CSI: Color-Symbol-Image

A non-verbal routine that focuses on visual connections.
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Description: The CSI thinking routine asks students to identify and distill the essence of ideas from their reading/viewing/listening to represent the big ideas they have identified in a way that doesn't rely so heavily on the use of written or oral language. CSI pushes students to make connections and think metaphorically.  Metaphors allow learners to develop understanding by connecting to something they already know.

How to Use the Strategy: 
Refer to pages 119-124 in the book Making Thinking Visible: How to Promote Engagement, Understanding, and Independence for All Learners.

Access online instructions here at Harvard Project Zero.

Notes:
  • The first time doing CSI you may want to generate a class list together of the various ideas identified during Step 3.
  •  Examples of symbols can be found in Microsoft Word.  
  •  With older students, you may want to require students to write a few sentences that explain each part of their CSI.

Content Application:

Using CSI combined with two other routines in 6th grade math for a lesson on negative numbers
Resources 
Download these resources to use in your classroom. 
CSI Poster.pdf
File Size: 133 kb
File Type: pdf
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CSI template.pdf
File Size: 101 kb
File Type: pdf
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