Have students fill in the central bubble with a book or story title, a topic or a central concept. For example, students might write "pollution" in the central bubble of their copy of the concept map. Alternatively, have them write the information in the center of a piece of paper and circle it.
Read the book/story together or have students complete research as a class or have students read or research individually.
Guide students in supplying a related, subordinate idea (for example, "litter") in one of the bubbles surrounding the central one. Students can also write the subordinate idea near the main bubble and circle it. Have students draw a line from this bubble to the central bubble. Instruct students to provide another subordinate idea (for example, "noise") near the central bubble and connect it to the main bubble.
Continue to have students write ideas in new bubbles. Bubbles can ring the main bubble or branch off into different directions. For example, including "water" in one bubble might lead to adding bubbles that create a cluster of the different types of water pollution, such as oceans, lakes, rivers and polluted rain.