Since they are starting to come home for homework, I thought you might have some questions about how they work, and what students should be doing. There are eight types of maps:
The Circle Map
The circle map is used to define a topic. The topic is written in the center of the page. Draw a small circle around the topic. Around the topic, write words or phrases related to the topic. A larger circle is drawn around this information. A large rectangle, called a frame of reference, is drawn around the outside. Inside the frame of reference, students write how they know this information, where they got this information, or why this information is important to know.
The Tree Map
The tree map is used to sort and categorize information. Students begin by writing the topic at the top of the page. They draw a line underneath it, and a small vertical line underneath that. Then a large horizontal line is added with "branches" for each category (for example, in the picture to the right there are five branches). The title of the category is written under each branch and underlined. Information that fits into each category is added and underlined under the title. A large rectangle (the frame of reference) is drawn around the outside (it is not shown in the picture), and students write how they know this information, where they got this information from, or why this information is important to know.
The Flow Map
A flow map is used to sequence. The first step, or event, is written in a small box in the upper left-hand corner of the paper. An arrow is drawn, and the next step, or event, is added using another small box. This continues until all the steps, or events, are covered. A large rectangle (the frame of reference) is drawn around the outside (it is not shown in this picture) and students write how they know this information, where they got this information from, or why this information is important to know. Students also need to label their flow map (what is it sequencing) inside the frame of reference.
The Double Bubble Map
The double bubble is an updated version of a Venn diagram. It is used to compare and contrast. Students begin by choosing two things to compare (previous methods and today's methods are used in the picture). They write their two topics and draw circles around them. Between the two circles, write things that the two topics have in common and draw lines connecting them to the original two bubbles. Around the side, write about how the topics are different, connecting each bubble to the the topic it pertains to (they have color-coded them in the picture: green are similarities, red and blue are differences). A large rectangle (the frame of reference) is drawn around the outside (it is not shown in this picture) and students write how they know this information, where they got this information from, or why this information is important to know.
The Brace Map
The brace map is used to show the relationship between an object and its parts. A topic is written in the center left of the paper. A brace is drawn, and the parts of the topic are written. Additional braces can be drawn to break the parts down even further if needed. A large rectangle (the frame of reference) is drawn around the outside (it is not shown in this picture) and students write how they know this information, where they got this information from, or why this information is important to know.
The Bubble Map
Bubble maps are used to describe. A topic is written in the center. Bubbles are added around the topic. Bubbles can only contain adjectives. A large rectangle (the frame of reference) is drawn around the outside (it is not shown in this picture) and students write how they know this information, where they got this information from, or why this information is important to know.
The Bridge Map
The bridge map is used for analogies (how one thing is related to another). Students draw the "bridge" and write "as" in the triangle section. On the top, they write a word. On the bottom, they write a related word. They repeat on the other side. Finally, they write the relating factor. They should be able to use the relating factor with both sets of words (for example in the picture, "Jessica is responsible for learning" and "Tracey is responsible for driving the bus"). A large rectangle (the frame of reference) is drawn around the outside (it is not shown in this picture) and students write how they know this information, where they got this information from, or why this information is important to know.
The Multi-Flow Map
The multi-flow map is used to show cause and effect. Students write an event in a box in the center of the page. Causes of the event are written in boxes on the left side, and connected by arrows to the center event. Effects of the event are written in boxes to the right, and connect by arrows. A large rectangle is drawn around the outside (it is not shown in this picture) and students write how they know this information, where they got this information from, or why this information is important to know.
