Teaching Themes
Graphic Organizers: Everything You Need
Graphic organizers help students construct meaning. These organizers and lessons can be used across multiple subjects and grade levels.
Graphic Organizer: KWL Chart
Grades: 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12
Activating background knowledge, creating questions about the topic, and developing a purpose for reading help students to become more thoughtful, engaged readers.
Lesson Plans
Graphic Timeline
Grades: 6–8
Have students analyze and then illustrate the important events of their lives using a sequential graphic timeline.
Graphic Organizers
Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12
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 Organizational OutlineGrades: 3–5, 6–8 Use this pattern to help students identify a main concept and the ranks, or levels, of subconcepts under it. It can be used to illustrate... |
 Graphic Organizer: Idea WebGrades: 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 The idea web pattern helps students organize concepts or ideas. They are great for word mapping as well as brainstorming story ideas. |
 Graphic Organizer: Cyclical PatternGrades: 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Use the cyclical pattern to illustrate a series of events within a process in a circular formation, such as the balance of nature or the rain... |
 Graphic Organizer: Venn DiagramGrades: 3–5, 6–8 Venn diagrams are favorites for comparing and contrasting story elements. Try using this pattern in a math lesson. For example, show students how... |
 Graphic Organizer: Overlapping ConceptsGrades: 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Overlapping concept circles can be used in all grade levels. It is ideal for classification and identifying common characteristics and attributes... |
 Graphic Organizer: Cause and EffectGrades: 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Identifying cause and effect relationships within a story helps students focus on two important elements of comprehension: what happens in the... |
 Graphic Organizer: TimelineGrades: 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Use the time line to help student makes connections and understand complex relationships and interrelationships. |
 Graphic Organizer: Author ToolsGrades: 6–8, 9–12 This tool box graphic organizer is intended for older students. It is meant to be a challenging activity in which students record examples of... |
 Graphic Organizer: What's the Main Idea?Grades: 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Help students recognize that nonfiction articles and expository writing contains a main idea and supporting details. |
Character Sheet and Traits ListGrades: 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 The character traits list helps readers identifying a number of common character traits. This Check Sheet gives readers an opportunity to evaluate... |
Character Comparison SheetGrades: 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Help students outline and identify similarities and differences between two story characters. This organizer provides an outline for comparing... |
 Graphic Organizer: Setting StageGrades: 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 Use this printable to help students visualize a story setting or to illustrate a key event. The combination of visual images and text helps... |
 Graphic Organizer: Plot DiagramGrades: 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Use this graphic organizer to help students illustrate the plot of any novel. Ask them to write brief summary statements to depict their... |
Graphic Organizer: Plot Sheet and Conflict ListGrades: 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 This graphic organizer provides an outline for students to identify types of conflict and evaluate the plot of the story. |
Graphic Organizer: Follow the CluesGrades: 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Making and then confirming or revising predictions helps students to stay fully engaged in a story. |
 Graphic Organizer: Sequence of EventsGrades: 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 Use this organizer to help students arrange events in chronological order. It's useful for discussing the story structure, cause and effect, and... |
Graphic Organizer: Story MapGrades: 1–2, 3–5 Use this simple outline to help students identify key elements that make up a story: characters, setting, problem, and solution. Add to the map or... |
 Graphic Organizer: Story TrainGrades: 1–2, 3–5 Introduce the "beginning, middle, and end" with the story train, a simple graphic organizer for younger readers to identify parts of the story. |
My Reading RecordGrades: 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 Encourage independent reading and keep track of what books students are reading by providing students with their own Reading Record. |
Independent Reading ContractGrades: 1–2 Use this worksheet to accompany independent reading activities. |
