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CSI: Color, Symbol, Image

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49 views

CSI: Color, Symbol, Image

Uploaded by

Joss Saso
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A THINKING ROUTINE FROM PROJECT ZERO, HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

CSI: Color, Symbol, Image


A routine for distilling the essence of ideas non-verbally.

Are you reading, listening, or watching, make note of things that you find interesting, important,
or insightful. When you finish, choose 3 of these items that most stand out for you.

• For one of these, choose a color that you feel best represents or captures the essence of that idea.
• For another one, choose a symbol that you feel best represents or captures the essence of that idea.
• For the other one, choose an image that you feel best represents or captures the essence of that idea.

With a partner or group, first share your color and then share the item from your reading that it
represents. Tell why you chose that colour as a representation of that idea. Repeat the sharing
process until every member of the group has shared his or her Color, Symbol, and Image.

Purpose: What kind of thinking does this routine encourage?


This routine asks students to identify and distill the essence of ideas from reading, watching, or listening in
non-verbal ways by using a color, symbol, or image to represent the ideas.

Application: When and where can I use it?


This routine can be used to enhance comprehension of reading, watching, or listening. It can also be used as
a reflection on previous events or learnings. It is helpful if students have had some previous experience with
highlighting texts for important ideas, connections, or events. The synthesis happens as students select a
color, symbol, and image to represent three important ideas. This routine also facilitates the discussion of a
text or event as students share their colors, symbols, and images.

Launch: What are some tips for starting and using this routine?
After the class has read a text, you might ask the class to identify some of the interesting, important, or
insightful ideas from the text and list these on the board. Write CSI: Color, Symbol, Image on the board. Select
one of the ideas the class has identified. Ask students, what color might they use to represent the essence of
that idea. What color captures something about that idea, maybe it is the mood or tone. Select another idea
and ask the class what symbol they could use to represent that idea. You might define a symbol as a simple line
representation or uncomplicated drawing, such as two crossed lines to denote an intersection of ideas, or a circle to
represent wholeness or completeness. Then pick another idea from the list and ask students what image they
might use to represent that idea. You might define an image as a visual image or metaphor that is more complex
and fully developed than just a symbol.

Share your experience with this thinking routine on social media using the hashtags #PZThinkingRoutines and #ColorSymbolImage.

This thinking routine was developed as part of the Cultures of Thinking project
at Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education.
HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Explore more Thinking Routines at pz.harvard.edu/thinking-routines
© 2019 President and Fellows of Harvard College and Project Zero. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND). This license allows users to share this work
with others, but it cannot be used commercially. To reference this work, please use the following: The Color, Symbol, Image thinking routine was developed by Project Zero, a research center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

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