Did you know that John Venn conceived the Venn diagram around 1880 to teach elementary set theory? The Venn remains a useful tool to compare and contrast in our classrooms today.
Children can compare and contrast themselves with a friend. How are they different and how are they alike?
Children can demonstrate primary and secondary colors with Venns.
How about comparing books or characters with a Venn?
Animals (frogs and toads), plants (palm tree and cactus), or foods (apples and oranges) can be explored with Venns.
Letters (curves, lines, lines and curves) can even be sorted with a Venn diagram.
Time Lines
Time Lines are a visual way for children to recall the sequence in a story.
Time lines can be used to illustrate the life cycle of plants and animals.
Children can record the day’s events with a time line or use a time line to organize tasks that they must accomplish at school.
Time lines can also be used for history lessons or as an autobiography.
(What was I like when I was a baby…what am I like now…what will I be when I am grown.)
Hint for Pre-K teachers! Model using these graphic organizers with your students. It will increase their print awareness and be useful (prior knowledge) when used in future grades.