Visual Literacy

My students find themselves dealing with visual literacy on a daily basis in my classroom. In science, I have found that students respond better to visual representations of content more positively than simple regurgitation of material. They may experience this through concept/thinking maps, demonstrations, video clips, and even simple drawn illustrations of scientific concepts.
The most recent strategy that I have added to my teachers toolbox is Thinking Maps. As a school-wide effort we have implemented using these graphic organizers across all curriculum. Initially the students are introduced to approximately 6-7 mapping formats. Each format has a simple purpose, whether it be sequencing events, part-to-whole relationships, or describing. We can usually apply one or two of these maps to concepts we are teaching each week, and after a few weeks the students can decide on which map is appropriate for what topic.
I highly reccomend these maps in any classroom. Not only are they a quick assesmsnt to student learning, but they also reveal a higher level of thinking on the part of the student. You can also integrate artistic freedom and the use of technology in the mix to make the task more enjoyable.