Concept Maps - Classroom Strategies - Reading Rockets
Concept Maps - Classroom Strategies - Reading Rockets
Concept Maps - Classroom Strategies - Reading Rockets
A concept map is a visual organizer that can enrich students' understanding of a new concept. Using a graphic organizer,
students think about the concept in several ways. Most concept map organizers engage students in answering questions
such as, "What is it? What is it like? What are some examples?" Concept maps deepen understanding and comprehension.
There are several ways to construct concept maps. Most include the following steps:
1. Model how to identify the major ideas or concepts presented in a selection of text as you read.
2. Organize the ideas into categories. Remind students that your organization may change as you continue to read and add more information.
3. Use lines or arrows on the map to represent how ideas are connected to one another, a particular category, and/or the main concept. Limit
the amount of information on the map to avoid frustration.
4. After students have finished the map, encourage them to share and reflect on how they each made the connections between concepts.
5. Encourage students to use the concept map to summarize what was read.
Lesson plan
Concept Muraling: Organizing Knowledge Visually to Improve Comprehension
Help students develop a framework for organizing their knowledge of a content area text by providing visuals and key vocabulary words. See the
lesson plan from the Balanced Literacy Diet.
See many more related how-to videos with lesson plans in the Reading Comprehension Strategies section.
This video is published with permission from the Balanced Literacy Diet. See many more related how-to videos with lesson plans in the
Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension Strategies sections.
Collect resources
Science
How a concept map could be used with a topic such as the study of weather. See example >
Here's a more complex concept map from a study on bats. See example >
How concept maps have been used in early childhood education to help students understand more about trees, their bodies, and other familiar
topics. See example >
Here's a step-by-step on building concept maps for a variety of topics: plants, football, and the Cinderella fairytale. See example >
Differentiated instruction
For second language learners, students of varying
reading skill, students with learning disabilities, and
younger learners
Hyerle, D. (1996). Visual tools for constructing knowledge. Alexandria, VA: Association of Supervisors of Curriculum Development.
Novak, Joseph D. (1998). Learning, creating, and using knowledge: Concept maps as facilitative tools in schools and corporations. Mahwah, NJ:
Erlbaum.
Noyd, Robert. (1998). A primer on concept maps. USAFA Educator, 7(1).
Schroeder, N.L., Nesbit, J.C., Anguiano, C.J. et al. Studying and Constructing Concept Maps: a Meta-Analysis. Educational Psychology Review
30, 431–455 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-017-9403-9
The familiar Cat in the Hat is used to introduce newly independent readers to maps of all kinds.
Me on the Map
By: Joan Sweeney
Genre: Nonfiction
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader
The United States is a big place which holds many children and their families. Maps and what they show are introduced by a girl who begins
with a drawing of her room in her home. The house is then placed on a street, in a town, etc. until we see the U.S. as part of the world. This
accessible book may help children understand their place on the map — and in the census.
"You may have tangible wealth untold. Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be — I had a mother who read to
me." — Strickland Gillilan