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These free graphic organizer templates give you 18 Word documents on A4 and US Letter: nine organizers for reading, writing, science and problem solving, each with clear boxes to write in and room for a name and date. I’m Patrick Elliott, a teacher and Inclusion Lead. I use graphic organizers in almost every lesson, so I made a set with big boxes, clear headings and arrows that print bold.

In this guide, you’ll find which organizer suits each kind of thinking, how to model one with a class, and how to type into them in Word.

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What’s in the Graphic Organizer Templates

Country	Design	Size	Age guide

👉 Every box is a Word table cell, so you can click and type, print for pens and pencils, or change the headings.

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What Is a Graphic Organizer?

A graphic organizer is a page that shows how ideas connect: causes and effects, the order of events, a main idea and its details, or how two things compare. Laying the ideas out in boxes and arrows helps children plan, remember and explain their thinking before they write.

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Which Graphic Organizer Should You Use?

• Cause and effect: one cause on the left and three effects on the right, for stories, history and science.
• First, next, then, last: four steps with space to draw and write, for retelling and instructions.
• Main idea and details: the main idea at the top, three supporting details and a one-sentence summary.
• Compare and contrast: three columns for only A, both and only B.
• 5 Ws and H chart: who, what, where, when, why and how, for news reports and comprehension.
• Problem and solution: the problem, two possible solutions, the best one and what happened.
• Fishbone diagram: causes sorted into six groups that lead to one problem or effect.
• Flowchart: start, four steps and finish, for processes and science methods.
• Five paragraph essay planner: introduction, three body paragraphs and a conclusion, with prompts for each.

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How to Use a Graphic Organizer in Class

1. Model it first: fill one in on the board with a text the class knows.
2. Let pairs complete the next one together, talking through each box.
3. Ask children to use their organizer to write or explain, so the plan turns into sentences.
4. Keep the same organizer for a few weeks so the structure becomes familiar.

Start with the organizer that matches the text: a sequencing organizer for instructions, cause and effect for a history event, compare and contrast for two characters. Children with a heavier writing load often find it easier to talk through the boxes before they write.

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How to Print at the Right Size

Print at 100% on A4 or US Letter. Cause and effect and the fishbone diagram are landscape; the other seven are portrait.

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FAQs

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Conclusion

These graphic organizer templates help children plan and explain their thinking in any subject, made in Word by a teacher.

Choose your paper size above, download the ZIP, and for more graphic organizers try the kwl chart templates.

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For a ready-made organizer about family and history, try our free family tree templates.

Related Tutorials

• Free KWL Chart Templates for Word
• Free T-Chart Templates for Word
• Free Mind Map Templates for Word