Thinking Maps With Google Drawings

Digital Maestro Magazine
Google
Drawing
for
Thinking
Maps
Meaningful learning
Deeper comprehension
Common language for teaching
Critical thinking • Scaffolding • Rigor

digitalmaestro.org April 1, 2018
Using Google Drawings for Thinking Maps in the Classroom
Begin with paper and pencil. Part of the thinking process begins here. The
mind and hand connection is important. Paper and pencil helps students
see the growth of their thinking process. Ideas written digitally can be easily
deleted and gone forever. I’ve seen great ideas from students lost forever to
a digital vacuum. My students keep notebooks and they are not allowed to
tear out pages. They start on a new page when they make a mistake. They
refer to ideas they wrote on the previous page. They often change what
they wrote with something better. Once it is firm on paper then we go and
replicate it in the digital world.
Alex Reyes
The cover image for this issue came from freepik.com
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Table of Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................1
Circle Thinking Map .................................................................................................2
Bubble Thinking Map ..............................................................................................7
Double Bubble Thinking Map ................................................................................11
Tree Thinking Map ................................................................................................17
Brace Thinking Map ..............................................................................................26
Flow Thinking Map ................................................................................................32
Multi-Flow Thinking Map .......................................................................................39
Bridge Thinking Map ............................................................................................. 45
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Introduction
We will create thinking maps with Google draw. You will need a free Google account. Create
thinking maps using the NEW button in Google Drive. Click the NEW button inside of Google
Drive and select the more option to find Google Drawings.
Google drawings is free diagramming software. It has a variety of tools to create drawings
and images. Some of the tools include circles, rectangles, and lines. There are many other
tools in the app, but these are the ones best suited for creating thinking maps. Lines and
shapes connect ideas in mind maps.
Google Drawings for thinking maps has many benefits. Students collaborate online. Finished
products are publishable on the web. Projects are downloadable as images or PDF
documents.
I like to include technology skills integration whenever possible. Google Drawings supports
the inclusion of technology skills with thinking maps. Skills learned from creating thinking
maps are applicable to other products. They are the foundation for working in applications
like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
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Google Drawings for Thinking Maps
Circle Thinking Map

Circle maps are used to define something
and show student understanding of a topic.
It can be used to generate ideas, assess
what students already know and to access
what they have learned. Mind maps support
visual learners and access different

We can choose any size for the box. It’s a
modalities of learning for students.
good idea to keep the box size relatively

A circle thinking map is a circle inside of a large so we have enough room to enter the
circle which is inside a square. When a information for our circle map. In this
drawing is created, the canvas is already in example, we’ll set the size to 10 by 10
the shape of a rectangle. We can leave it inches. Click Ok to set the document size.
this way or modify the document.
Now that we’ve increased the size of the

To modify the document, click on File and document, it might be hard to see all the
select page setup.
document on our screen. Let’s resize the
document. Click on View in the menu and
select the first option, which is Fit, followed
by a percentage.
A page setup box will open. Click on the

page size selector and choose custom.
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Click the “untitled document” name and

provide a name for this thinking map. Let’s
call it Circle Map.
This is what the circle should look like.

Don’t worry about making the circle large

for now. We’ll do that soon. For now, we
need to center the circle on the page.
Let’s create our first circle. Click on the

shapes selector and choose the oval tool.

To center the circle, move it toward the
center. When the circle is in the center, we
Draw a circle on the page. When drawing a
will see intersecting red lines. These are
circle it tends to look more like an oval than
smart guides that help us align elements in
a circle. To force the oval tool to make a
Drawing. These Smart Guides are telling us
circle, we need to hold the Shift key on the
that the circle is in the center of the
keyboard while drawing out the shape. Go
document. Follow the horizontal or vertical
ahead and hold the Shift key to make a
smart guides and they will lead you to the
circle. Make sure to release the mouse first
center.
then the Shift key when done creating the

circle.
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Now that the circle is in the center, we need following the same process, let’s save
to enlarge it. For this trick, we will need to ourselves a step and duplicate the circle we
hold the Shift key and the Option key on the just created. Make sure the circle is
keyboard. These modifier keys will make selected. In the menu, click on Edit and
sure the circle remains a circle with the shift select Duplicate.
key, and the option key will keep the circle

centered on the page. Press and hold these
keys before and during the resizing. Resize
the circle so there is enough room for the
content. Release the mouse first then
release the Shift and Option keys.
A second circle of the same size and with

the same fill color will be created and
placed above the previous circle. The new
circle is also displaced a little to the right so
we can easily find it.
The circle is automatically filled with a blue

color. We can remove this color by clicking
on the Fill color selector. We can choose
any color like white or we can choose for
the circle to be transparent by selecting the
transparent option. In this example, we’ll
select white.

Move the new circle back to the center. Use

the Smart Guides to help you.
Now that we have our first circle in place it’s

time to make our next circle. This time,
instead of creating another circle and
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Let’s make this circle smaller. We’ll use the

same modifier keys we used earlier. Hold
the Shift and Option keys while making the
circle smaller.
We’ll enter a generic title.
We now have our circle map. Let’s place a

title on our Circle Thinking Map.
Highlight the text, center, increase the font

size and bold the text.
Click on the text box tool in the button bar.
We can now add text and images to our

thinking map.
We spent a lot of time creating a thinking

map. We can avoid having to create another
Drag out a text box above the larger circle.
circle thinking map by making a copy of this
map. We can duplicate it inside of Drive.
Click once on the Circle Map drawing in
Drive.
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In the “More Actions” menu, select “Make a

copy”.
Open the copied circle map and rename it.
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out with the oval tool. This will force the tool
Bubble Thinking Map
to make a circle instead of an oval.
Bubble maps are used for describing. We Remember to press and hold the Shift key
use adjectives or adjective phrases in the first, then drag out the circle. When finished,
descriptions. A Bubble Map consists of a release the mouse first then release the
main large circle that is surrounded by Shift key.
smaller circles. They don’t have to be

circles but most bubble maps tend to be
circles. The first step is to create our main
circle. Click on the shapes selector in the
button bar and select the oval tool.
Now that we have a circle, let’s place it in

the center of our drawing document. Click
and drag the circle toward the center of the
document. As we move the circle toward

the center, look for a red line to appear. The
This is an oval tool so it won’t make a circle red line is a smart guide. In this example,
without some effort. When we start clicking the vertical smart guide is informing me that
and dragging our mouse to form the circle the circle is in the horizontal center of the
we get something that looks more like an document.
oval.

As we move the circle down, another smart
If you’re very good then you can make a guide appears. A horizontal smart guide is
nice-looking circle. Most of us aren’t that informing us that the circle is in the vertical
good. One way to make sure we get a circle center of the document. When we place the
instead of an oval is to use a modifier key. circle where both smart guides intersect,
Press and hold the Shift key while drawing the circle is in the center of the document.
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With a circle in the center, we may need to Now that we have one circle, let’s place
make the circle larger. Remember to hold another circle in the document. Click on the
the Shift key while clicking and dragging on shape selector in the toolbar and pick the
one of the corners. This will make sure the oval tool. Use the Shift key to drag out a
circle remains a circle.
circle. Make the circle large enough for text
but smaller than the main circle. when the
map is complete we will double click on
each circle to enter our text.
We can enlarge the circle this way, but the

circle is no longer in the center. We will
need to move it back to the center of the
document.
We need several of these smaller circles
around the main circle. Instead of using the
Instead of resizing and moving the circle,
oval tool each time we need a circle, we
we can add another modifier key to our
can duplicate the current circle. Make sure
toolkit and use the Shift and Option key
the circle is selected. In the Edit menu,
together. The shift key will constrain our
select the Duplicate option.
shape to a circle and the Option key will

resize the circle from the center out. This
way the circle will always remain in the
center of the document and we won’t have
to move it back after resizing.
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The duplicated circle will be placed above connection points. Think of them like little
the original and offset to the right and magnets.
down. We can now move this circle to a

location around the main circle.
Click one of the connectors on the right and

drag a line to one of the circles on the right.
Repeat the process of duplicating circles

and placing them around the main circle.
These two circles are now connected to

one another. If we move one of the circles
With all the circles in place, we need to the line between them will remain
connect them to the main circle with lines. connected. Don’t move a circle just yet. The
Next to the Shape selector we have the line line tool is still active. The circles will light
selector. Choose the first option.
up to show the connection points. Click and
drag out to another circle from the main
circle. Repeat the process with the
remaining circles.
Move the mouse over the main circle. When

the mouse is over the circle, it will light up
w i t h s e v e r a l d o t s . T h e s e d o t s a re
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Now that all the connections are made, we Open the copy, rename it and start
can deselect the line tool. To deselect the mapping.
line tool, press the “ESC” key on your

keyboard. This is usually in the upper left
side of most keyboards.
Our Bubble Map is complete. Instead of

recreating this thinking map each time, we
should make a copy and work with the
copy. We can do that in Drive. Click once
on the Bubble Map drawing in Drive.
Click on the “More Actions” menu, and

select “Make a copy”
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Select the wide screen option.
Double Bubble Thinking Map

Double bubble maps are used to compare
and contrast. Double Bubble Maps use two
bubbles to begin the compare and contrast
process. Each of these uses bubbles that
spread out to compare or contrast. There
are bubbles between these two that contain
the similarities and the rest are used to list
the differences. When we create the circles Click OK to confirm the new page size.
in this thinking map we will be able to

double click inside the circle and add our
text.
Double Bubble Maps need a lot of space.

Before we begin let’s resize the Drawing
document. Click on File in the menu and
select Page setup.
Click on the Shapes selector in the button

bar and select the oval tool.
Click on the page setup selector.
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The oval tool creates ovals and circles. It

can be difficult to get a circle when
dragging out a shape.
As we move the circle down the page we

will see another Smart Guide appear

horizontally. This is informing us the circle is
centered vertically on the page. When we
We can force the tool to make a circle by
see both Smart Guides intersect, the circle
holding the Shift key on the keyboard while
is in the center of the page.
dragging out with the oval shape. Hold the

Shift key first then drag out the circle. When
finished, release the mouse first, then the
Shift key.
Instead of creating another circle, we can

make a copy of this circle. This way we can

make sure the circles are the same size.
Make sure the circle is selected and click on
Drag the circle toward the center of the
Edit in the menu. Select Duplicate from the
document. As we move the circle toward
menu options.
the center a red will line appear. This is a

Smart Guide and it is informing us that the
shape is in the horizontal center of the
document.
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The copied circle will be placed above the Repeat the process and place two circles
original and offset to the right.
below the center circle. These are the
circles that will contain the similarities.
Drag this circle up above the original circle.
As we drag the circle, a Smart Guide will Duplicate the center circle to use it for one
help keep the circle aligned with the of the concepts. We will be duplicating lots
original.
of circles and returning to the menu each
time can get tedious. If we are using the
Chrome browser or a Chrome book we can
use the shortcut key. On Windows or
Chromebook this is Control-D. On Mac
computers, the shortcut is Command-D.
I prefer another option because I think its

faster. Pressing the Option key while

dragging a circle will make a copy of the

Duplicate this circle and move it up. In circle. This way we can copy and move the
addition to the Smart Guide that helps keep circle at the same time. When using this
the circle aligned with the previous circle, process make sure to release the mouse
we also get Distance Guides. These guides first then the option key.
inform us when the distance between the

circles matches. This way, we can make Place the new circle a fair distance from the
sure the circles are evenly spaced.
center circle.
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Repeat the process and place a circle on

the right side. Make sure to use the Smart
Guide and the Distance Guides to help
place the circle.
This time, press and hold both the Shift and

Option keys on the keyboard. This will
constrain the circle and enlarge the circle

from the center out. Make sure to release
the mouse first then the Shift and Option
These circles should be larger. Let’s resize
keys.
the circles. To make sure the circles are

resized as circles press and hold the Shift
key while resizing. The circle will grow in the
direction we pull the handle. In this
example, the circle grew toward the left and
up. This is fine but there is a better way to
resize the circle.
Repeat the process for the circle on the left.

The Smart Guide and Distance Guides will
help make sure the circles match.
Let’s undo the resize. Click on Edit in the

menu and select undo.
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We need to place circles around each of We can change the color of multiple circles
these larger circles. Duplicate the smaller by selecting them first. In this example, we
circles and place them in areas around each will draw a selection around the center
of the larger circles. These circles will circles.
represent the differences in our compare

and contrast.
A selection box should appear around all

the circles.
The Double Bubble map is done but it looks

rather bland. Let’s jazz it up with color. Click
on one of the large circles and click the
“Fill” selector. Choose one of the colors to
fill the circle.
Click on the Fill color selector and select a

color.
Repeat the process with other circles.
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We just spent a lot of time creating this

Double Bubble Map. Instead of using this
one and creating another in the future, we
can make a copy of this map and use the
copy. Go to Google Drive and click once on
the Double Bubble Map document.
Click on the “More actions” menu and

select “Make a copy”.
Open the document, rename it and it’s

ready for the next Double Bubble thinking
map project.
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toward the other. In this example, we’ll drag

Tree Thinking Map
the right edge over to the left.
Tree maps are used to classify or

categorize. Tree maps are usually lines that
connect from a main category or concept
and then branch off into categories and
groupings.
We have several tools to create the Tree

map, but a table is a tool that might work
best. We need a box that is not enclosed

Let’s move the cell toward the top center of
but one where we can have a line under the
the page. We’ll move the mouse to one of
text. We could use the underline text option
the edges until we see four opposing
in the font, but this will underline all the text.
arrows. Click and drag the table cell toward
In the example below, the underline option
the top of the page.
on the right is what we are aiming for in the

final product.

As we approach the center of the page, a
red line will appear. This is a Smart Guide. It
Click on Table in the menu and select the
is there to help us align elements in our
option to create a table with one cell.
drawing. The red line is letting us know that

the box is in the horizontal center of the
document.
The cell will take up most of the space in

the center of the drawing. To resize the cell,
click and drag either the left or right side

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Click once inside the table cell. In addition

to the blinking cursor for our text, we see a
faint triangle in the upper right corner of the
cell. Click once on this corner.
Click on the border color option in the

button bar and select the far right option,
which is white.
A border options box will float in the upper

right side of the cell. The table cell currently
has a border all the way around. We want to
remove this border and replace it with a
border that is on the bottom only. Click on
the border outline option, which is the

option on the top right of the selector.
Click inside the cell again and click on the

border options triangle.
A blue highlight will show the selected cell

border. Now that we have the border

selected, let’s change the border color.
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We need to change the color of the bottom

border so that it is visible against the white
document. Click on the bottom border
option.
It took a while to create this table cell with

the formatting. We don’t have to go through
this process each time we need the cell in

our tree. We can duplicate the cell and
move it to a different location.
The bottom border should be selected.
Move the mouse over the border of the cell.

Click on the border when the opposing
arrows appear.
Go to the border color selector and choose

a dark gray.
This will select the cell and table.
Click once outside the cell, not inside the

cell. This will deselect the table cell. This
will be what we will use for the categories

and information in the Tree map.
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In the menu, click Edit and select Duplicate.

Move the duplicated cell to the left. As we
move the cell to the left, a smart guide
The table cell will be duplicated and place
should appear to help keep the box aligned
above the original. It will also be offset to
with the other box. This horizontal guide is
the right. We can now drag this cell to
helping us keep the table cells aligned to
another location on our Tree map.
one another.
Drag the cell down below the first cell. Use

Duplicate this table cell and move it to the
the smart guide to keep the second cell
right of the center table cell. We get the
directly below the first.
Smart Guide to keep the table cell aligned

and we also get some additional guides.
These guides help with the spacing
between elements. The Distance Guide is
informing us that the table cells are the
same distance from one another. This will
help make sure the table cells and lines are
equally spaced from one another.
While the cell is selected, duplicate the cell.
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Go back and select the first table and Duplicate the center cell and move it down.
duplicate it.
Use the Smart Guide to help you align the
table cells. Repeat the process with the
remaining table cells.
Move the duplicate cell below the original

cell. Use the Smart Guide to keep the table
cells aligned.
Duplicating each table cell can take a long
time and get a little tedious. We can use a
shortcut key to duplicate the table cells,
which is Command “D” on Macs or Control
“D” on Windows and Chromebook. The
shortcut key only works when using the
Chrome browser or a Chromebook.
The duplicate shortcut key is good, but the

option I prefer makes things go much faster

Duplicate the table cell and move it below and I think it’s easier to use. Hold the
the original table cell. The Smart Guide will Option key on the keyboard and drag the
help us keep the table cell aligned and we table cell. This will duplicate the table cell
will also get the Distance Guides to make as it is being moved. Release the mouse
sure the lines are equally spaced.
and then release the option key to complete
the duplicate and move process.
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Click once, below the main cell at the top of

the tree.
We can leave the Tree map as it is or we

can add connecting lines. There are some
Tree maps out there that include connecting

An Elbow Connector will be placed where
lines. We can use ordinary lines from the
we clicked. The connector has two end
line selector, but I prefer to use Elbow
points and a center slider. Drag the top
connectors.
connector below the top line until it’s

Elbow Connectors connect to one another roughly in the center.
and remain connected even when one end

is moved. Conventional lines are not
connected to one another and when we
move one we need to make sure to
rearrange the others so they connect and
line up properly. This can get a little tedious
if we need to rearrange lines multiple times.
Click on the line selector and choose the

Elbow Connector.
Drag the bottom endpoint to the right until
it’s roughly in the center and above the
table cell.
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Click and drag the center of the connector, of the lines and down the center where the
which has a yellow diamond, to the right. lines join.
Release when it is aligned with the right

edge.
Add a connector for the center. Click and

drag down to get as straight a line as
This is our first line.
possible.
Get another Elbow Connector and repeat We can add lines below the others cells in
the process for the left side.
the same way. When trying to make straight
lines with the connectors or with the basic
line tool, hold down the “Shift” key and this
will force the line into a straight vertical or
horizontal line.
After adding the connector to the left side,

use the smart guides to help align the
connector with the one on the right. This
time, the smart guides will help align the
edges. A red line will appear along the top
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We can move lines and the smart guides

will help us align them to the center of the
table cells.
Format the text by making it bold, centered

and a larger font.
Use smart guides to help align every part of

the Tree map.
We just spent a considerable amount of

time creating this Tree map. Instead of

using this document to work on our Tree
map project, let’s make a copy and keep
Before we finish the Tree map, let’s add a
this one for future projects. To make a copy
title. Click on the Text box and drag out a
of this Tree map document, go to Google
rectangle at the top of the page.
Drive and click once on the document.
Click inside the box and enter a title.
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Open the copy and rename it.
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Brace Thinking Map

Brace Maps are for showing the whole and
its parts. A Brace map consists of several
lines of text that are connected by lines. We
will be using Text boxes to create our Brace
Map. Click on the text box in the button bar.

Look for a red line to appear. This is a Smart

Guide. It is here to inform us that the text
box is centered vertically in the document.
Drag out a text box on the document. The

size of the text box shouldn’t be too large.
Text boxes don’t come with borders so

when we click outside the text box and it’s
deselected, it can be hard to find. With the
text box still selected, click on the border
selection tool and select 1px. This will place
a one pixel solid black border around the

text box.
We need to place the text box in the vertical

center of the document. Move the mouse
over the text box until four arrows appear.
Click and drag the mouse down or up as
needed to move it toward the center.
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We need to add other boxes to our Brace Duplicate this box and move it up.
Map. Instead of dragging out other text

boxes and struggling with the different
sizes, we will duplicate this text box. This
way we have a consistent Brace Map. It’s
also a time saver.
Make sure the text box is selected. Click on

Edit in the menu and select Duplicate.
Duplicate the same box again and move the

copy down. This time, as we move the box
down, we will see Distance Guides appear
in addition to the Smart Guide. The
Distance Guides are there to help us evenly
space out the boxes. They are informing us

that the distance between this box and the
center box matches the distance between
The duplicate text box will be placed above
the center box and the box above.
and offset to the right of the original.
We’re starting to run out of space on this

Click and drag this text box to the right.
document. We’ll need to make the boxes a
Use the Smart Guide to keep the text box
little smaller.
aligned with the original.
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Select all the boxes by clicking and

dragging around them.
Let’s space out the boxes. Click and drag

the top box up.
With all the boxes selected, click and drag

one of the corner handles inward. Before
resizing the boxes, hold the Shift key while
resizing. This will keep the resized boxes
proportional to their original dimensions.
Press and hold the shift key first then click

and drag the selection inward. When done,
release the mouse first then the Shift key.

Click and drag the bottom box down. Use
the Smart Guides and Distance Guides to
align and evenly space the boxes.
After resizing, we need to center the boxes

on the page. With all the boxes selected,
click and drag all of them down and aligned

to the left. Look for the Smart Guide to help
align them vertically on the document. Click
on an empty area in the document to
deselect the boxes.
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Duplicate and place two boxes to the right

of the top box.
Repeat the process to add two more boxes

to the bottom.
Draw a selection around both boxes. Drag

the boxes down so they align with the
center box. Use the Smart Guide to help
align the boxes.
This will be enough boxes for now. Let’s

add the lines that connect the parts of the
Brace Map. Click on the line selector and

choose the first line option.
With the boxes selected, go to Edit in the

menu and duplicate them.
Move the mouse over the first box. When

the mouse is over the box, red dots will light
up along each side. These are connectors.
Drag the duplicated boxes above the center

box. Use the Distance Guides to help space
the boxes.
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Repeat the process for the third box.
Click the connector on the right side of the
first box and drag a line to the adjacent

Use the line tool to connect the top box
box. As the line approaches the adjacent
with the two adjacent boxes. Repeat the
box, the connectors will light up on that
process for the remaining boxes.
box. Connect the line to the left side

connector.

Our Brace Map is complete.
The line tool remains active after we

connect the boxes. Click on the same
connector in the first box and drag a line to
the top box.
We spent some time creating this Brace

Map. Instead of using this map and
recreating it later, it’s better to copy this

map and use the copy for our product. We
can make a copy of this document in Drive.
Click once on the document in Drive.
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Open the copy and rename it.
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With the image still selected, click on the

Flow Thinking Map
color fill and select white.
A flow map is used for sequence of events

or any step by step process. Flow maps are
one box with an arrow leading to another
box with an arrow and ending with a box.
Let’s begin with a simple example. Click on
the shapes selector and choose a
rectangular shape.
With our fist box in place let’s create the

other boxes that will be part of our Flow
Map. Instead of drawing our several boxes,
we will duplicate this box several times.
With the rectangle selected, click on Edit in
the menu and select Duplicate.
Draw out a rectangle on the page.
The duplicate rectangle will be placed

above the original rectangle and offset a
The shape has a border and a blue color fill. little to the right.
Let’s change the color fill to white.
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Click and drag this rectangle to the right of rectangle. Release the rectangle when the
the existing rectangle. As we move the rectangles are aligned horizontally and have
rectangle we will see a red line appear. This the same distance between them.
line runs through the center of both

rectangles. This is a smart guide. It is letting
us know that the rectangles are centered
with one another along the horizontal line.
This is useful because the boxes will be
aligned straight across from one another.
Let’s duplicate the rectangle to begin

forming a second row of rectangles. Move
the rectangle below the first rectangle. Use
the smart guide to align the rectangle
vertically with the first rectangle.
Select the second rectangle and duplicate

the rectangle by clicking on Edit in the
menu and selecting duplicate.
Constantly returning to the menu to

duplicate a rectangle can get a little tedious.
We could use the short cut key to duplicate

the rectangle. In the Edit menu we see the
Move the rectangle off to the right like we short cut key. In my example that would be
did in the previous example. As we move the Command Key followed by the letter D.
this rectangle, we will see the same smart On Windows and Chrome books the short
guide helping us keep the rectangles cut key would be the Control key and the
aligned horizontally and we will also see a letter D.
second guide. A pair of distance guides will

The way I like to duplicate items is by using
appear when the distance between the
a different modifier key. Pressing the Option
second and third rectangle is the same as
key and dragging the rectangle will create a
the distance between the first and second
copy of the rectangle and move it at the
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same time. This saves a step and is much We could also choose a thicker arrow like
faster. In this example I am holding the the one available in the shape selector.
Option key and dragging the rectangle to

the right. The option key works on Mac,
Windows and Chrome.
These are good options, but a better option

might be to use a special type of arrow

called a connector. A connector plugs itself
When creating more rows of rectangles we into the rectangle and stays wit the
also get distance guides to help us space rectangle even if it is moved. This is very
out the rectangles vertically.
helpful because while creating our Flow
Maps we are likely to move the boxes or
resize them during the process.
Click on the line selector and choose the

Elbow Connector.
Now that we have our boxes in place, we

will connect them with arrows. We can
choose a simple arrow to connect the
boxes like the second option in the line
selector.
As we move the connector over the

rectangles, a dot will appear on each side of
the rectangle. These are connection points.
Click on the connection point on the right
side of the first rectangle.
Page 34
An elbow connection will attach itself to the Let’s repeat the process with the next
dot. The other end of the connector is just rectangle. This time instead of just clicking
hanging out there. We need to connect the on the connector, click and drag from one
other end to the second rectangle.
connector to the other. Go back to the line
selector and select the Elbow Connector.
Click and drag the right end point of the
connector. Move it over to the left side of Click and drag across. The connector will
the second rectangle. As the connector snap to the dot on the third rectangle when
approaches the rectangle, the connector it gets close enough.
dots will light up and the connector will

snap to the connector.
We now have a line that connects the first

and second rectangle.
Page 35
Let’s connect the top row of rectangles with

the second row. Select and Elbow
connector and attach it to the right side of
the third rectangle.
We have lines that connect the boxes but

they are not arrows. We can change these
lines to arrows. Press the ESC key on the

keyboard to release the connector if it is still
active. The connector is still active if the
Drag the end of the connector to the left
rectangles light up when we hover over
side of the rectangle on the second row.
them.
The Elbow connector will extend itself

across the bottom of the first row and Click on the first connector. It will highlight
attach itself to the rectangle.
to let us know it is active.
We don’t always have to go back and get When a connector is active, the button bar
an Elbow Connector. When we hover over will have two additional options. These are
one of the rectangles that is connected, we arrow options. Click on the right arrow
can click and drag from one of the red dots option. Select the first arrow option.
to another. This is because the connector

remains selected as long as we don’t click
outside the browser on on the menu or
button bar. We can also release the
connector by pressing the ESC key on the
keyboard.
Page 36
The arrow selector will change and the right Let’s Add a title to the Flow Map. Click on
side of the line will have an arrow head the text box in the button bar.
attached. Click once on the page to

deselect the connector.
Drag out a rectangular area for the title text.
We now have an arrow pointing from the

first rectangle to the second. Repeat the
process with the rest of the lines.
Click inside the box and enter a title.
Let’s look at how the connectors work. We’ll

move the first rectangle up a little. The
connector will move along with the box. If
the connector does not move with the box,
drag the connector endpoint and reconnect
it.
Page 37
While we’re at it, let’s center the text,

increase the font size, and apply the bold
style.
The flow map took a lot of work to create.

Instead of using this Flow Map we can
duplicate it in Google Drive and keep this
original for future Flow Map projects.
Select the Flow Map in Drive.

Open the copy, rename it and begin Flow

Mapping.
Page 38
A vertical line informs us that the text box is

Multi-Flow Thinking Map
aligned to the horizontal center and a
Multi-Flow Maps are used to show cause horizontal smart guide is informing us that
and effect. A Multi-flow Map is used to the text box is aligned to the vertical center.
show cause and effect. It consists of one The we see both lines intersect, the text
box in the center, for an event. Boxes on box is in the center of the document.
the left identify the causes and boxes on

the right identify the effects. To create our
first box we’ll select a text box from the
button bar.
Text boxes don’t have borders when they

are not selected and don’t have text, they
appear invisible. Do you see the text box?
Drag out a rectangular area for the text box

somewhere toward the center of the
document.
Let’s provide a border for this text box. The

text box should still be selected. If it is not,
click in the general area where it was last

and the selection box should appear. The
We will place the text box in the center of mouse cursor will change to four arrows
the document. Drag the text box when it is over a text box.
somewhere near the center. As we move

the text box, red lines will appear. These are
smart guides. Smart guides help us align
the text box and other elements in a
document.
Page 39
When the text box is selected, we have move the text box over, we will see a smart
additional tools in the button bar. Click on guide. This will help us align the text boxes.
the border selector and pick the first option,

1px. 

Duplicate the text box and move it to the
left of the center box. The smart guide will
We’d like our boxes to have a consistent
help us align the text boxes and we will also
size. Instead of guessing at the size of the
have distance guides appear. Distance
text boxes, we will duplicate this box. With
guides help us evenly space out the text
the text box selected, click on Edit in the
boxes. They let us know that the distance
menu and select Duplicate.
between this text box and the center text

box is the same as the distance between
the center text box and the right text box.
The duplicated text box will be placed next

the original and offset to the right.

We have a few more text boxes to

duplicate. It can get a little tedious going
back to the menu each time we need to
duplicate a box. Instead of going back to
the menu each time, we can use a shortcut
key to duplicate the text box. This only
works if we are using the Chrome Browser

or Chromebook.
Drag this text box over to the right and

aligned with the center text box. As we
Page 40
The shortcut key is Command “D” on Mac

and Control “D” on Windows or
Chromebook. Press the Command or
Control key first then press the letter “D”.
We’ll duplicate the text box on the left and

drag it up toward the top most area we
want for the map.

Draw a selection box around the five boxes

on the left.
Duplicate the text box, place it at the

bottom of the map and align it to the other
text boxes.
Click Arrange in the menu and move to the
Distribute option. Select the option to
distribute vertically.
Duplicate two more boxes and place them

between these boxes. The boxes aren’t
evenly spaced but will take care of that

next.
Page 41
This will evenly distribute the boxes. The the smart and distance guides to help align
first and last text box are used to determine the text boxes.
the spacing.

Now we need some arrows. Click on the
While the boxes are selected we will line tool selector and choose the line arrow.
duplicate and move them to the right side. I

know there is already a box there. Let’s
duplicate the boxes first. Move them over to
the right off the edge of the document.
Move the arrow tool over the top left text

box. As we move the cursor over the text
box, connection anchors will appear along

the sides. Click and drag from the right
Click on the existing box. Press the delete connector to the left connector of the
key on your keyboard to remove the text center text box.
box.
Draw a selection box around the five boxes

and move them onto the document. Use
Page 42
This is what it should look like.

To cancel the line arrow tool press the
“ESC” key on the keyboard or tap on the
The line arrow tool remains selected. When
arrow tool in the button bar. To add text to
we move the cursor over the second box
the boxes, click once inside the box.
the connectors will light up. Click and drag

from this text box to the center text box.
We spent some time creating this Multi-flow
map. Instead of recreating the map each
time, we can make a copy and work from
the copy. We can do this in Google Drive. In
Google Drive, click once on the document.
Repeat the process with the remaining

boxes on the left.

For the next step, we will do the same thing

but the arrows will originate from the box in
the middle.
Page 43
Open the document, rename it and work on

the map.
Page 44
Bridge Thinking Map

Bridge Maps are used to show analogies.
Bridge maps are very easy. They are a
series of lines connected by triangles, or
bridges. Let’s begin by creating the first
line. Click on the line tool in the button bar
and select the first line option.
Click on the edge of the line and drag a line

up at an angle. This is another time we can
have Drawings help us create the triangle.
Hold the Shift key and the line will snap to
different angle positions. Move the line
edge to the left and right to snap to different
angles. Release the mouse first then the
Shift key when the line is at the angle you

want.
Begin drawing a line on the document. It’s

pretty easy to draw a line, but sometimes
we need help. Drawings can help us make a
straight line by holding the Shift key. We will
be using the Shift key several times in this
lesson.
With the first line of the triangle in place, we

can now repeat the process to create the
other side. Matching the angle and the
length of the line can be difficult. To make
sure the line and angle are the same with

less effort, we will duplicate the line. The

With the first line in place, we need the line should still be selected.
triangle that follows. We will use the same

line tool. The line tool should still be active.
We know it’s active because the mouse
pointer is still a crosshair and the line button
is a light gray.
Page 45
A copy of the line will be created and

placed a little to the right.
If the line is not selected, click on the arrow

tool in the button bar.

With the line still selected, click Arrange in

the menu and move your mouse pointer
over the Rotate option.
When the line is selected with the arrow

tool, it will be bound by a box.
In the Rotate options menu, click on “Flip

horizontally”.
Click on Edit in the menu and select

Duplicate.
Page 46
The line will flip to become a mirror image The triangle is evenly aligned but it looks
of the previous line.
like the horizontal line is a little off. Move the
line so it aligns perfectly with the left corner
of the triangle. Here again, the smart guides
will help us align the line to the vertical and
horizontal.
Move the duplicated line up and to the right

of the original line. As we try to match the
lines, red lines will begin to appear. These
are smart guides. The are here to inform us
when the lines are aligned either vertically The line connection should look seamless.
or horizontally. When the lines cross, that

means the lines are aligned both vertically
and horizontally.
We need a line for the other side of the

bridge. We want the line on the right to

match the line on the left. Click on the line
Deselect the line by clicking once anywhere to select it.
in the document.
Page 47

Duplicate.
The bridge and the right line should be

selected.
Move the duplicated line to the right side of

the bridge.

Duplicate.
Use the smart guides to align it with the

other side.
This is our basic bridge. This has taken a

few steps to create. We don’t have to go
through all of this to extend the Bridge map.
We can use the existing parts to extent the
map. Draw a selection around the bridge
and the right line.
Page 48
Move the duplicated section to the right of

the line. Use the smart guides to help align
the sections.
We now have room to extend our Bridge

map to include more analogies.
Repeat the process to add another section.
Let’s add text boxes for our analogies. Click

on the text tool in the button bar.
In this Bridge map, we have room for four

analogies. We can add more by either
resizing the document or resizing the map.
We usually don’t want to resize the
document, so let’s resize the map. Draw a
selection around the entire map.
We need to make sure the map is resized

proportionally. Press and hold the Shift key
while dragging in on one of the corners.
Page 49
Drag out a text box. Click once outside the Deselect the text box and it should now
text box to deselect it, or press the ESC key have a one pixel border.
on your keyboard.

Duplicate the text box for each of the areas.
Text boxes don’t have any borders and are As we move the duplicated text boxes,
transparent. This makes them difficult to smart guides will help align them. We will
find. let’s add a border to the text box. Click also see additional lines. These are distance
once in the general area where the text box guides. They are them to help us evenly
should be.
space the boxes in relation to other boxes
and lines. In this example the distance
guides are helping us align the text box to
the center of the line below.
When the text box is selected, we will see

additional tools appear in the button bar.
Click on the line selector. Select the 1px
option.
Page 50
When duplicating a text box below the line,

the distance guides will help us align those
too.
Open the copy, rename it and work on the

Bridge Map.
The last part is the “as” conjunction. Create

a text box and place it below the bridge.
We spent a lot of time creating the Bridge

map. Instead of recreating the map, we
should make a copy in Google Drive and
work on the copy. Click on the document in
Google Drive.

Page 51
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Digital Maestro Magazine

Critical thinking • Scaffolding • Rigor

The cover image for this issue came from freepik.com

Circle Thinking Map

visual learners and access diﬀerent

good idea to keep the box size relatively

this way or modify the document.

Now that we’ve increased the size of the

A page setup box will open. Click on the

Click the “untitled document” name and

This is what the circle should look like.

Let’s create our first circle. Click on the

then the Shift key when done creating the

key, and the option key will keep the circle

A second circle of the same size and with

The circle is automatically filled with a blue

Move the new circle back to the center. Use

Now that we have our first circle in place it’s

instead of creating another circle and

Let’s make this circle smaller. We’ll use the

We’ll enter a generic title.

We now have our circle map. Let’s place a

Highlight the text, center, increase the font

Click on the text box tool in the button bar.

We can now add text and images to our

We spent a lot of time creating a thinking

In the “More Actions” menu, select “Make a

Open the copied circle map and rename it.

smaller circles. They don’t have to be

Now that we have a circle, let’s place it in

We can enlarge the circle this way, but the

shape to a circle and the Option key will

down. We can now move this circle to a

Click one of the connectors on the right and

Repeat the process of duplicating circles

These two circles are now connected to

Move the mouse over the main circle. When

line tool, press the “ESC” key on your

Our Bubble Map is complete. Instead of

Click on the “More Actions” menu, and

Select the wide screen option.

Double Bubble Thinking Map

in this thinking map we will be able to

Double Bubble Maps need a lot of space.

Click on the Shapes selector in the button

Click on the page setup selector.

The oval tool creates ovals and circles. It

As we move the circle down the page we

dragging out with the oval shape. Hold the

Instead of creating another circle, we can

the center a red will line appear. This is a

Drag this circle up above the original circle.

I prefer another option because I think its

dragging a circle will make a copy of the

inform us when the distance between the

Repeat the process and place a circle on

This time, press and hold both the Shift and

the circles. To make sure the circles are

Repeat the process for the circle on the left.

Let’s undo the resize. Click on Edit in the

represent the diﬀerences in our compare

A selection box should appear around all

The Double Bubble map is done but it looks

Click on the Fill color selector and select a

Repeat the process with other circles.

We just spent a lot of time creating this

Click on the “More actions” menu and