Free See-Think-Wonder Graphic Organizer

When I think of history lessons, I sometimes think about the scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off… Anyone? Anyone?

These days, our effort as teachers is so focused on the subjects being tested – language arts, math, and science – that our social studies lessons can become monotonous. To help increase student engagement, encourage critical thinking, and add a little more fun to your history lessons, I have created this free See-Think-Wonder graphic organizer.

Keep reading below for my top five See-Think-Wonder lesson ideas. And be sure to download the free worksheet to use in your classroom!

What is a See-Think-Wonder Graphic Organizer?

What is a See-Think-Wonder graphic organizer, you ask? Well, like the ABC graphic organizer, this activity requires little to no prep and can be used with a variety of lessons.

In this activity, students are asked to make observations about an object (picture, artifact, text, etc.). Each level of observation encourages a deeper level of critical thinking and reasoning.

See: What do you see? Observe each part.
Think: What do you think is happening? Who created it? When?
Wonder: What does it make you wonder?

As they complete the graphic organizer, students engage in a discussion explaining their observations and reasoning.

See-Think-Wonder Graphic Organizer Lesson Ideas

1. Use with Primary Sources

The See-Think-Wonder graphic organizer is the perfect activity to use when analyzing primary sources. Primary sources are documents, images, or artifacts that provide first-hand accounts of historical events.

But why use primary sources in the first place? Well, primary sources bring history to life for students! They allow students the chance to do the work of a historian and connect with the past in a personal way.

How it works:

First, give your students a primary source to analyze.
Then ask students to complete the See-Think-Wonder graphic organizer. This can be done section by section, or all at once.
As students complete each section (or when they have completed the entire graphic organizer) discuss their responses. This can be done in partners, small groups, or as a whole class.

You can find links to my favorite primary sources here:

2. Use to Introduce a Lesson or Unit (Anticipatory Set)

The See-Think-Wonder graphic organizer is also the perfect “hook” when beginning a lesson or unit. Not only does it motivate student interest in the topic, but it also gets them using those critical thinking skills!

How it works:

First, select an object (or multiple objects) representing important concepts of the lesson or unit.
- The “object” could be many things, including: maps, art work, images, objects, artifacts, text, etc. Or how fun would it be to have your students be the object by dressing up and recreating a historical painting?!
- If you need help finding an object to use, check out the Library of Congress website!
Second, present the object to your students.
Next, students analyze the object and complete the See-Think-Wonder graphic organizer. This can be done section by section, or all at once.
Then, as students complete each section (or when they have completed the entire graphic organizer) discuss their responses. This can be done in partners, small groups, or as a whole class.

You can find links to my American History units here:

3. Use with a Gallery Walk

Another way this See-Think-Wonder graphic organizer can be used is with a gallery walk.

A gallery walk is an activity in which students walk around the classroom (individually or in partners) and analyze different objects.

How it Works:

First, select multiple objects to place around the classroom (artwork, pictures, portraits, artifacts, etc.).
Then have students walk around the classroom, studying one object at a time, completing the See-Think-Wonder graphic organizer as they go.
As students finish, discuss their responses for each object. This can be done in partners or as a class.

For more information about how to use a gallery walk as a teaching strategy, check out this article.

4. Use While Reading a Historical Text – Analyzing the Images

While typically used with artwork or objects, this See-Think-Wonder graphic organizer is even great to use with historical texts!

Check out the links below for my favorite historical children’s books. Full of text and pictures, these books are perfect to use with the See-Think-Wonder activity.

How it Works:

Analyze the images in the text.
- First, assign students specific images to analyze from the text passage.
- Next, students complete the See-Think-Wonder graphic organizer.
- Then, students discuss each section with a partner. Have a few students share their ideas with the class.

You can find links to my favorite historical children’s books here:

5. Use While Reading a Historical Text – Analyzing the Words

When using this activity to analyze the words, change the description for each section of the See-Think-Wonder graphic organizer.

See: What is the text explicitly saying?
Think: What does it mean?
Wonder: How does this connect to the theme/claim/purpose of the text? Or, how does this connect to another piece of information in the text?

How it Works:

Analyze the words in the text.
- First, assign students a specific passage to read.
- Next, students complete the See-Think-Wonder graphic organizer.
- Then, students discuss their responses in each section with a partner. Have a few students share their ideas with the class.
For example, students are asked to read the following passage from John Locke’s Two Treatise and a Government: “When legislators (lawmakers) try to destroy or take away the property of the people, or try to reduce them to slavery, they put themselves into a state of war with the people who can then refuse to obey the laws.”
- See: If the government takes away people’s property or make them slaves, the people can decide to not obey – even if that means going to war against the lawmakers.
- Think: The people can fight against their government if their rights are being taken away or their needs aren’t being met.
- Wonder: This can be connected to the American Revolution. The American colonists fought against the British government because they weren’t being treated fairly.

Download the Free “See, Think, Wonder” Graphic Organizer

This See-Think-Wonder graphic organizer, while wonderfully simple, is also an incredibly effective learning tool. To download, simply click the button below. The graphic organizer is also available in a Google Classroom version. Happy teaching!

More Resources

Looking for more social studies lessons? If so, check out these other free lesson plans I have created! All lesson plans are Google Classroom compatible – perfect for both in-person and distance learning.

Free See-Think-Wonder Graphic Organizer