Are you ready to begin using the Icons of Depth and Complexity in your classroom? Or, is it time to revamp your thinking frames and help students move beyond simply "listing" ideas? Use this workbook as a tool for students to draw, define, understand, and apply the icons to their thinking.
 
Check out the Contents of this Depth and Complexity Workbook:
✏️ Cover Page
✏️ Coloring Page - “Is There Pain in Your Brain?”
✏️ Icon Pages for all 11 Icons of Depth and Complexity
Each page includes the title of the icon, an image of the icon, a place for students to draw the symbol, and a box to define its meaning.
Then, there is a "This/Not This" section in the middle where teachers can describe how to best apply the icon. Detailed notes are included at the end of the file for teachers to use when modeling for the class.
Finally, each page has a "Questions to Ask" box with prompts that students can refer to when writing, discussing, or working on class projects. This section can help students utilize the icons of depth and complexity more frequently.
A small "Try It!" activity appears in the bottom right corner of each page to help students practice the skill.
 
Two Sizes of Workbooks Included:
Print the full pages and compile with coil binding or a staple.
Print the smaller pages to glue into a composition notebook (My students create the booklet, staple together, and then glue the last page down in their composition notebook. It works well if you glue inside the back cover).
 
Use this Depth and Complexity Workbook in so many ways!
✅ Print a packet and give to students when introducing the icons. I recommend teaching only one each day or one each week. Slowly incorporating the icons of depth and complexity can help students feel less overwhelmed at learning this new “language.”
✅ Encourage students to reference their workbooks throughout the year. They can highlight guiding questions or stems to use when reading, writing, and discussing topics in class.
 
Hear From Educators Like You!
⭐️ “I am creating an interactive notebook for depth and complexity for my students for next year. This resource is fabulous and just what I was looking for!”
⭐️ “Everything I needed to introduce depth and complexity to my kids. Thanks for this great resource.”
⭐️ “Great resource to introduce the Depth and Complexity Icons to my students.”
⭐️ “I teach in a self-contained 4th grade gifted and talented class. My students were introduced to the icons of depth and complexity in 3rd grade. I used this workbook to help them get away from simply listing ideas. We referred to the questions in the workbook throughout the year. It was an excellent resource to have as we went back to school so we could start the year off with high expectations of learning.”
 
Use the icons of depth and complexity to help your students dive deeper into learning and discussions!
 
Find Answers to Your Questions:
✋ How do you use these depth and complexity posters in your classroom?
I created these posters to hang like pennants in the front of my classroom. Each poster highlights the icon and term. You can print in color or use the black and white version to print on colored paper. I also gave students bookmarks to keep in their textbooks and taped a strip of the icons to the top of each desk. My fourth-grade students picked up on the purpose of each icon so quickly! Enjoy!
✋ How can I get started using the Icons of Depth and Complexity?
These thinking tools have completely changed how I plan lessons, facilitate discussions, and challenge my students. The first step is making the icons visible in your classroom! Use this resource to show students the icons. Consider introducing them at the beginning of the school year using an illustrated children’s book for read aloud. Hang the icons on the whiteboard and have students write ideas under each one about the book.