MIND-MAPS AS THINKING TOOLS

We just finished a unit on Sharing the Planet in Grade 1, where we basically focused on mini-beasts (invertebrates). One way we integrated science with literacy during this unit was by writing a pattern poem about a chosen mini-beast. I knew that my little ELLs will need a lot of scaffolding, so this is how it all went:

​1. We read a book about snails.

2. We co-created a mind-map to show what we learned about snails after reading the book. We used verbs to make sentences.

3. We summarised our learning individually.

4. We each chose a mini-beast and we brainstormed adjectives, adverbs and verbs that were describing our chosen mini-beasts. We created a mind-map for each part of speech. The names of mini-beasts and the parts of speech were colour-coded to match each other. Adjectives, adverbs and verbs were introduced through questions. 
Adjective: How are...?(Look)
Adverb: How do... move? (-ly)
Verb: What can... do? (-ing)

5. We introduced the poem pattern.

6. We drew our mini-beast. Then, we selected adjectives, adverbs and verbs that best described it, using a graphic organiser. Then, we wrote one or two poems following the pattern. We also edited them.

7. Finally, we published our poems.

So proud of my kiddos!