Intelligence type: Mathematical, verbal, visual & interpersonal.
Number of students:
- This activity can be done in group or individually. It can also be done as a class exercise with the teacher guiding the activity.
How it works:
- A concept map is a tool to visualize how different ideas or concepts are connected to a main subject. One of the main advantages of concept maps is that they allow you to identify similarities and differences in relation to the subject.
- Steps: (1) In the center oval, write the key word that identifies a subject (this is the focal point). (2) in the surrounding ovals write concepts/ideas that go with the key concept. (3) Start connecting the ideas to the focal point and to one another (if necessary). This is called branching.
- At the end you have a visual of all the ideas and concepts related to a subject and how they are connected.
Using this activity in the classroom:
- This activity can be used at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of a lesson.
- To make it more challenging, a concept map can be drawn at the beginning of a lesson, and then at the end to see how the students' appreciation of a given subject has changed after the lesson.
- After explaining how to do a concept map, ask the students (they can work in groups or individually) to draw one.
- You could also give the students the option of using images, pictures, symbols or drawings instead of words.
- If this activity is given as an individual assignment, it is better if it is to bring back for the next class.
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