Teaching Resources

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Teaching Resources
n ept Mapping
Overview
Concept maps encourage understanding by helping students organize and enhance their knowledge
on any topic . They help students learn information by integrating each new idea into their existing
body of knowledge.
Concept maps are ideal for measuring the growth of student learning. As students create concept
maps, they restate ideas using their own words. Misdirected links or wrong connections alert
educators to what students do not understand, providing an accurate, objective way to evaluate areas
in which students do not yet grasp concepts fully.
Prepa ration
Discuss with students the purpose and attributes of a concept map. Show several examples of
varying complexity.
Lesson
1. Identify a single
concept upon
which to base a
concept map . For
example, in the
study of
geography,
students might
start with the
concept, "desert."
desert
2. Open Kidspiration"
and enter the
concept into the
Main Idea symbol.
3. Ask students
to volunteer
associated ideas,
concepts or topics and
enter them into the diagram.
®
oo
Kidspiration in the Classroom
©2
o
4. Show students how
to use the Link tool
to link related
symbols. In each
link 's associated
text box , ente r
words that exp lain
the rela tionship
between the ideas .
To aid student
thinking, remind
them that in a
concept map it is
pos sible to read
symbols and their
connecting link text
as sentences.
Encourage students
to add concepts
as needed.
has
has
desert
and
I
seems
but has many
+
animals
lizards
camels
"..
snakes
coyotes
Concept Map activity
The Science-Animal Concept Map activ ity or More-Concept Map activity offer students
additiona l ways to develop a concept map.
~
_ _ hvesin -
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15 known
c;f
and
6
-{
babies are
fur
C alled---.(~
enermes ale
eats
!
Q
and
~
and
6
Use the Activity Wizard to modify this concept map to suit other areas of the curriculum.
4 Inspiration Sohwore', Inc.
Teaching Resources
esiqninq Rubrics
Rubrics can be challenging to desig n, but once in place. they save lime and clarify expecta tion s.
Here is a simp le process for creating your ow n rubrics with Kids pirat ion":
1. Download the R ubric activity at www. insp iration .com/k itc or refe r to the }low To section ,
page 102, to create your own version.
Good j ob!
Ge tt ing there!
Nice stnrt l
words and
sentences
orgamzauon
2. Make a prel iminary deci sion on the ele ments to be assessed and modify the Rubric activity
as necessary. Look at stu dent work sa mples to see if yo u have om itted any important areas
for assessment.
3. Write brief descriptions of each per formance level and enter them into the appropriate areas.
Kidspiration in the Classroom
Good Job!
Ge tting
thel" !
Nice S tnrt!
Pictures support
wti ling
Labels pict ures
G eneral idea is
ro<'Oglliza ble
in::;r''''
,nth
II
gul5.WS
R...der can
.~~
Uses simpl e
sen tences
Pictures sta nd
for words an d
phrnses
So me
n.'COglIiza ble
words
words and
senleJl~
&0
~~ lIIing to
grou p simila r
ideas
LeO/righ t and
te p/down
conventions
orguuizaticn
4. If appropriate , share the rubric with your stude nts be fore th y begin their
assigned project.
5. Following the assignme nt, indic at performance levels on the rubric .
Getting
th ere!
Nice StlU1!
words and
sentences
6. To addres s diffe rent assignments. exper iment w ith rubric lay out s and ways of
representing info rmation.
Continued next page
'\ Inspiration Software, Inc.
Teaching Resources
,
•
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continue
More examp les:
Team project
Team P roject
Ca pable
Stn)'inR on
task
Developllg
Doing my
part
Em erging
Science experiment
Science Experiment
Hypo U",~
Wrinng
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Level
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,
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Excellent
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eentml nussmg
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JI"flke 'I haIti to
del ennUl" the
outcome
Unah'" to
!i:lllow tnw
experiment urJi
be dmr
Kidspiration in the Classroom
iIIrlcanc"
Grammai iIld
Wnbng IS
cr.ar • fr'"
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gmltllt1iJl and
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continued
More ex mples:
Tea m project
Developing
Domg my
par t
Em er ging
Science experiment
Science Experiment
WntJr.g
Level
Expeiirre ntal
questzm 1S
, peel!ie,
hypothens
lda te' dnectly
to II
Excellent
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Question "
SpeCU-lC,
hvpc tl-.:SJS "
not dnectiy
relill>d to II
Good job
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present
= ded
spec1fiJ,
hypolt.esll ..
eltlz r not
Ielalr d 01
~ T n.l , Ol
absent
In
c:iJsplayed m a
tablz: and
graph
MooI]li1l"
IlTe2 Dt .
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Rt:sulls
ll1C ~ 1l
conrrnl
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m dmjj n
control nussmg
absent
Quesuon 1S.50
brnad ' I II
cannot be
RrsuIlS leal Iy
present
Que stzm s not
Nice start
Kidspiration
All parts
Counul. If
Unable to
fallow hl:r;v
expernrent WIll
be dane
the Cla ssroom
graph Wllh
some small
ellen
EUDlS in
results table
and gra ph
make It hard to
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VlIitin'lSc.,ar
ard COIJ:'1St:
Grammar au:l
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WIlUC8 is
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nunc) en0 1'5 tn
r...,
grammar and
, pelling
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eanr.:.\mg and
hard la faile'll,
Marc::u enm s in
grammar au:l
speillng
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cannot be
WlltJ.ng c sa
eanfus'olg and
fnll of en ois
till'.! it canro t
UIrlcm oad
be uncers tood
M ath problem
Malll problem
Strategy
Level
-
Calculations
Well ora anized
WIth clear
diagram of
-
prob lem solving
approac h
Shows use of
several different
computational
strategies
Work shows
some
orgamzauon,
diagram absent
Calculauons are
correct , and
may shaw
alternau ve
strategies
Some
organization,
but important
parts of solution
all' absent
CalculaUOns
have some
a
Excellent
G ood
err ors
r-­
Explanatton
Understanding
Explanation l5
clear, and
demcnstra tes a
Demonstrates
complete
sequential
approach to
-
solving the
problem
understandmg
of the math
mvolved 111 tire
solution
Shows a basic
Explananon 15
clear
Exp lanatrm
shows some
small errors 111
thinking
understanding
of tire math
involved in tire
solution
SIID'JiS a limited
understanding
of tire math
involved in the
solution
beginning
I N~ work ~
© 2004 Inspiration Software", Inc.
No solution
strategies
present
-
Explananon is
Major errors 111
calculations I--- COnn1S1l1Q or I - ­
incomplete
Demonstra tes lID
understanding of
the math involved
in tire solution
Teaching Resources
Symbol Maker Ideas
Us ing ihc Sym bo l Make r too l, stu den ts ca n express their unlimited visual vocabul ary by drawing
and paint ing the ir ow n sym bo ls. Research shows th at drawing increases activity in th e brain, hel ping
youn g students generate and co nnect ideas. As w ith wr iting, students ma ke dec is ions and so lve
p robl em s w hen the y draw. Ora vings in Kid spirat io n" oecorne an imp ort ant el ment of stu dent
g raph ic organizers, a llow ing young learner s to refi ne and per son ali ze meaning.
Uses for the Sy mbol Maker tool are as varied as the stu dents in your classes. Here are some ideas to
gel you started :
Create a class portrait gallery:
Depict story elements for writing:
SeccrdaIv characters
Brad
Joey
Kidspiration in the Classroom
Personalize information about da ily life:
Mom. Dad.
and Joe
Charlotte's
Web
Go to college
My friend's pool
Develop visual memory cues:
Continued next page
© 200 4 Inspiration Software" , Inc.
Tea hing Resources
Symbol Make Id
~
ontinued
Create symbols to extend a custom library:
~
~r
Swung 15
Nelle is tile
state burl
<.
Isla nds are
tops of
undersea
mo untauis
Lei
Stale Flag
Pineapple
Yellow
lubiscus is the
Kill:ui tree
sta te flower
Record daily observations for science:
Biro
wa tc hin g
Jit...rinn
TUll: s:b y
Ki spiration in the Classroom
Illustrate experimental procedures:
r-
CJ
CJ •
.-. I
·
Design manipulatives for mathematical investigations:
©2004 Inspiration Software , Inc.
Te ching Resources