Graphic Organizers

Introduction Definition Effectiveness Resources

We will talk about what graphic organizers are, show samples of different types of graphic organizers, prove their effectiveness, and share some resource links. Studies show that graphic organizers are effective in improving learning outcomes for various students.

Graphic organizers are visual representations of knowledge, concepts, thoughts, or ideas. Graphic Organizers historically have been organized bits of data in easy-to-understand formats, such as charts, tables, and graphs. Wiki Website:

Image description: This graphic organizer is made up of a series of shapes in located centrally around the main theme of the organizer, the GIS. Each circle around the main them represents all the component that make us the GIS concept.

Image description: This graphic organizer is entitled "Network Tree" and is made up of a series of ovals and squares. At the top is one large oval. This is above a row of two squares. They are connected by two black lines. Below the #1 and #2 squares are smaller squares. This process continues until no longer needed

Image description: This graphic organizer is entitled "Spider Map" and is made up of a large, central oval with four sets of black lines extending from it. The central oval is labeled "Topic, Concept, Theme." Four slanted lines extend from the oval, and each one has two horizontal lines attached. Along the side of the slanted line at the top right of the graphic organizer is the label "Main Idea." On one of the horizontal lines at the top left is the label "Detail."

Image description: This graphic organizer is entitled "Problem and Solution Map" and is made up of a series of boxes. On the top, a “Problem” box has an arrow pointing to a box in the center of the graphic organizer. The center box is labeled “Solution" An arrow points from the center box to a the final The rectangle is labeled “End Results"

Image description: This graphic organizer is entitled "Comparative and Contrastive Map" and is made up of two ovals at the top, a series of rectangles connected by straight and zig-zag lines beneath, and a vertical row of three circles on the left. The oval on the top left is labeled "Concept 1." The oval on the top right is labeled "Concept 2." Below this, three rows of three rectangles are attached to each other and to the top ovals by straight lines. Zig-zag lines connect the rectangles horizontally. The rectangle on the top left and the rectangle on the top right are each labeled "Diff. Feature." The top rectangle in the center is labeled "Sim. Feature." Brackets to the left of each rectangle in the row on the left indicate each of three circles on the far left of the graphic organizer. Each of the three circles are labeled "Dimension 1."

Image description: This graphic organizer is entitled "Continuum Scale" and is made up of a straight horizontal line with a short vertical line at each end. The left end of the line is labeled "Low," and the right end of the line is labeled "High."

This graphic organizer take you through a series of events though to the final outcome. The initiating event is the top square of the chart. This is followed by the next event all the way down to the final outcome.

Image description: This graphic organizer is entitled "Cycle" and is made up of four squares with four curved arrows between each square, pointing coutner- clockwise from the top square, creating a circular appearance. The left square is labeled "1." The square on the bottom is labeled "2." The right square is labeled "3." The square on the top is labeled "4."

Image description: This graphic organizer is entitled "Human Interaction Outline" and is made up of five rectangles, one large rectangle in the center, and four smaller rectangles, two above and two below the center rectangle. The rectangle on the top left is labeled "Person/Group 1." An arrow points from its bottom right corner to the center rectangle. The rectangle on the top right is labeled "Person/Group 2." An arrow points from its bottom left corner to the center rectangle. The center rectangle is labeled "Action" at the top left, with an arrow pointing across the rectangle to the label "Reaction" on the top right. An arrow points from this label diagonally across the rectangle to the bottom left and the label "Action" (repeated). An arrow points across the bottom of the rectangle to the bottom right and the label "Reaction" (repeated). Two arrows point from the bottom center of the center rectangle to the two smaller rectangles on the bottom left and right. The two bottom rectangles are blank.