Multi Flow Map

Description
The Multi-Flow Map is used to show and analyze cause and effect relationships. To create this map students can begin with either a cause or an effect and work backward or forward dependent on the start point. For example a map could begin with the statement that "Lions have been losing their habitats". Students can then add causes of this to the left of the map, such as: "increased need for farmland has reduced the size of the savannah" and "urban sprawl". After they have added relevant causes they can then look at follow on effects, simultaneously making lions loss of habitat and an effect and a cause. For example an effect that is caused by lions loss of habitat could be conflict with farmers over livestock, reduced population of lions due to competition for scarce resources etc. This process can be continued and developed to examine flow on effects for a range of events.

Classroom Practice
Health - Exploring the impact of our actions and the consequences thereof. This could be in a bullying context, students could use the map to display possible cause and effect relationships using scenarios discussed during class. A Multi-Flow map could also be used to examine the positive impacts of using Whanaungatanga as a foundation for relationship building in class.

Social Science - A Multi-Flow map could be used to examine possible actions that can be taken at the end of an inquiry unit. Students discuss a number of actions that can be taken and work through the process of analyzing potential effects and follow on effects that may result in order to decide upon the most appropriate action to take.

English - The video below shows how a Multi-Flow map can be used to analyze the actions of characters and the resulting effects of these actions within a narrative.