Inspiration & Kidspiration


These two programs allow students to electronically create any type of graphic organizer imaginable. Inspiration and Kidspiration have a number of language arts/literature related templates.

No longer are students limited to the size of a sheet of paper. With these two programs it is very easy to organize & rearrange information without the web looking cluttered or messy. Also the symbol galleries with over 300 pictures help students better visualize their ideas.

Project Ideas | Templates How to Directions | Related Links


Project Ideas:

Description  View a Student Sample

Story Map- upper grades

Use the "Thinking about Stories" template in Kidspiration or the "Literary Web" template in Inspiration 7 to create a web of characters, setting, and events.


from
Adopted By an Owl

view

Story Map- lower grades

Students in the lower grades may have trouble manipulating the story map template in Kidspiration. Have them create a more simplified version of a story map.


from
The Little Red Hen

view
download template

Story Comparison

Text to Text Connections help students with comprehension. Use Inspiration 7's "Comparison" template to compare/contrast two stories. This is a great one computer classroom activity. Students in pairs can rotate to a computer to add one idea to the web.


from
The Hat and The Mitten
by Jan Brett

view

Character Map

Use the "Character" template available in either program to identify and describe character traits.


from
Snowflake Bentley

view

Compare/Contrast Characters

This web was created in Kidspiration. It's a effective way for students to make text-to-self connections.


from
Frindle

view
download template

Review Questions

Groups of students write comprehension questions and answers. They can quiz their classmates by projecting the web and using the "Hide All Subtopics" feature in Inspiration 7 to hide the answers. One by one they can display the answers.


from
Charlotte's Web

view

Point of View

Choose a student to play the role of the main character in a story. Other students in the class or in his/her group can ask questions for the character (student) to answer.


from
The True Story of the
3 Little Pigs


view

Story Rewrite

Using the "talking bubble" symbols in Kidspiration, students can write a new version to a familiar story. In the example to the right, a group of 2 students rewrote the story, The Little Red Hen.

 

The Little Red Hen Makes a Banana Split

view

 

Templates to Download

Compare/Contrast (Kidspiration)

Story Map for lower grades (Kidspiration)
 


How to Directions: need Microsoft Word to view directions


Related Links:


Inspiration/Kidspiration Website

Graphic Organizers: A Review of Scientifically Based Research- research study conducted by AEL for Inspiration

Graphic Organizers Strengthen Literature Circles discuss how to integrate Kidspiration and Inspiration with Literature Circles
 


Special Thanks to the following teachers for opening their classrooms and sharing their ideas:

  • Teri Carlin, Austell Elementary
  • Jenni Eitenmiller, Austell Elementary
  • Erin Paul, Austell Elementary
  • Debbie Greening, Hollydale Elementary