This strategy will look like a big spider web on the board when you are finished. Have the students break into small groups and encourage them to identify the central word, concept, or question around which to build the map.

How?

• Start with a circle in the middle of the board and include the main idea within.
• Extend branches out from the central circle that includes all the subtopics from the main idea.
• Continue to add additional branches with related topics and circle groups of branches that are linked.

This mapping encourages students to see the overall picture and helps bring focus away from minute details and back to the main ideas. End with an overall discussion of the topic.