MIND MAPPING – CREATIVELY WORKING WITH IDEAS
While working my way through a course entitled Optimizing Brain Fitness by The Great Courses, I took copious notes and shared in a series of posts called: Morning Nuggets with the Experts.
In a post on creativity and divergent thinking, one of the methods listed to enhance these areas of the brain was mind mapping, a visual or graphical way to represent ideas.
After learning about mind mapping, I invited my kids to a mind mapping party! It was a fun addition to our school day. I covered the table with white butcher paper and colored pencils and markers. I was pleased by how easy this activity was to accommodate different ages. Even the youngest, who cannot write yet, fully engaged in our afternoon of mind mapping. She sat on my lap and dictated what she wanted me to write.
Here were the steps we took for our mind maps:
- Decide on a central theme (person, place, idea, etc…)
- Write out primary branches in different colors
- Fill in detailed sub-branches for each primary branch
Variations – your child may prefer to decide on a single primary branch with sub-branches immediately following before continuing with additional primary branches. Also, your child may choose to draw pictures instead of writing words.
Mind Mapping in progress:
Big bucks can be spent on gadgets and battery-operated toys, but some of our best projects develop with the simplest of materials such as paper, writing instruments, yarn, tape, scissors, paint, etc… Less sometimes really is MORE!
Let me know if you try mind mapping with your kids. I’d love to hear the topics they choose!
Thanks for stopping by!