Four Icon Summary

We all would like our students to be able to summarize what they have read and to be able to be very
succinct in doing so.  In doing this assignment, the students are asked to tear apart a story into 4 basic themes, ideas or concepts and then further summarize those ideas into 4 icons (simple pictures).  For example, for Harry Potter one could use the following.

The above was from Ben Rimes.  He suggests the following:

• Students should choose a well known story (movie, book, fable, etc.) so no one is at a disadvantage for figuring out the summaries.
• Have the students focus on just one or two elements of the story (settings, characters, plot devices, events, moods, etc.)
• Don’t let students use the actual images to describe something. For example, when he created hisHarry Potter 4 icon challenge, he found an image of a wizard’s hat, NOT Harry Potter himself
• Don’t worry about using technology! You can do this with pencil and paper. Once the students have it mastered, then move online so it’s easier for students to share their creations on a class website, or our schools Portal page when it goes live.

You’ll find that the students will quickly outgrow these guidelines, and the sky really is the limit where you take this visual summarizing strategy, as long as you focus on stories that have clear beginnings, middle, and ends

Here are a few others by Kyle Tezak

Now the last thing you should do is teach your students where to find images that are not copyright protected.  I know most students just use Google Images and copy and paste but if you pick Google Advanced Images, and go to the bottom left and select  USAGE RIGHTS and pick FREE TO USE OR SHARE then your images will be copyright free and then you can right click and save.  If you have any question please come and ask me in the Learning Commons.