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Suggested grade band · K–2

Free Graphic Organizers for Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grade (K–2 PDFs)

12 free kindergarten, first grade, and second grade graphic organizers as PDF and PNG: story retell, sequence, 5 W's, Venn diagram, T-chart, prediction, and early writing paper.

A graphic organizer gives a young learner a simple place to sort ideas with words, pictures, or both. This collection offers 12 free printables for early elementary learners, grouped by classroom task. A teacher or family member can model a story retell, gather facts, compare topics, or help a beginning writer get ideas onto paper.

Open the “Where to start” suggestions below for a first choice, or match a page to the lesson. Each printable is available at no cost, with no registration required; file options include a high-resolution PNG and PDFs in A4 and US Letter sizes. An adult can model one section and invite children to talk through an idea before drawing or writing.

Blank early-grade organizers, chunky crayons, pastel blocks, and notes on a light classroom desk.

Which page fits your task?

Where to start: beginner organizers for kindergarten to grade 2

For a first try, choose a page with a small, clear job: retell a story, sort two ideas, or record a few details. These beginner organizers give kindergarten learners a visible place to talk, draw, and write, while an adult models how each section connects to the task.

Retelling stories: beginning, middle, and end

Story work can begin with a teacher reading aloud and children naming what happened. Choose a story map when the class is ready to notice characters and setting, a beginning-middle-end page for a short retell, a sequence sheet for ordered events, or a prediction page to revisit an idea after reading.

Facts and questions: Five W's and fact or opinion

Use these pages during a shared nonfiction reading or class conversation. Five W's offers prompts for collecting basic details, while the fact-and-opinion page helps children sort statements and discuss how a factual claim could be checked with evidence.

Comparing and sorting

When children compare objects, characters, or topics, begin with something they can name aloud. A Venn diagram shows shared and different traits in overlapping circles; the open T-chart lets an adult label two categories that fit the current sorting activity.

Early writing: stories, how-to, and paper

Young writers may first say an idea, sketch it, and then add words. Use a narrative planner to shape a story, a how-to page to order instructions, primary writing paper for handwriting practice, or story paper when children are ready to draft with an illustration option.

Three ways organizers show up in K–2

English language arts · Kindergarten

Talk through a story retell

After a read-aloud, the teacher models a beginning-middle-end page on the board, saying each event before adding a quick sketch. Children take turns retelling the story aloud and point to where each moment belongs. The class can then use a story map to name characters, setting, and the central problem. The teacher demonstrates one section at a time, leaving room for children to draw before attempting labels or a sentence. Their completed pages can support a partner retell or a brief class conversation about the book.

Beginning, Middle, and End Graphic OrganizerPrintable Story Map Template

Science · Grade 1

Sort observations by question

For a shared science reading, the teacher first models asking who, what, where, when, and why, then speaks a detail aloud before recording it on the Five W's page. Children discuss which facts the text provides and which questions remain. Next, the teacher offers a few statements for the class to sort on the fact-and-opinion organizer, explaining how a checkable claim could be verified. Children can draw or dictate a reason before writing independently. The pages give the group a structure for talking about information gathered from the reading.

5 W's Graphic Organizer PDF (5W and 5W+1H)Fact and Opinion Graphic Organizer

Social studies · Grade 2

Compare two familiar places

The teacher introduces two familiar places from a class topic and models naming one trait for each. Children say similarities and differences aloud before the teacher records a sample in the Venn diagram's circles and shared middle. Partners then add a drawing or a few words to show what belongs in each area. To extend the sorting, the teacher labels the two sides of a T-chart with categories from the lesson and models placing one idea. Children explain their choices orally before adding their own marks to the page.

Printable Venn Diagram TemplatePrintable T-Chart Graphic Organizer

Frequently asked questions

What is a graphic organizer in kindergarten?

A graphic organizer is a page that gives children a visual place to arrange ideas with drawings, words, or both. In kindergarten, an adult can model one section at a time and let children talk before marking the page. Examples here include a beginning-middle-end page for retelling, a Venn diagram for comparing, and a Five W's page for gathering details.

What are some good graphic organizers for elementary school students?

Choose a page for the job at hand. A beginning-middle-end organizer can support a story retell, while a sequence page helps put events or steps in order. Use Five W's to gather details, a Venn diagram to compare two topics, a fact-and-opinion page to sort statements, or primary writing paper when a child is practicing early handwriting.

What are the 7 types of graphic organizers?

No single authority defines seven fixed organizer types; resource lists divide them differently. This page groups its 12 printables by classroom job: retelling stories, gathering facts and questions, comparing and sorting, and supporting early writing. A teacher can choose the section that fits the lesson, then introduce one page with a brief oral model.

Are these graphic organizers free to download as PDFs?

Yes. All 12 are free, with no sign-up required. They come as high-resolution PNG images, plus PDF files prepared for both A4 and US Letter paper. Every organizer offers this same choice of file types. Select a version from the printable's page for classroom or home use.

Do the graphic organizers include completed examples?

Two of the 12 printables have a completed example: the Story Map and the Sequence of Events organizer. The other pages provide blank spaces for a learner to complete with guidance from an adult. On those two printable pages, open the area titled “Completed example” to view each filled-in version.

Which graphic organizer works for retelling a story?

A story map, a beginning-middle-end page, or a sequence-of-events organizer can each support a retell in a different way. The story map includes characters, setting, a central problem, and a story arc. Beginning-middle-end focuses on three stages, while the sequence page places events in order. An adult can read aloud and model how to add one story detail at a time.

How do I teach graphic organizers to kindergarten, first grade, and second grade students?

Model the page on a board or large sheet and explain your thinking aloud. Invite children to say an idea before they write or draw it, then work through one section at a time. For a story, sketch an event before adding words; for a comparison, name a shared trait together. Give children time to point, talk, and make a mark before expecting a sentence.

Explore another grade band

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