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What is a thinking map?

I would like to devote this article to Thinking Maps.  It is a new approach 
to learning that our school district has adopted.  This approach is now used 
at all grade levels and all subjects.  Your children are using the ‘maps’ 
regularly in their classrooms.  Teachers and students alike are finding the 
maps to be great learning tools.  Please allow me to give you an 
introduction.

Our brains are always trying to find and build patterns.  That is how we 
make sense of our world.  Thinking Maps help us organize information 
visually.  By using eight different maps, students can learn eight different 
ways of thinking.  The maps are a concrete way of seeing abstract concepts.  
Students can use these patterns for a variety of purposes in their class 
work, homework, and independent projects.

Here are the names of the eight maps:

Circle Map                 5.  Brace Map 
Bubble Map                 6.  Flow Map 
Double Bubble Map          7.  Multi-Flow Map 
Tree Map                   8.  Bridge Map

Here are the uses of each map.  It doesn’t matter what grade level or 
subject the maps are used for.  You will notice that the maps have very 
practical applications.  There are labels and diagrams of the 8 maps at the 
bottom of the next page.

Circle Map – for brainstorming ideas.  A word, concept, picture, sign, or 
symbol is put into an inner circle.  In an outside circle goes any 
information to support the word in the inner circle.

Bubble Map – for describing with adjectives.  In an inner circle goes the 
word or thing being defined.  Connected by lines to the inner circle are 
outside bubbles in which students write the adjectives or phrases describing 
the word or thing in the inner circle

Double Bubble Map – for comparing and contrasting.  Two center bubbles show 
similarities between two things.  Middle bubbles are for the items being 
compared or contrasted.  Outside bubbles list the differences in the items.  
All items are connected together by lines.

Tree Map – for sorting, classifying, and grouping.  On the top line is the 
name of the category.  Underneath are subcategory layers.  There is also a 
third layer describing the subcategory.

Brace Map – for breaking the whole into parts.  Start with the whole object, 
then divide it into parts and subparts using braces (parentheses.)

Flow Map – for sequencing events and stages of events.  Using rectangles for 
each stage of an event, a flow pattern (with arrows connecting the boxes) is 
established.  The flow can go to the right or left, down or up.

Multi-Flow Map – for linking causes and effects of events.  An event is 
written in the center rectangle.  Causes of the event are written in boxes 
to the left while effects are written in boxes to the right of the center 
rectangle.

Bridge Map – for identifying similarities in relationships.  A pair of 
things has a relationship to another pair of things.  It is a similar phrase 
that can fit on both sides of a bridge.

Circle Map                                              Tree Map

Bubble Map                                              Double Bubble Map

Flow Map                                                Multi-Flow Map

Brace Map                                               Bridge Map

Thinking Maps are now being used in over 4000 schools across the United 
States.  Its main focus is to improve learning and thinking with clear gains 
for students.  The maps provide a common visual language to manage 
information without overloading.  They can be used to express multiple 
points of views and enable students to see each other’s thinking.  The maps 
can help students develop excellent problem solving and organizational 
skills.  And, according to research and through regular practice, Thinking 
Maps are great tools for adults, too!

To learn more about Thinking Maps, please visit 
http://www.thinkingmaps.com/index.htm

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