[Detailed] Frayer Model Explained with Examples

The Frayer model is a graphic organizer that is widely used in the classroom. Therefore, if you are an educator and are trying to find new tools that will make your lesson engaging, this is a great option. With a Frayer model example, students will participate in a fun activity that has many benefits.

In this article, we will analyze what the Frayer model is and give you some examples of it. Keep reading.

What Is a Frayer Model

First of all, it is useful to understand what the Frayer model is. In essence, the Frayer model is a graphic organizer used in the class to help students strengthen their vocabulary. A Frayer model example consists of a graph, which the students are asked to fill. The teacher selects a particular word and kids need to write its definition, and its characteristics, as well as some examples and non-examples. In some cases, the Frayer model template might also have enough space so that children can draw a relevant picture.

When and Where to Use a Frayer Model

As you may realize, the Frayer model is a popular classroom activity. Teachers might ask students to form small groups or work on the Frayer model individually. Either way, each child received a blank Frayer model template that they needed to fill.

This practice has several benefits for students:

• Helps in vocabulary development – one of the main purposes of a Frayer model is to help children discover vocabulary words on a particular topic.
• Helps to understand complex and abstract concepts – a significant benefit that kids can get from the Frayer model template is that they dissect complex concepts that they might have not understood otherwise.
• Boost the students’ critical thinking – when trying to fill a Frayer model template, students need to use their critical thinking skills to find all the relevant examples and non-examples.
• Reviews what they were already taught in the class – with a Frayer model example, students can revise what they’ve already discussed in the class, thus better understanding the lesson.

How to Utilize a Frayer Model in Your Class

As you have seen, the Frayer model has multiple benefits for the kids. That’s why it would be an amazing tool to add to your class. The easiest way to incorporate it is to find a well-designed Frayer model template that you can print for your students. Then, every time you finish a lesson, you can review the new terms with a Frayer model example for each one of them. In addition to this, you can use the Frayer model as a group activity, where all students can participate by giving their own examples.

3 Frayer Model Examples to Inspire Your Teaching

Frayer Model Example – 01

The first Frayer model example that we are going to see is the one for the concept of stars. This is a Frayer model that you can ask your students to fill in the science class. In this case, the Frayer model template will be filled with these facts:

Term: Stars

Definition: a luminous celestial object made of hot gases.

Characteristics:

• They emit light and heat due to the energy generated by the nuclear reactions in their cores,
• They vary in size, color, temperature, and luminosity,
• They possess a magnetic field,
• They are orbiting around the center of the galaxy.

Examples:

• The Sun, in our own solar system,
• Betelgeuse, in the Orion constellation,
• Sirius, in the constellation of Canis Major.

Non-examples:

• Planets such as the Earth or Mars,
• Moons like the Earth’s moon,
• Artificial satellites that orbit Earth.

Frayer Model Example – 02

The following Frayer model example comes from the music class as it focuses on the concept of symphony. In this Frayer model, the students need to determine what this musical form is and what makes it different from other types of composition. Therefore, this Frayer model template needs to include these facts:

Term: Symphony

Definition: A musical composition for an orchestra, which typically includes four separate movements, with at least one of them being a sonata.

Characteristics:

• Composed for a full orchestra,
• Each symphony movement has its own tempo, key, and mood,
• They appeared in the classical period of European music, about 1740-1820.

Examples:

• Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125,
• Gustav Mahler – Symphony No. 2 in C Minor,
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550.

Non-examples:

• Solo piano pieces, like Chopin’s études,
• Chamber music pieces, such as Schubert’s string quartets,
• Pop songs that are played on the radio.

Frayer Model Example – 03

Our final Frayer model example deals with the concept of sustainability. In this case, you get to see how a Frayer model helps kids understand an abstract concept like this one. This Frayer model template will include these:  

Term: Sustainability

Definition: The ability to preserve natural resources so that we maintain ecological balance.

Characteristics:

• It includes renewable resources and eco-friendly practices,
• It promotes responsible consumption,
• Fights the effects of climate change.

Examples:

• Using solar energy or wind power as an alternative to fossil fuels,
• Adopting recycling to reduce waste,
• Conserving water through efficient usage and management.

Non-examples:

• Overexploitation of natural resources without replenishment,
• Overconsumption of products,
• Dependence on non-renewable energy sources,
• Pollution and contamination of land, water, and air.

Frayer Model Template & Tool

From the examples we’ve given you, it is easy to understand that you can create a Frayer model for any term that you might be teaching. Now, you can find a well-designed and effective Frayer model template in Boardmix. This online tool has designed a template that you can export and save in just a couple of clicks. This way, you can print it and hand it to your students in your class. Create your account on Boardmix for free and incorporate the Frayer model in your lesson today!