Vocabulary · Tier 3: subject words
Concept maps
Students map how the key terms of a topic connect, writing a linking phrase on each line. The map shows whether they understand the relationships as well as the words.
- Bands
- 2 to 5
- Stages
- Upper elementary, Middle school and High school
- Settings
- Mainstream class and Small group
- Prep
- Low prep
How to do it
- Give students six to ten key terms from the unit on cards.
- Students arrange the cards to show how they connect.
- They draw lines between connected terms and write a linking phrase on each line, such as “is made of”, “causes” or “is a type of”.
- Pairs compare maps and explain their differences.
- Students use the linking phrases as sentences in their writing.
In a lesson
Science (high school)
With cards for atom, element, compound, molecule and mixture, a pair writes “atoms of one type make an element” and “elements bonded together make a compound”. Their map shows they have confused compound and mixture, which the teacher picks up straight away.
What commonly goes wrong
- Lines have no linking words, which hides misunderstandings.
- There are too many terms.
- It becomes a poster task instead of a thinking task.
Adapting it
For a lower band
Give linking phrases on cards to place on the lines.
For a higher band
Let students choose their own terms, then write a paragraph from the map.