Sparking Student Ideas with Concept Maps

Alexis
Sep 6
2 min read

Updated: Sep 7

One of my favorite parts of teaching science is seeing what kids already know (and think they know!) about the world. Every student walks in with stories, questions, and connections that can bring a lesson to life. If we make space for those ideas, we’re not just teaching science—we’re helping kids see themselves as scientists.

Start with What They Bring

Harlen, in Teaching Science for Understanding, reminds us that prior knowledge is the bedrock of new learning. I’ve seen it over and over: when students get to share what they already know, they light up. A question like, “What do you notice about the sky before a storm?” can turn into a whole class buzzing with ideas.

Why I Love Concept Maps

This is where concept maps come in. I include them in all of my science resources, but here’s my tip: don’t just hand students the “finished” version. Give them a blank one and let them build it with you. Start with a single idea—plants, weather, habitats—and see where their thinking takes you.

Kids love adding their ideas, and suddenly you’ve got a living map of their knowledge. Even better, as you revisit it throughout the unit, they see their learning grow.

Example from: 1st Grade Building Bridges Nonfiction Science ELA Unit: Reading & Writing — Example from: **1st Grade Building Bridges Nonfiction Science ELA Unit: Reading & Writing**

Make Room for Talk

Karen Gallas, in Talking Their Way into Science, talks about the power of science conversations, and I couldn’t agree more. Setting aside just a few minutes for students to share what they wonder, notice, or connect is simple, but powerful. A blank concept map is the perfect place to capture those talks.

Quick Teacher Tips

Begin with one open-ended question.
Use a blank concept map to collect ideas.
Revisit the map to show learning over time.
Encourage kids to explain their connections out loud.

Building on student ideas helps the class move beyond memorizing facts into really making sense of science together.

Need help getting started? Check out my FREE Concept Maps on TPT. It has a variety of different concept map formats that might inspire you for your next lesson.