People, even small ones, form their own ideas about things based on language, things they observe, etc. While some of these ideas can provide good anchors for new information, others can hinder learning. Study after study has found that materials that take learners’ ideas into account lead to better learning than, e.g., traditional textbooks1. These types of materials include Concept Cartoons!
So if you’re homeschooling, want to help your child who is struggling with a particular concept in school, or are teaching children in another capacity, read on. What exactly are Concept Cartoons? How can you use them? And where can you find them?
What are Concept Cartoons?
Here’s an example of a Concept Cartoon:
Concept cartoons show different ideas on a topic, e.g. with comic drawings. Sometimes they only use speech bubbles2. Also, students are sometimes asked to share what they think 3. This is important, as Concept Cartoons can only show a limited number of common ideas. For instance, the Concept Cartoon above does not include ideas such as linking wind formation to rain/the water cycle.9 So if a Concept Cartoon doesn’t include that by design, make sure to add that a ‘What do you think?’ option for your learner.
In subjects such as science or geography/ earth science, concept cartoons often show what scientists think (‘correct’ idea) and several common misconceptions. Some topics (e.g., in social studies), are not so much about right and wrong ideas, but about different viewpoints. Concept cartoons can also be adapted to that.
Are concept cartoons effective?
Concept cartoons are an effective way to help people learn.
Studies with students from elementary school 5 up to university 4 have shown that working with concept cartoons leads to significantly better results than traditional instruction.
How can I use concept cartoons?
There are two ways to use concept cartoons. And yes, you can combine them.3
(1) Use Concept Cartoons to find out what your learner thinks. You can do that, for instance, at the beginning of dealing with a new topic, but also as an assessment:6
- Present the concept cartoon to your learner(s).
- Let him/her either mark the idea they agree with or write their own answer.
- Let him/her explain “a reason for their choice”.
This can then be followed up by discussion and learning activities that explore the ideas.
(2) Use Concept Cartoons to let your learner apply what they learned.1 After learning about the topic, have the learner discuss how that “applies to the situation”3. For instance, why are some of the ideas not correct?
In the end, it’s good for your learner to reflect on how their ideas changed 3.
By the way: other options for finding out what your learners’ ideas are include: asking them, having them write out or draw their ideas, or completing true/false questions.1
Where can I find concept cartoons?
You can, of course, create your own Concept Cartoons. Or you can use already done-for-you ones.
Unfortunately, Concept Cartoons aren’t a staple in learning materials yet. For instance, they are rarely part of geography/ social studies textbooks. They’re also often not included on platforms where learning materials are shared for free, such as Zebis.7 So to find Concept Cartoons often involves some searching. And lots of sifting. For instance, when I was searching for a Concept Cartoon about wind, Google Image search included tons of irrelevant results such as puffy cartoon clouds or drawings of wind turbines.
So I’ve decided to create a link list for you. It’s sorted by subject, and then by topic to make it easier for you to locate the Concept Cartoon you want. The Concept Cartoons are from varied sources – and vary quite a bit in quality as well. I’ve decided to go rather wide, to give you as much inspiration as possible.
I’ll add more Concept Cartoons to the list as I find them. If you know one that isn’t on the list yet, please post it in the comments or submit it by email or through the contact form. Thanks!
PS: I’ve been teaching teachers at a university in Switzerland for more than 8 years, after already having several years of experience in teacher education and research in Germany. So I know that while finding Concept Cartoons in English sometimes isn’t easy, it’s often even harder in other languages. Therefore, I also include Concept Cartoons in German in the list below. These are prefaced by “German:”. All links without that preface are in English.
Geography/ Earth Science Concept Cartoons
Concept Cartoons about climate and climate change
- “Exploring impacts of climate change on ecosystems“
- Effects of climate change
- Climate change and penguins (note: uses animal characters. It also includes some spelling mistakes. It links climate change only to driving cars.)
Concept Cartoons about weather maps and forecasts
- Weather map
- Weather forecast – a fine day or rain? (Note: This one is a bit confusing, depending on where you live, as it pits two forecasts against each other. The weather forecast is built on models. But red skies at sunset are also often associated with clear weather the next day at least in certain regions.10)
- Weather forecast – the chance of rain
- Weather recording instruments (note: uses animal characters)
Concept Cartoons about wind
- How is wind created? |German: Wie entsteht Wind?
Concept Cartoons about day and night
Concept Cartoons about the solar system
Concept Cartoons about seasons
Concept Cartoons about reflection/ absorption of solar radiation, albedo, etc.
Concept Cartoons about acid rain
Concept Cartoons about pollution, littering, garbage, etc.
Concept Cartoons about deforestation
Concept cartoons about energy sources (water, wind, sun, geothermal, fossil, nuclear, biogas …)
- Free energy (p. 3)
- Nuclear energy (Note: This Concept Cartoon raises the question of whether nuclear energy is green, but it doesn’t seem to include the idea that although nuclear power plants do not produce greenhouse gas emissions, because of the still unresolved issue of nuclear waste and the huge impact of failures, nuclear energy is not green. And Uranium supplies are limited, so it’s not a renewable source of energy either.8 This Concept Cartoon is therefore much more challenging than others.)
- Nuclear energy
Concept Cartoons about natural hazards
- Behavior when stuck in quicksand
- Behavior during a tornado
- Behavior in a hot air balloon during lightning
Concept Cartoons about erosion
Concept Cartoons about altitude
Concept Cartoons about water
- Freezing water
- Condensation on a window
- Condensation on a glass
- Evaporation and a tumble dryer
- Evaporation and puddles
- Water conservation
- Can you find puddles on a beach – and where?
Concept Cartoons about landforms
Concept Cartoons about soil
- Dead things and soil (p. 62)
- Carbon in scat (note: This one does not mention carbon storage in soil.)
Other Science Concept Cartoons (physics, biology, chemistry)
Concept Cartoons about gravity
- “Exploring ideas about gravity“
- Bungee jumping, size and the speed of falling (version 1), (version 2)
Concept Cartoons about sound
Concept Cartoons about weight
- “Does weight change in water”?
- Blowing up a balloon and the weight of air
- Blowing up a balloon and the weight of helium
- Kicking a ball and the weight of air
- Weight of different materials
- Estimating the weight of a dog
- Burning magnesium and weight
- Weight and breaking up a big piece into smaller ones
Concept Cartoons about color perception
Concept Cartoons about materials
Concept Cartoons about atoms and molecules
Concept Cartoons about chemical notations
Concept Cartoons about chemical reactions
Concept Cartoons about magnets
Concept Cartoons about liquids
Concept Cartoons about light and shadows
Concept Cartoons about food webs
Concept Cartoons about plants
- Plants – do they get heavier when growing and where does that extra weight come from?
- Do seeds grow in the dark?
Concept Cartoons about pollination
Concept Cartoons about ‘What is Science?’
Math Concept Cartoons
Concept Cartoons about addition
Concept Cartoons about multiplication
- Does multiplication always make the number bigger?
- Multiplication and the decimal point
- Currency conversion
Concept Cartoons about the decimal point and fractions
- “How much pizza?” (p. 223)
- “The campfire” (p. 223)
- Multiplication and the decimal point
Concept Cartoons about shapes and angles
Concept Cartoons about probability
English language Concept Cartoons
References
1 e.g., summary in Schulman, K. & Demantowsky, M. (2022). Teacher students' beliefs about and strategies for dealing with students' misconceptions. J-Reading. 2 (9). http://www.j-reading.org/index.php/geography/article/view/339
2 Brenda Keogh & Stuart Naylor (1999) Concept cartoons, teaching and learning in science: an evaluation, International Journal of Science Education, 21:4, 431-446, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/095006999290642
3 Science Learning Hub (n.d.) Using concept cartoons. https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/2566-using-concept-cartoons
4 e.g., Taşlıdere, 2013, in Schulman, K. & Demantowsky, M. (2022). Teacher students' beliefs about and strategies for dealing with students' misconceptions. J-Reading. 2 (9). http://www.j-reading.org/index.php/geography/article/view/339
5 e.g., Minárechová, M. (2016). Using a concept cartoon© method to address elementary school students’ ideas about natural phenomena. European Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, Vol. 4, No. 2, 214‐228.
6 Joyce, C. (2006). Using concept cartoons for assessment. https://arbs.nzcer.org.nz/using-concept-cartoons-assessment (last checked January 31, 2024).
7 Viehrig, K. (2020). Concept cartoons: teaching for conceptual change. https://www.katieschulman.com/2020/concept-cartoons/ (last checked February 1, 2024)
8 e.g., Freer, M. (2023). Just how 'green' is nuclear energy? https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2023/just-how-green-is-nuclear-energy; Energy Advice Hub (2023). Can nuclear power ever be truly green? https://energyadvicehub.org/can-nuclear-power-ever-be-truly-green/ Horvat, S. & Pajovic, D. (2022) Nuclear is not green. https://diem25.org/nuclear-not-green/ Myers, A. (.d.) The Real Foukushima: Exploring Fukushima with The Green Program https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/news-insights/the-real-fukushima-exploring-fukushima-with-the-green-program/ (last checked February 1, 2024).
9 Giger, N. & Kleiner, J. (2023). Schüler:innenvorstellungen zum Thema Windenergie. Ein Beitrag zur “Conceptual-Change”-Forschung. Master Thesis. School of Education FHNW. Switzerland.
10 https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/is-there-any-truth-behind-the-saying-red-sky-at-night-shepherds-delight
I am hearing about the concept cartoons for the first time but they sound like a wonderful learning method for kids. Awesome read!
Thank you!