Up and Away - National Council for Curriculum and Assessment

Introduction
Graphic organisers are an excellent means of activating knowledge (i.e. language) about a theme. They
should be introduced as a group or whole class activity so that everybody becomes involved in
contributing ideas.
They also provide the opportunity to introduce key words in context, and these new words will become
part of a vocabulary resource which pupils can use in the mainstream class.
Making a spidergram 1
Approach
1. Photocopy the relevant page, cut out the visual and create a spidergram – see next page. Make a
class set of photocopies plus a few extra.
2. Use the visual to establish the theme of the text and ask pupils to name categories associated with
the theme – in this case spring, summer, etc. Write them on the board.
3. Brainstorm ideas about the categories. Introduce key words which pupils will encounter in the text.
In this example, the following expressions and concepts could be introduced:
before darkness falls come back to life bare
warm warmer cool cooler long longer cold colder
4. Practise spelling and pronunciation of vocabulary items.
5. Hand out the spidergram sheet. Pupils copy onto the sheet in neat writing.
Section 5 Examples of classroom activities
Strategy 1 – Using graphic organisers
Level of text
Third class.
Level of learner
A2.
Time
20-25 minutes.
Source material: Worldwise 1. J. Hourihane & C. Ó Loingsigh (Revised edition, 1995).
The Educational Company of Ireland.
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