Engage the Brain: Graphic Organizers and Other Visual Strategies, Science, Grades 6–8

This valuable guide gives teachers the tools they need to plan lessons correlated to the way the brain learns best and to ensure success for all students regardless of their learning style or special challenges! Drawing on classroom-tested, research-based strategies from Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites: 20 Instructional Strategies That Engage the Brain, this practical resource offers a variety of content-specific activities that incorporate graphic organizers and other visuals that reinforce student learning. Based on national academic standards, these activities feature graphic organizers and visuals such as bar graphs, timelines, concept maps, sequence charts, cause-and-effect charts, segmenting mats, labeled diagrams, and more. Each activity includes step-by-step directions, skills objectives, materials lists, and a myriad of creative reproducibles that help students organize and record their learning. This resource offers a multitude of brain-compatible activities that cover topics such as: scientific method, properties of matter, force and motion, energy, life cycles, biomes, endangered species, forces of nature, earth structure, plate tectonics, solar system, and much more. Make a real difference in your students' energy, motivation, and achievement by applying these proven strategies to help them master curriculum objectives!

About the Author: Marcia L. Tate is the executive director of professional development for the DeKalb County School System, Decatur, Georgia. During her 28-year career with the district, Tate has been a classroom teacher, reading specialist, language arts coordinator, and staff development director. As an educational consultant, she has presented to over 50,000 administrators, teachers, parents, and business and community leaders throughout the United States.