MIND MAPPING FOR KIDS

How Elementary School Students Can Use Mind Maps to

Improve Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking
 Learn mind map basics in a few hours and start mind mapping in a day.

Advance Praise for Mind Mapping for Kids

“Do you want to increase learning and comprehension in elementary school children and instill in them
a love for discovering new information and ideas? Introduce them to mind mapping. Toni's book is a
practical road map for implementing visual thinking techniques in the classroom.”
− Chuck Frey, founder and publisher of The Mind Mapping Software Blog

“Toni Krasnic has pushed forward the understanding and use of mind mapping in education for several
years and has truly established himself as a respected expert in this area. This latest book demonstrates
his skill in blending easy-to-understand theory with real-world practical guidance that will help students,
teachers, and parents to get started with mind maps. Challenging yet accessible, the book is not only
filled with Toni’s own extensive expertise but also draws upon numerous real-world examples and
situations, giving readers a full understanding of the practical contexts in which mind mapping could
have a positive impact on their studies and learning.”
− Liam Hughes, founder of Biggerplate.com Mind Map Library

“There is that old cliché, ‘The children are our future,’ but it is not strictly true because only those
children who harness the ability to think creatively and develop their ability to rapidly gather, process,
assimilate, absorb, and remember vast amounts of information will shape our world for the coming
generations. Fortunately, these skills are within the grasp of any child, and there is no better tool to help
children achieve this than mind mapping and no better place to start than with Mind Mapping for Kids.
This practical step-by-step guide is a must for parents, teachers, and students alike with a rich and
colorful library of mind map examples and plenty of exercises to help develop this important skill.”
− Michael Tipper, author of Memory Power-Up

“Mind Mapping for Kids is one of the most comprehensive guides to teaching mind mapping. Toni
Krasnic does an outstanding job of convincing the reader that visual learning, visual mapping, and visual
thinking are major components of achievement. This book is a must-read for parents, teachers, and
students.”
− Marilee Sprenger, author of Brain-Based Teaching in the Digital Age and Wiring the Brain for
Reading

“Students are often told to remember, study, organize information, write papers, or come up with
creative ideas, but rarely are they taught the skill or are provided with tools that can make it easier, let
alone fun, to do this. Krasnic has done just that in his new book Mind Mapping for Kids. His ability to
combine mind mapping and his expertise as a teacher shines in this book. Packed with resources and
activities, this book should be owned by every elementary school teacher and student.”
− Jamie Nast, cofounder of NastGroup, Inc. and author of Idea Mapping

“The book is a true feast of knowledge for hungry students. The way content, utility, and applications
have been put together places this book way ahead of most of the books written so far on mind mapping.
Being a ThinkBuzan Licensed Instructor myself, I highly appreciate and recommend the book to
anybody who wishes to learn about mind maps and visual thinking.”
− Abhinav Verma, founder of RackTheBrain

“Toni Krasnic has created an excellent argument for visual learning in the classroom, and has provided
countless examples showing exactly how this learning strategy can be done by teachers and students.”
− Jesse Berg, president of Visual Leap, LLC

“Concept maps and mind maps are important visual learning tools that help students take ownership of
their learning as they build understanding. Whether you are new to visual learning or a lifelong
‘mapper,’ you will find a plethora of ideas and resources in Toni's clear, concise book that balances
theory and research with practical explanations and examples. Through text, images and, of course,
maps, he demonstrates how maps support higher order thinking skills and collaboration. Toni also
provides examples of mind maps to show you possibilities, sharing a variety of map styles, software
programs, and applications to use. Read this book to start creating your own maps, or better yet…with
your students or child.”
− Kendra Grant, cofounder of Sublime Learning

Read more reviews at http://www.mindmapsforkids.com/mindmappingforkidsbook.html.

 Other Books by Toni Krasnic
Concise Learning

How to Study with Mind Maps

Let’s Connect
Visit Mind Mapping for Kids website at www.mindmapsforkids.com.
Contact me at profTK@conciselearning.com with any comments or questions.
Other ways to connect: https://www.mindmeister.com/143131919/let-s-connect.

JOIN MY PRIVATE E-MAIL LIST (http://eepurl.com/fpxrc) FOR FREE DOWNLOADS OF ALL

MIND MAPS IN THIS BOOK & MY MONTHLY NEWSLETTER.

Copyright © 2013 by Concise Books Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or
retrieval system without written permission from the publisher. For more information, contact info@conciselearning.com.

This book includes information from many sources and was gathered from many personal experiences. It is published for
general reference and is not intended to be a substitute for independent verification by readers when necessary and
appropriate. Learning is not an exact science; therefore, even reputable learning methods and programs cannot guarantee
exact results. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a
professional when appropriate. Although the author and publisher have prepared this book with utmost care and diligence and
have made every effort to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information contained within, we assume no
responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, inconsistencies, or results obtained from use of this book. No warranty may
be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The publisher and author disclaim any personal
liability for any loss or any other damages, direct or indirect, resulting from the advice and information presented within.
 Acknowledgements
This book would not be possible without these friends. Thank you!

Editing by Kimberly Pifer.

Cartoons and cover by Ron Leishman (www.toonaday.com).
The 8 reading strategy icons and other icons in the book by Petr Vlk (www.doodlekit.imagiag.com).
The Three Little Pigs story and images by Gina Chung (www.kizclub.com).
Image editing and IT support by Global Solutions (www.surana.biz/global-solutions/it/contact-us.html).
E-book formatting by Atritex Technologies Private Limited (www.atritex.com).

Assistance by Mary Dominiak, Jon Molnar, Johannes Wheeldon, Philippe Packu, George Huba, my
students, my colleagues, and many others who made this book possible.

Special thanks to CS Odessa (ConceptDraw), Inspiration, MindMeister, Seavus (DropMind), and

XMind for offering free 6-month trials to readers of this book, helping them try out mind mapping in
schools for an entire semester.

Mind maps created with (in alphabetical order): ConceptDraw® (www.conceptdraw.com), DropMind®
(www.dropmind.com), FreeMind® (www.freemind.sourceforge.net), Goalscape® (www.goalscape.com),
iMindMap® (www.thinkbuzan.com/us), Inspiration® (www.inspiration.com/Inspiration), Inspiration
Maps® (www.inspiration.com/ipad), Kidspiration® (www.inspiration.com/Kidspiration), iThoughts®
(www.ithoughts.co.uk), Mindjet® (www.mindjet.com), Mindomo® (www.mindomo.com), MindMaple®
(www.mindmaple.com), MindMeister® (www.mindmeister.com), NovaMind® (www.novamind.com),
and XMind® (www.xmind.net).

Mind maps by (in alphabetical order): Adam Sicinski (www.iqmatrix.com), Gideon King
(www.novamind.com), Jane Genovese (www.learningfundamentals.com.au), Paul Foreman
(www.mindmapinspiration.com), Philippe Packu (www.drawmeanidea.com), ThinkBuzan®
(www.thinkbuzan.com/us), and Thum Cheng Cheong (www.mindmapart.com/tag/thum-cheng-cheong).
Mind maps reprinted with permission.

Mind map® is a registered trademark of ThinkBuzan®.

See indices of mind maps for author and software information for each mind map in the book.

To my kids, George and Julianna, may you always have a love for reading and learning.
To my wife, Lindita, my love and extraordinary partner in life and work.
To my family, for their encouragement and support throughout my life.
To teachers and parents whose commitment to children is making a difference in the lives of all.
 Be a Connector, Not a Collector
Note to Parents
Terminology and Definitions
Note to Teachers
Reading the Mind Maps
Note to Students
Preface Quick Start Guide Getting Started: Traditional Linear Approach
Technical Note
Getting Started: Learn-As-You-Go Approach
Why Isn’
t There a Print Book?
Thank You for Reading and for Your Support What Is Visual Thinking and What
Is Visual Mapping?
Index of Mind Maps in Preface What Are the Learning Theories
Index of Mind Maps in Part I Behind Visual Maps?
Index of Mind Maps in Part II How Do Visual Maps Help Students?
Indices of Mind Maps
Index of Mind Maps in Part III What Are Mind Maps and How Do
I Draw Them?
Index of Mind Maps in the Appendices
What Are Concept Maps and How
Do I Draw Them?
Appendix 1: Map It! #1 –
Mind Map of a Water Cycle Should I Use Mind Maps or
Part I: Introduction Concept Maps?
Appendix 2: Map It! #2 – to Visual Mapping,
Concept Map of a Water Cycle Should I Draw Mind Maps with a
Mind Mapping, and Computer or by Hand?
Appendix 3: The Three Little Pigs Story Appendices Concept Mapping What Mind Mapping Programs Are Available?
Appendix 4: The Three
Little Pigs Case Study What Are Some General Uses of Mind Maps?
How Can Teachers Use Mind Maps?

References and Further Reading How Can Students Use Mind Maps?
How Can Professionals Use Mind Maps?
What Are Some Limitations of Mind Maps?
Afterword
How Do I Get My Students Started
with Mind Maps?
Example #1: Blueprint to Success
Example #2: Creative Genius Mindset Introduction
Example #3: How to Focus in the Mind Mapping for Kids
CRM: The 4 Repeating Steps
Age of Distraction Table of Contests CRM: The 4 Repeating Steps + the 8
Example #4: Summer Holiday Reading Comprehension Strategies
Example #5: Mind Maps by Kids Strategy #1: Question
Example #6: Travel Checklist Strategy #2: Summarize
Example #7: Party Planning Strategy #3: Knowledge
Example #8: Course Syllabus Strategy #4: Connect
Example #9: Decision-Making Process Strategy #5: Visualize
Example #10: Lecture Presentation Part II: How to Use Mind
Part III: Mind Strategy #6: Evaluate
Maps to Improve Reading
Example #11: Course Planning Map Examples Strategy #7: Infer
Comprehension and
Example #12: Book Summary & Templates Critical Thinking Strategy #8: Synthesize
Example #13: Young Scientist Using All Reading Comprehension
Example #14: Note Taking Strategies Together
Example #15: Managing Personal Goals Tips on Effective Teaching of the
Reading Comprehension Strategies
Template #1: Mind Mapping 1
Monitoring Comprehension
Template #2: Mind Mapping 2
Release of Responsibility
Template #3: My Life
Mind Map Downloads for the Classroom
Template #4: Learning Letters
Ready for Launch: Start Mapping
Template #5: Researching a Topic of Interest
Your Turn
Preface

Be a Connector, Not a Collector

“The magic of connecting dots is that once you learn the techniques, the dots can change but you’ll still
be good at connecting them.” – Seth Godin

Welcome to the fun and exciting adventure of mind mapping, a visual and holistic thinking process that
helps us organize and connect dots (concepts) so that we can more easily see and understand the big
picture formed by the dots.

My goal in writing this book is to engage elementary school students in using mind maps to connect dots
(rather than simply collect dots) and illuminate the big picture formed by those dots by asking
meaningful questions so that they can become better readers and learners. It’s written primarily as a
guide for teachers and parents to help their students and kids learn about mind maps and put them into
practice to improve reading comprehension and critical thinking.

After the publication of my first book for college students, Concise Learning, I received many e-mails
from parents and teachers asking for advice on how to use mind maps in elementary schools. Most of
these individuals were familiar with mind maps but didn’t know how best to introduce them to their
children and students. This book is my attempt to provide a comprehensive resource for parents and
teachers on how to introduce mind maps and how to use mind maps with elementary school students.
These younger students are, therefore, the focus of Mind Mapping for Kids, but students in higher grades
can also benefit from mind mapping and can read the book on their own.

A familiarity with mind maps is not a prerequisite for benefitting from this book. All of the information
necessary to put mind maps into immediate use is included. Rather than delve into an extensive
explanation of the theory behind visual thinking and visual maps, however, I’ve opted to provide general
background information on mind maps and, importantly, deliver practical tips and examples for parents
and teachers to use immediately with their children and students.

The book begins with the fundamentals of two of the most popular forms of visual mapping — mind
mapping and concept mapping. Part II follows with a discussion of the use of mind maps for reading
comprehension. In this section, I present the Concise Reading Method (CRM), a method based on my
previously published Concise Learning Method (CLM) but modified to apply to reading comprehension.
The CRM makes use of well established and tested reading and learning strategies for elementary school
children and then marries them to mind maps.
Part III concludes the book with additional examples, templates, and tips on how kids, parents, and
teachers can use mind maps in school and at home.

It turns out that the same strategies that improve learning for college students and lifelong learners work
for elementary school students as well. With this in mind, my hope is that this book will demonstrate to
teachers how easy it is to use mind maps with elementary school students to connect dots and spark
excitement for mind maps and learning in those students and, ultimately, help students become better
readers and learners.

At any time, feel free to contact me at profTK@ConciseLearning.com with any questions or comments.

Note to Parents

“What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.” –
George Bernard Shaw

The old saying about having to walk in someone else’s shoes before you can understand their experience
certainly applies to me. Now that I have two young children, my attention has shifted somewhat from
student success in college to student success in elementary schools.

Like so many other parents who want to give their children a head start on education, I started pushing
information on George early in his life with minimal success. As a long-time college professor, I should
have known better. Pushing information on anyone is rarely successful. But especially with young
children, who are only just beginning to appreciate the pleasure that learning can hold, we — parents
and teachers — need to stop pushing information and provide opportunities for our children to pull
information that’s of interest to them.

Naturally curious and always asking questions in an attempt to make sense of the world around them,
kids look up to us, their parents, as their first and most influential teachers. Let them choose what and
how they’re learning. Build upon their interests. Learn to know your child and how he or she learns.
What piques his interest? What inspires curiosity in her? How does he or she like to explore, e.g.,
reading, imagery, hands-on experience? Under the right circumstances, any topic can be made
interesting.
Encourage their natural curiosity and help them connect with others to learn about new things and ideas.
By making learning fun, you’ll introduce them to the enjoyment of discovery, which will keep them
eager to learn and do more.

When your children are young, you are their main teacher. You can create learning experiences around
things that interest your child. Pick a space where you are both comfortable and engage in frequent,
short sessions involving activities and topics that interest your child. If at all possible, let your child
decide when the session is over. Kids are responsible learners. Learn to trust them. You can be most
helpful by being open to their questions and helping guide them in their inquiry. Have fun with them,
knowing that your involvement is supporting and enhancing their learning.

Ideally, when children start school, parents and teachers become partners in facilitating their learning.
Ask your children about what they learned in school and help them apply it to their personal lives at
home. A student’s home is an extension of the classroom.

Ultimately, it’s important that children achieve a level of comfort with being their own teacher so that
they can become independent, lifelong learners. You can support them in this by guiding them to
independently explore things beyond their comfort zone, encouraging them when learning gets
challenging, and letting them learn from their mistakes. Help them build their confidence by offering
genuine, specific praise.

Lastly, few things demonstrate pride in your child’s creations and accomplishments more readily than
displaying their work throughout your house and sharing it with family and friends. In addition to
Facebook, two other great sites for sharing images of your child’s accomplishments are DIY
(https://diy.org) and Pinterest (www.pinterest.com). For additional resources on education technology
for students and teachers, see the mind map on Learning Websites for Elementary School Students
(www.mindmapsforkids.com/resources) and mind map on EdTech Tools and Classroom Resources
(https://www.mindmeister.com/187560874/edtech-tools-classroom-resources). Previews of both mind
maps are shown below.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS IMAGE ONLINE

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS IMAGE ONLINE

Note to Teachers

“Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire." – W.B. Yeats

Whether you’re a seasoned mind mapper who’s already using mind maps in the classroom or you’re
brand new to mind maps, this book will introduce you to some new ideas to try out. As teachers, we’re
always experimenting with new tools and methods to foster students’ engagement with ideas, and mind
mapping may just be the tool that will help your students become excited about reading and learning.

Once you’ve read the book, try mind mapping in class. You can start by asking students to map with
colorful pens on paper, followed by mapping on the computer. Each student possesses a unique
perspective and a multitude of talents and interests, the combination of which will result in the creation
of diverse maps, even among maps on the same topic. Have your students map in groups to make
mapping extra fun.

It will take less than a day to teach mind mapping to students, an effort well worth the time, given that it
may lead to a lifelong interest in mind mapping. You’ll find plenty of examples of mind maps
throughout Parts I and II, and Part III has sample maps and templates to help you get started.

Learning activities are not limited to this book. Throughout the book you’ll see the Map It! symbol,
which indicates that a practice mind map is available for students. This extra practice will encourage
students to take what they have learned and apply it to their individual situations, reinforcing their
comprehension.

To make all of this easier, all mind maps and worksheets in this book are free to download at
www.mindmapsforkids.com/downloads.

I hope you give mind mapping a try after you see how they help make the connection between reading,
thinking, comprehending, and writing. You’ll quickly discover that your students greatly enjoy drawing
mind maps in the classroom and at home.
Note to Students

“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious,
awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” – Henry Miller

Take control of your learning to become a self-directed learner. Teachers and parents are there to help
you and guide you, but learning is only fun and effective when you take personal responsibility for it.

The only thing standing between you and knowledge is your will to learn. Pursue things that you find of
interest in ways that are interesting to you, using whatever resources are available to you, not just by
attending school and reading books. Learning how to learn now will serve you greatly for a lifetime.
And for those not-so-interesting topics, take initiative to discover why others find them interesting. You
just might discover that they’re not so boring after all.

Demonstrate to your parents and teachers that you are a responsible learner and they’ll treat you like
one.

Technical Note

The mind maps in this book were drawn using various mind mapping programs to give you a flavor for
what the various maps can look like.

I suggest that you install a mind mapping program before reading the book so you can learn how to use
the program while reading. Your options include:
• Completely free mind mapping programs, such as iMindMap Basic, XMind, or FreeMind.
• Inspiration or Kidspiration, which are already available at most elementary schools and are
inexpensive to buy for personal use at home.
• ConceptDraw, DropMind, Inspiration, MindMeister, or XMind Pro, free for 6 months. Download a
30-day free trial for all four and see which one you like best. Then forward your electronic book
purchase receipt to me and note in your e-mail which program you’d prefer. I’ll send you a license
within a few days. I’m independent of all mind mapping software companies and only provide these
6-month free trials as a courtesy to my readers.

For additional help on what program to choose, see the “What Mind Mapping Programs Are Available?”
section of the book.

Why Isn’t There a Print Book?

In early 2012, I did an experiment (http://tmblr.co/ZhP9YyINjxfC) with How to Study with Mind Maps,
the e-book version of Concise Learning. I made HTSWMM available for free on Amazon Kindle for
two days. My goal was to encourage students, teachers, parents, and lifelong learners to give mind
mapping a try. It was a big success. In less than 48 hours, 10,747 books were downloaded and the book
ranked #12 among books available for free in the Kindle store.

And therein lies the big advantage of an e-book over a print book: an e-book makes spreading ideas
quickly very easy.

When paper is eliminated as the transmission medium, the high expenses associated with printing
(especially for large, colorful maps such as those found in this book), shipping, and storing are also
eliminated. As a result, ideas in the book can spread more easily (via the click of a button), cheaply (no
more enormous printing charges), and quickly (a few seconds for transmission instead of a few days for
shipping). On top of all this, the book can publish immediately rather than in another two years (the time
it can take to make its way through the traditional publishing process).

The second advantage of e-books is that they provide real-time connections. With e-books, it’s easy to
add links to relevant information, similar to a wiki, on which readers can click to make immediate new
connections to what they’re currently reading.

Lastly, readers have changed. They no longer prefer paper books over e-books. However, for those
readers who do still prefer paper and would like to reprint some of the mind maps and worksheets in this
book, I have made them all available for free at www.mindmapsforkids.com/downloads.
Thank You for Reading and for Your Support

Thank you for buying this book and sharing it with others. Your purchase is supporting two outstanding
non-profit organizations.

With each purchase of MMFK, $1 will be donated to the Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Foundation,
home of the Into the Book program (WIMediaLab.org).

In addition, I’m also donating MMFK to Worldreader (www.worldreader.org), a non-profit that gives
children in the developing world access to digital books.

Readers will also be eligible for a number of exciting giveaways throughout the year. Sign up for my
insider’s list (http://eepurl.com/fpxrc) or join me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/conciselearning2) to
receive my free monthly newsletter and keep up to date on what’s new in the mind mapping community.

Please share your experience with using mind maps. You can always e-mail me directly or you can post
mind maps, ask questions, and share ideas at the MMFK forum at
http://mindmappers.ning.com/group/mind-mapping-for-kids.

I hope you give mind mapping a try and personally discover why I’m so passionate about using mind
maps for education. It just may be the key to unlocking the full potential of your teaching and your
students’ learning.

Toni Krasnic
profTK@conciselearning.com
www.MindMapsForKids.com
www.ConciseLearning.com
Indices of Mind Maps
Shown below are four mind maps that serve as indices of the mind maps found in this book. They
contain a small thumb image of all the mind maps in the book, the name of the author of the map, and
the software used to create the map.

NOTE: These four indices are included as a visual reference only. Use them to quickly locate the
readable maps in the text. You can also download printable PDF versions of these four index mind maps
at www.mindmapsforkids.com/downloads.

Index of Mind Maps in Preface

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS IMAGE ONLINE

Index of Mind Maps in Part I

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS IMAGE ONLINE

Index of Mind Maps in Part II

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS IMAGE ONLINE

Index of Mind Maps in Part III

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS IMAGE ONLINE

Index of Mind Maps in the Appendices

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS IMAGE ONLINE

Quick Start Guide

Terminology and Definitions

“CRM” refers to the Concise Reading Method. CRM consists of mind mapping and the 8 reading
strategies. CRM is discussed in Part II of the book

The “8 reading strategies” include the following strategies: summarize, knowledge, connect, visualize,
evaluate, infer, synthesize, and questions. The strategies are discussed in Part II of the book.

Reading the Mind Maps

Read mind maps clockwise from top right and from top to bottom.

Getting Started: Traditional Linear Approach

A linear approach is the one most often used because it’s the way most studied in school.

You begin by learning about mind mapping (Part I), then learning about the 8 reading strategies (part II),
then the case study (Appendix), and finally you start practicing on your own.
If you’re already familiar with mind mapping, you can skip Part I and go directly to Part II, followed by
a case study (Appendix) and practicing on your own.

Getting Started: Learn-As-You-Go Approach

For others, the traditional linear approach is too time consuming and not as effective. They prefer
jumping right in and learning as they go.

With this approach, you start applying CRM from the outset and refer back to the book as needed.

If you prefer this approach, here’s one way to jump right in:

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS IMAGE ONLINE

Don’t lock yourself into using one approach. Start with an approach that works best for you and make
adjustments along the way.
 THANK YOU!

Thank you for buying and reading this book. I hope you give mind mapping a try and personally
discover why I’m so passionate about using mind maps for education.

I'd be thrilled to hear about your experiences and to connect. You can reach me at
profTK@ConciseLearning.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/conciselearning2), Twitter
(https://twitter.com/conciselearning), and Google+ (https://plus.google.com/103859156425052092153),
or via other social media channels listed at www.mindmapsforkids.com.

I hope you'll sign up for my insider’s list (http://eepurl.com/fpxrc) to get instant access to all of the mind
maps in MMFK and to keep up to date on what’s new in the mind mapping community.

Also, if you'd like to learn more about using mind maps in high school and college, check out my other
book, How to Study with Mind Maps.

Thanks again for trusting me to help you with mind mapping.

All the best,

Toni
www.mindmapsforkids.com
www.conciselearning.com