What can a Visual or Graphical Organizer be used for? 

As suggested in the report "Graphic Organizers:A Review of Scientifically Based Research?" by The Institute for the Advancement of Research in Education (IARE) at AEL, July 2003.

• brainstorm ideas.

• develop, organize, and communicate ideas.

• see connections, patterns, and relationships.

• assess and share prior knowledge.

• develop vocabulary.

• outline for writing process activities.

• highlight important ideas.

• classify or categorize concepts, ideas, and information.

• comprehend the events in a story or book.

• improve social interaction between students, and facilitate group work and collaboration among peers.

• guide review and study.

• improve reading comprehension skills and strategies.

• facilitate recall and retention.

Or visit the University of Wisconsin - Stout Tools for Active Learning course web page and a list of 50 Uses for Inspiration and Kidspiration.

The following sites provide ideas and resources for the use of Inspiration ® and Kidspiration ® with learning. 
Visit the Inspiration.Com site for more information on the software.

• Flashes ... Inspirations monthly online newsletter.

• Get Inspired: Inspiration and United Streaming ... teacher created templates to use Inspiration and United Streaming resources.

• Graphic Organizer Resources ... by Gail Corder of Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth Texas, includes a variety of resources such as why and ways to use graphic organizers.  Includes links to free graphic organizers.

• Graphic Organizers (from San Diego County Office of Education) part of a literacy site, type of graphic organizers and usage suggestions are provided.

• Inspiration Examples (from Salina Kansas Public Schools).

• Inspiration.Com Inspired Resources ... the home page for Inspiration including resources (such as books) by grade level and subject area.

• Kidspiration Collection (from North Canton City, Ohio) lessons submitted by teachers as part of a study group.

• Kidspiration Lessons (from  the Canby School District, Oregon) ideas sorted by grade level including a brief description and content category.

• Learning Resources: Graphic Organizers, what are they, how to use them with computers and on paper.

• Rubric for Graphic Organizers - Inspiration Diagrams ... designed by Karen Fletcher at the University of Wisconsin - Stout.

• Teachers Using Inspiration ... examples from grades 1 - 12 including all subject areas (art history to water cycle).  Hosted by the Lakeland Central School, Putnam Valley School Distict, New York.

• Visual Learning - Ideas for Kidspiration and Inspiration ... diagrams for both programs plus the PDA version, arranged by subject area.  Found on the Inspiration.Com site.

• Web Based Learning Model ... six suggested models to help create Internet learning opportunities (including Scavenger Hunts and WebQuests).  Maintained by the Spartanburg School District Number 3.

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The following are ideas created for Inspiration and Kidspiration and include a version in Adobe Acrobat (PDF files)
and either a Kidspiration or Inspiration file to download.

K-1-2

• Alphabet Acrobat or Kidspiration... K-1 grades, letter recognition, students click on a letter and add a picture starting with that letter, teacher created worksheet

• Animals Acrobat or Kidspiration ... 1-2 grades, students answer simple questions related to an animal, concept map

• Help Old McDonald Acrobat or Kidspiration ... K-2 grades, students discriminate between what should or should not be in Old McDonalds Farm then write what they know about farms, teacher created worksheet.

• Making Change Acrobat or Kidspiration  ... 1-2 grades, using pictures of coins students drag correct change into box, teacher created worksheet

• Mammals Acrobat  or Inspiration ... 1-5 grades, show knowledge of mammals, webbing

• Seasons Acrobat or Kidspiration ... 1-2 grades, student pick from a group of pictures to represent the four seasons and write a sentence explaining why, teacher created worksheet

• Simple Math Acrobat or Kidspiration ... 1-2 grades, students work in pairs creating math problems from numbers and math symbols provided in this teacher created worksheet

• This Week's Weather Acrobat or Kidspiration ... 1-2 grades, students keep track of the daily weather by copying and pasting images to a weekly calendar, teacher created worksheet

3-4-5

• Birth of Jazz Acrobat or Inspiration ... 4-8 grades, music history showing relationships over time, webbing

• Biographical Sketch Acrobat or Inspiration ... 3-5 grades, writing aid (what have you learned?), concept map

• Jane and Charlotte Acrobat or Inspiration ... grades 4-8, "same vs. different" language arts comparisons of authors, idea map

• Literary Terms Acrobat or Inspiration ... grades 4-8, fill in the blank with examples and matching for vocabulary, teacher created worksheet

• Mammals Acrobat or Inspiration ... 1-5 grades, show knowledge of mammals, webbing

• Native Americans Native Americans or Inspiration ... 4-8 grades, comparison of two native American Indian cultures, concept map.  Example of the outline view.

• Persuasive Essay Acrobat or Inspiration ... 4-8 grades, template prompts learner to develop writing outline, concept map

• Resume Preparation Acrobat or Inspiration ... 5-8 grades, template prompting student to input information in developing a resume

• Vocabulary Acrobat or Inspiration ... 3-8 grades, the main idea is a word where the sup-topics are used to develop vocabulary, webbing

• Rain Forest Animals Acrobat  or Inspiration ... 3-5 grades, natural science example of webbing

• Stuart Little Acrobat or Inspiration ... 3-5 grades, idea and writing development based on character development, web

• Texas Acrobat or Inspiration ... 3-5 grades, teacher created template related to state facts, students answer questions, webbing

• Tom Sawyer Acrobat or Inspiration ... 3-5 grades, literary character comparison, concept map

• Trip to the Zoo Acrobat or Inspiration ... 3-5 grades, list of what was seen and done while visiting a zoo, webbing

• Types of Rocks Acrobat or Inspiration ... 4-8 grades, comparison of rock types, concept map

6-7-8

• Advertising Gimmicks Acrobat or Inspiration ... 7-8 grades, media literacy, organize information for writing and research, webbing

• Birth of Jazz Acrobat or Inspiration ... 4-8 grades, music history showing relationships over time, webbing

• Carbon Cycle Acrobat or Inspiration ... 6-8 grades, natural science showing relationships including both concrete (herbivores) and abstract concepts (photosynthesis), concept map

• Cell Comparison Acrobat or Inspiration ... 6-8 grades, biology template allowing comparisons between types of cells, concept map with teacher created questions to answer

• Compare and Contrast Photosynthesis and Aerobic Respiration Acrobat or Inspiration ... 6-8 grades, "same vs. different" comparison of two biology processes, idea map.

• Jane and Charlotte Acrobat or Inspiration ... grades 4-8, "same vs. different" language arts comparisons of authors, idea map

• Literary Terms Acrobat  or Inspiration ... grades 4-8, fill in the blank with examples and matching for vocabulary, teacher created worksheet

• Native Americans Acrobat or Inspiration ... 4-8 grades, comparison of two native American Indian cultures, concept map.   Example of the outline view.

• Persuasive Essay Acrobat or Inspiration ... 4-8 grades, template prompts learner to develop writing outline, concept map

• Resume Preparation Acrobat  or Inspiration ... 5-8 grades, template prompting student to input information in developing a resume

• Vocabulary Acrobat or Inspiration ... 3-8 grades, the main idea is a word where the sup-topics are used to develop vocabulary, webbing

• Why You Buy? Acrobat or Inspiration ... 6-8 grades, media literacy, organize and brainstorm, webbing

Teacher Planning and Organizing Suggestions

• Web Quest Process Acrobat or Inspiration ... teacher, define and develop a web quest with this pre-made design, concept map

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Last updated: May 07, 2007