This slide shows an example of a concept map created using Inspiration®. Note the capacity of concept mapping software to organize large amounts of information in a visual manner using colors, shapes, symbols, and arrowed links.

This particular example represents social studies content, but graphic organizers can be applied across the curriculum in a variety of ways, such as mapping cause and effect, note taking, comparing and contrasting concepts, organizing problems and solutions, and relating information to main ideas or themes.

You should now show other examples of concept maps from different content areas illustrating the different ways of applying graphic organizers in classroom instruction. Use examples from classrooms, ones you create, or samples provided on the Inspiration® site http://www.inspiration.com/prodev/index.cfm?fuseaction=insprec. Feel free to leave the PowerPoint® presentation to show the examples in Inspiration® or in the programs in which the concept maps were created.

Meet Kirsten as she describes how her first grade students use graphic organizers.

PowerPoint® Users: Directions for downloading audio clip and embedding audio clip on slide. (doc) (pdf)