Preparing for Concept Mapping By: James Gorman Based on “Learning How to Learn” Table 2.3 by Joseph Novak

Lesson Objective To become familiar with identifying key concepts/ ideas in a text and the relationships between them. Understand what a concept map is and how to construct one.

Differences in words Describe how these two lists differ: List 1 Cat Dog Chair Tree Cloud Book List 2 Raining Playing Washing Thinking Thunder Birthday Party

Differences in words Describe how these two lists differ: List 1 Cat Dog Chair Tree Cloud Book List 2 Raining Playing Washing Thinking Thunder Birthday Party = Objects = Events

What’s your view? On a piece of paper, write a one-paragraph description of an object such as a dog. Take 3 minutes for this activity

What’s your view? (part 2) On a piece of paper, write a one-paragraph description of an event such as a birthday party. Take 3 minutes for this activity

Concepts as Mental Images Each person had a slightly different version of what a dog and birthday party was. Although the word used was the same, each person had a different mental image. Concepts are words for these mental images

Words of a different color Are the following word concepts ? If not what are they? Are Where The Is Then With

Words of a different color Are the following word concepts ? If not what are they? Are Where The Is Then With = Linking words

Propositions A statement can be made by joining two concepts using a linking word. The dog is running. The cat is clean.

Making Sense In your notebook, construct three simple sentences. Circle all the concepts while differentiating between objects and events with an “O” or “E.” Underline the linking words.

Paragraph exercise Read the paragraph distributed by the teacher and identify the key concepts and linking words as you have done previously.

Sample Paragraph Science permeates our lives and informs our actions. Physics, for example, teaches us how mirrors work, how glasses can aid one's vision and how heat is treated by various household materials (plates and utensils). Chemistry discusses the principles of matter, like atoms, molecules and compounds. These atoms, molecules and compounds make up the water we drink, the food we eat, the air we breathe, the medicines we take when we are sick. Biology, the study of life, teaches us how all living things are categorized, where we all came from. Science strives to answer countless questions.

Propositional Phrases Science permeates our lives Science informs our actions Science covers Physics Physics teaches about mirrors Physics teaches about glasses Glasses aid vision Physics teaches about heat Heat affects materials Science covers Chemistry Chemistry discusses matter Matter e.g. atoms Matter e.g. molecules Matter e.g. compounds Atoms, molecules, and compounds make up water Atoms, molecules, and compounds make up air Atoms, molecules, and compounds make up food Atoms, molecules, and compounds make up medicine Science consists of Biology Biology is the study of life Science answers questions

Sketching the topic out Create a concept map using the propositional statements identified from the text. Concepts go in circles and related to each other with lines (arrows).

Sample Concept Map