How to create digital graphic organizers to promote higher-order thinking and use of 21st century skills.

1. How to Create Digital
Graphic Organizers to meet
Common Core Standards
Teach yourself as well as your students how to
create graphic organizers using Microsoft Word,
PowerPoint and the free online website,
Prezi.com. Students will not only be learning
ways to help them organize their thoughts, but
they will also be integrating technology skills
into their learning which promotes the use of
21st century skills.
Start
Stephanie Valenzuela Ibarra
Final Master’s Project
College of Education
California State University,
Fullerton
Spring 2013

2. What This Digital Handbook
Is For:
Teaching students how to
effectively take control of
their learning and
essentially their future.
Showing teachers how to
engage students in higher-
order thinking through the
use of graphic organizers.
Showing students how to
use the technology
necessary for career and
college readiness.
How to create graphic
organizers.
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3. More About This Handbook
This handbook is organized into five sections, all of which were created to
show the user how to effectively use graphic organizers across the curriculum to
further student thinking as to meet the anchor standard of being college and career
ready. The first section, “About Graphic Organizers,” includes a bubble map that
contains general information regarding graphic organizers and their use. This section
also contains a T-chart of five main graphic organizers developed by Thinking Maps
Incorporation: the circle map; the bubble map; the double bubble map; the tree map
and the flow chart (thinkingmaps.com). Each graphic organizer is defined in its use
and a graphic is provided. Printables of each graphic organizer is also offered in the
handbook by clicking on the print button which links the user to the third of the
handbook. Section two is concluded by a combination T-chart/Flow Chart which
describes the connection between the graphic organizers known as “Thinking Maps”
and Common Core Standards. The name thinking maps and graphic organizers are used
interchangeably through the handbook and literature review.
The second section of the handbook is very important in the sense that teaches
both the student and teacher how to create their own graphic organizer using
Microsoft Word, PowerPoint’s SmartArt or the website Prezi.com. Creating the
graphic organizer by means of technology meets the Common Core State Technology
Standards integrated throughout, while engaging students in higher-order and
critical thought.
The fourth section provides teachers with lesson plans for science, math and
language arts for multiple grade levels. This section provides graphic organizer
examples of how they are used as well as how to implement them in a lesson. Some
sections provide examples of how to extend the lesson, as to meet the needs of
those students who require additional challenges.
Information and resources regarding graphic organizers, their use and proper
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4. How to Navigate this
Handbook
Button Action
Click on this arrow
to continue to the
next slide.
Click on the
“Home” button to
return to the main
menu (pictured to
the left).
Click on this arrow
to return to the
previous slide.
Click on this arrow
box to return to the
submenu.
Return to
“About
GO” menu
Continue
Back
Click on the lower boxes to
be taken to the submenus.
Click on the buttons to be
taken directly to that page.
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5. About
Graphic
Organizers
Creating
Digital
Graphic
Organizers
Sample
Lessons Resources
Click on a
Button to
Continue…
Interactive Menu
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6. About Graphic Organizers
Brainstorming
Graphic Organizers
and their functions
Graphic Organizer and
Common Core
Standards
Ideas for Graphic
Organizer Use

7. Brainstorming about
Graphic Organizers
Graphic
Organiz
ers
Graphic
Organizer
can be used
for all
subjects.
Graphic
Organizers
help to
promote
independent
and higher
order
thinking.
There are
many
different
types of
graphic
organizer.
The design of
the graphic
organizer can
be creative and
different to
meet the needs
of the concept
being taught.Graphic
Organizers
help
students
organize
their
thoughts.
Graphic
Organizers
must be taught
to students
first before
they are
expected to be
use them
independently.
The names
“Thinking
Maps” and
“Graphic
Organizers”
are
interchange
able.
Graphic
Organizers
can be
created on
Microsoft
Word,
PowerPoint
or on the
web.
There are 5
main types
of graphic
organizers
that we will
focus on.
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“About
GO” menu

8. Hint!
This is a
“T-Chart” Graphic
Organizer!
Pintables
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“About
GO” menu
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9. Hint!
This is a
“T-Chart” Graphic
Organizer!
Return to
“About
GO” menu
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10. Graphic Organizers and Common
Core Standards
This graphic organizer was created by
Thinking Maps, Inc. and may be
found at thinkingmaps.com.
Return to
“About
GO” menu
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11. Ideas for Graphic Organizer
Use
Circle
Map
Bubble
Map
Double
Bubble
Flow
Map
Tree
map
Compare &
Contrast
(CC)
•CC two
careers
•CC integers
and real
numbers
•Cc division
and
multiplicati
on
•CC weather
systems of
different
areas
•CC
societies/go
To
describe
• Describe
the taste
of an
orange to
building
sensory
words for
descriptiv
e writing.
•Describe
the parts
of a cell
and their
various
workings.
•Describe a
Sequence
•To show
the flow
of the
school
day/home
day.
•Biography
/ major
life
events.
•Events of
the Civil
Rights Act.
•Sequence
of a
science
experimen
Main Idea &
Supporting
Details
•Main idea
and
supporting
details of a
story.
• Sharks,
their eating
habits,
habitats
and other
important
details.
•Different
ways of
finding the
average (i.e.
Brainstor
m
•Ideas for
a
classroom
event.
•Ideas for
solving a
math
problem.
•Ideas for
ending
world
hunger and
violence.
•Ideas for
creating a
digital
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“About
GO” menu

12. How to Create Graphic
Organizers On…
Microsoft Word
PowerPoint’s
SmartArt
Prezi.com

13. Open Microsoft
Word and change the
page layout to
landscape and lessen
the view so that you
are able to view the
entire layout of
your graphic
organizer.
Creating Graphic Organizers
on
Microsoft Word
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14. Click on the “Insert”
tab to find the
“Shapes” option.
Open “Shapes” and
choose the shape you
would like to use
for you graphic
Organizer (i.e. an
arrow for a flow
map or a circle for a
bubble map).
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Submenu

15. TIP!
Copy and paste your
shape for faster and
consistent results!
CLICK HERE
To learn how to Copy
& Paste
For example, if you are
making a bubble map,
create the center
bubble and surrounding
bubbles.
Then select a line from
the “lines” section of
the shape box to
connect each bubble.
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Submenu

16. Now Let’s Add Text To Your
Bubble Map
Double click on the
shape or click on the
shape and click
“Format.” Find the Text
Box symbol and click
on it.
Then begin to type.
It’s that easy!
TIP!
Change the
text and text
size by
highlighting
the text and
changing it
under the
“Home” tab.
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Submenu

17. How to create a graphic
organizer on PowerPoint
using “SmartArt Graphics”Using SmartArt
allows you to
create more
intricate graphic
organizers based on
need. For more
details of how to
use SmartArt Click
HERE.
All the information on this page was retrieved from: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/create-a-smartart-graphic-
HA001205867.aspx#BM3
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18. How to create a Graphic
Organizer using
Prezi.com
Prezi.com is a great
online program. It
allows students and
teachers to create
graphic organizers
and present them to
the class.
This tool takes a
little more training,
so I have provided the
link to the website.
What a great way to
use graphic
organizers and meet
Common Core
Standards!
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Submenu

19. Printables!
Here are some printable graphic
organizers. The great thing about this
is that they are already created and
can be used for impromptu lessons.
However, remember that depending
solely on these will not allow your
students to practice their computer
skills! Allow them to create their
own so that they are critically
thinking as well as integrating Continue

20. Click on the graphic organizer you
would like to print
Can’t
remember
what each
is used for?
Click Here
Back
Click on an
image to be
linked to the
printable.

21. Name:______________________________ Date:_______________
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22. Name:______________________________ Date:_______________
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23. Name:______________________________ Date:_______________
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24. Name:______________________________ Date:_______________
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25. Name:______________________________ Date:_______________
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26. Lesson Plans
Life Science
Kindergarten
Algebra 1
6th Grade
Language Arts
3rd Grade

27. Life Science
Kindergarten
•Life Sciences
•2. Different types of plants
and animals inhabit the
earth.
CA Standard
•Production and Distribution of Writing
•CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.K.5 With guidance
and support from adults, respond to
questions and suggestions from peers and
add details to strengthen writing as
needed.
•CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.K.6 With guidance
and support from adults, explore a variety
of digital tools to produce and publish
writing, including in collaboration with
peers.
CCSS •Using a graphic organizer
created on Paint, students
will be able to describe
each of the five animal
groups with at least three
details for each.
Objective
Lesson Plans
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28. • Science book
• Touch screen devise such as
iPad or Nexus book with the
program “Paint” or similar.
• ELMO or projection camera.
Materials
•Whole class lesson on the 5 types of
animals (day 1-7), teaching about one
animal at a time. Teacher creates her own
graphic organizer as example for students
using the ELMO projection system.
•Students create their graphic organizer on
on the computer in pairs after each lesson.
Process • Students will be assessed at
the end of the unit.
• Student grades will be
determined by the content,
display, and accuracy of their
graphic organizer.
Assessment
Lesson Plans
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29. Types of
Animals
Birds
Feathers
Beaks
Fish
Scales Gills
Amphibians
Land Water
Reptiles
Scaly Tails
Mammals
Hair Milk
Day 1
Days
3-7
Days
7-10
Lesson Plans
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30. Taking it one step further!
These are bubble maps
discussing features of each
animal type. I used visuals
printed out from Google
Images to help meet the
needs of my English
Language Learners (ELL).
This blogger created a tree
chart similar to ours using
graphics to add visuals for
students. Adding visuals
helps to meet the needs of
ELL as well as the different
learning styles present in
the classroom.
Source: http://std2groupinganimals.blogspot.com/
Lesson Plans
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31. Algebra 1
6th Grade
CA Standards
•Algebra I
•Symbolic reasoning and calculations with symbols are central in algebra. Through the study of algebra, a student develops an understanding of the symbolic language
of mathematics and the sciences. In addition, algebraic skills and concepts are developed and used in a wide variety of problem-solving situations.
•2.0
•Students understand and use such operations as taking the opposite, finding the reciprocal, taking a root, and raising to a fractional power. They understand and use
the rules of exponents.
CCSS
•CCSS.Math.Content.6.EE.A.2CCSS.Math.Content.6.EE.A.3 Apply the properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions. For example,
apply the distributive property to the expression 3 (2 + x) to produce the equivalent expression 6 + 3x; apply the distributive property to the
expression 24x + 18y to produce the equivalent expression 6 (4x + 3y); apply properties of operations to y + y + y to produce the equivalent expression
3y
Objective
•Using a flow chart created on Microsoft Word, students will be able to demonstrate the steps and properties of operations to generate equivalent
expressions.
Lesson Plans
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32. Materials
•Math text book
•Computer/laptop or handheld device such as an iPad or Nexus with the Microsoft Office program, Word.
•ELMO or projection camera.
Process
•During independent work time, the teacher will meet with five students at a time to have them teach her how to solve linear
equations. She will then show them the process of creating a graphic organizer to show the process .
•Students will be given two problems to solve in a group of three. They will document the steps taken to solve the problem
using Microsoft word to create the graphic organizer (day 2-3)
•Students will present their graphic organizers by projecting them on the board using the ELMO projection system. Students
will explain each step taken to solve the problem. (Days 4-5)
Assessment
•Students will be assessed upon the completion of the project.
•Students will be assessed on their ability to accurately explain the steps taken to solve the linear equation.
Lesson Plans
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33. This is a sample of what
students will create. This
is a flow chart with
written explanations for
each box.
Click Here for the printable
version.
Lesson Plans
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34. Lesson Plans
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35. Language Arts
3rd Grade
CA Standards
• 1.0 Word Analysis,
Fluency, and Systematic
Vocabulary
Development
• Decoding and Word
Recognition
• 1.8 Use knowledge of
prefixes (e.g., un-, re-,
pre-, bi-, mis-, dis-) and
suffixes (e.g., -er, -est, -
ful) to determine the
meaning of words.
CCSS
• CCSS.ELA-
Literacy.RF.3.3a
• Identify and know the
meaning of the most
common prefixes and
derivational suffixes.
Objective
• Using a T-Chart
generated on a
computer program or
website of choice,
students will be able to
identify the prefix,
define it and pair it
with a root word to
create new meaning.
Lesson Plans
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36. Materials
• 5 Empty shoe box
• Prefxes written on
index cards for every
shoe box
• Root words written
on index cards for
each station.
• iPads/ Nexus (one
per group).
Process
•After already teaching students a
lesson on prefixes, set up 5 stations
each with a prefix tissue box
containing 5 prefixes in each box.
Also have 5 correlating words set on
the table.
•Divide students into five groups (or
more depending on your class size),
having 3-4 students in each group.
•Start whole class in creating the
outline of the triple T-chart on each
group’s tablet.
•As students rotate through each
section, they will choose one prefix
from the tissue box and the best root
word that corresponds with the
prefix.
•Students will record the word on the
T-chart.
•Each student takes turns at each
station.
•At the end of the rotation, students
should have one word per each
station in their T-Chart.
•Students present their T-chart as a
group to the class.
Assessment
• Students will be
assessed via
observation during
their group
presentations.
• Students will be
given a formal paper
to pencil tests to
assess their ability to
match prefixes to
definitions as well as
their ability to
correctly pair the
prefixes with words
to create new
meanings.
Lesson Plans
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37. Source for words on list: Click Here
1.miss-
2.Pre-
3.Pro-
4.Re-
5.Un-
1.Misbehav
e
2.Pretest
3.Proceed
4.Rewrite
5.untie
1.Wrongl
y
2.Before
3.Forwar
d
4.Again
5.Not
Lesson Plans
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38. Taking It Further: Building
Vocabulary
Source: www.maine.gov
Source: Click Here
Lesson Plans
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39. Resources For the Teacher
Common Core State
Standards Resources
California State
Standards
Resources
Graphic Organizer
Resources
Technology Resources

40. Common Core State Standards
www.corestandards.org
American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Common Core Crosswalk*
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/commoncorecrosswalk/index.cfm
American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Lesson Plan Database*
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/lessonplandatabase/lessonplandb.cfm
http://aasl.jesandco.org/
Common Core Website (CCSS)
http://www.corestandards.org
Houghton Mifflin
http://hmheducation.com/commoncore/index.php
McGraw Hill
http://www.commoncoresolutions.com/resources.php]
Pearson
http://commoncore.pearsoned.com/index.cfm?locator=PS11T9
Partnership for 21st Century Skills Maps*
http://www.p21.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=504&Itemid=185#maps
Scholastic
http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/common-core-state-standards.htm
Common Core State
Standards Resources
Source of this list: www.corestandards.org
Resources
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41. California State Standards
Resources
California Content Standards
http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/
California State Standards: Mathematics
www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/mathstandards.pdf
California State Standards: English Language Arts
www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/elacontentstnds.pdf
California State Standards: Science
www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/sciencestnd.pdf
California State Standards: History-Social Science
www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/histsocscistnd.pdf
Student friendly state standards
http://www.pvusd.k12.ca.us/departments/C-I/icando.html
Resources
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42. Graphic Organizer
Resources
Thinking Maps Incorporated
www.thinkingmaps.com
Creating a double bubble map using Microsoft Word
http://youtu.be/SO2JaVWLmW0
Thinking maps furthered explained
http://thinkingmaps.com/thinking_maps_common_core.php
Scholastic Vocabulary Building; Graphic Organizer Use & Mini-Lessons
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&ved=0CFIQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2
Fmichelleleba.wikispaces.com%2Ffile%2Fview%2FGraphic%2BOrganizers%2Bthat%2Bbuild%2Bvocabulary.
pdf&ei=s5t9UYqzKuqligKKsYGwAw&usg=AFQjCNEW4fNDPIWRU3yIwWO60kgxTIZXqw&sig2=FPRrp-
kJjI_ZyBGf5QzvbA&bvm=bv.45645796,d.cGE&cad=rja
Houghton Miffilin graphic organizers per grade
http://www.eduplace.com/science/hmsc/content/organizer/
Lessons with graphic organizers for all subjects
http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/lesson_plans/language_arts/graphicorganizer/
Math resource guide for graphic organizers
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CEAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2
Fteacher.depaul.edu%2FDocuments%2FMath%2520Graphic%2520Organizer%2520Guide.pdf&ei=QAh7UZ
2sKKWqiALy34HAAg&usg=AFQjCNE0ZTiYgZJS4X-bAvW-nZutpFK8ZQ&sig2=NDCDEy4LQ6TydNkuaFR-
QQ&bvm=bv.45645796,d.cGE&cad=rja
Resources
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43. Technology Resources
Create a bubble map online
www.bubbl.us
Create a bubble map online
http://www.text2mindmap.com/
Create any type of graphic organizer online
https://www.draw.io/
Collaborative Real-time flow chart creation
http://www.flowchart.com/
Printable graphic organizers
http://my.hrw.com/nsmedia/intgos/html/igo.htm
Professional graphic organizer software
http://www.xmind.net/
Create flow charts, bubble maps and tree charts online
http://mind42.com/
Create graphic organizers that be shared and worked on by others
http://www.spiderscribe.net/
Desk top graphic organizer application
http://simplediagrams.com/
Resources
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44. How to “Copy & Paste”
RL
-“Left Click” using the mouse on the
shape.
-“Right Click” on the shape and, on the
keyboard, copy
it by holding down control key and
tapping the “C” key.
-Paste it by clicking anywhere off of
the shape and holding down the
control button and tapping on “V”
key
-Move the shape to the location you
would like it in by clicking and
dragging it. Copy
Paste