Brace Map

Description:
The Brace Map is used to analyze physical objects. In this example, the line to the left is the name or image of the whole object. On the lines within the first brace to the right are the major parts, then the second brace is the major parts broken into minor parts. This pattern of breaking down whole parts into smaller elements is done in a chronological order, and can be continued. Do you know if unicorns are real? Who knows?

Authentic Curriculum Links:
There are other uses right across the curriculum, wherever a “whole” can be split into its component parts.

Writing:

This example of a Brace map shows how it could be used to break down genre of writing into different categories, then types of writing within each category.

English Literature:
It could be used to break down the analysis of the characteristics of a person in a story or play.

Inquiry:
Can be a visual model for group collaboration. For example, if you had a large amount of information to explore, say on the continents of the world, the teacher could divide continents out among small groups to explore the countries and cultures within them. A brace map could be a visual illustration the teacher could use on the board to illustrate this, and the students could use on in their groups to break down the continent they have into counties, and so on.

EOTC (Education outside the classroom):
If you were doing a bush study and studying trees, you could use this map to classify them by their type, then break each type into its unique characteristics.

The video below demonstrates the process of creating a brace map. You will notice that it starts with a pre-printed template, but this is not necessary. Each component can be broken down into an unlimited number of parts. [[File:LCCPA Video Lecture-Brace Maps|thumb|280x280px|Visual display of how to use a Brace map


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