science text—one that tells about a cycle, such as the life cycle of an insect or plant. Challenge students to create a graphic (visual representation) of the cycle. Afterward, ask for volunteers to share their examples. 

Use this discussion to introduce graphic organizers. Show the example of the cycle diagram on page 333, explaining that this is one way to represent a cycle graphically. Find out if any students created something similar in the start-up activity. 

Then explain that this chapter offers many other graphics for recording notes, planning writing, and recording reading details.

Think About It

“First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination.” 

—Napoleon Hill

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Kinds of Graphics

Graphic organizers can help your students think critically by visualizing the structure of ideas. Discuss how to use graphic organizers for gathering details during prewriting. For example, they could use a 5 senses chart to gather details for a descriptive essay. Also discuss how to use graphic organizers while reading. For example, students could use a 5 W's organizer to analyze the details in the news story.

You can also introduce the graphics in the minilessons below.

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Kinds of Graphics (Continued)

Review the compare/contrast and cause/effect organizers. You can also use the minilessons and downloads below to let students practice these organizers.

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TEKS Standard:
NE ELA Standard:

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21st Century Skills:

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More Graphic Organizers

Review the other graphic organizers found in Writers Express. Have students practice filling in the organizers using the minilesson and download below. 

Make sure students know that they can invent their own graphic organizers—anything that helps them organize personal thoughts or new information.

LAFS Standard:
TEKS Standard:
NE ELA Standard:

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

21st Century Skills: