Crazy for Concept Mapping

Last year I took a class where we discussed concept maps. We thought about how teachers could tell if a student understood the concept that they were mapping...what would it look like...here are a couple examples:

Example 1

Photo from: http://www.pen.eiu.edu/~mewatts2/concept%2520map.html

Example 2

Photo from: http://2005-w08.wikispaces.com/mmastrof_project1_examples

Notice that example 1 has links that are linking one thought (node or circle) and nothing seems related, don't get me wrong, this is a great start and could be the work of a younger student. Now look at example 2, there are more nodes (circles) and a couple of the linking phrases that link multiple nodes. This student understands that global warming has some ideas that are interrelated.


The more links seems to show that the student understands the concept, check out the example about culture...you will notice it is hard to follow...this shows a strong understanding of the concept and the interrelated nodes.

Example 3

Photo from: http://2005-w08.wikispaces.com/mmastrof_project1_examples

Recommended Apps
Here is a list of apps that would be work well for concept mapping in grades K-8. 

MindMeister (Free)

Simple Mind (Free Version)

MindNode ($9.99)


Popplet (Free Version)

iThoughtsHD ($9.99)


Kidspiration ($69.99 Yikes)


I also thought it would be helpful to show some examples of maps from different grade levels...Hope this was helpful....


Topics for K-2

• Fairy Tales or Picture Book Stories
• Animals, Insects, Plants
• Shapes

http://www.mindmapart.com/blog/page/2/

This is a drawing, but I wanted to show this concept map because there are some words, but many pictures. I'm wondering if students in K-1 would produce concept maps that had pictures and smaller words? Most of the apps recommended allow pictures to be imported onto the maps.

Topics for 3-5

• Quadrilateral
• Forms of Energy
• Natural Disasters

http://educationforatoz.com/images/_9_Haiyue_Jin_and_Khoon_Yoong_Wong.pdf

Topics for 6-8

• Vocabulary throughout a unit, have students place new words on the concept map making connections.
• Book Genres
• Wildlife and Contaminants

http://www.inspiration.com/sites/default/files/images/examples/TheGlassMenagerie_DV_big.png

And last....thought I would share this fun video about creating maps..It would be fun for students to do this type of map and video it with the Ipad.

Concept Mapping Lesson Plan....worth looking at!
Concept Mapping Resources