Bubble Map
Central topic with blank describing bubbles.
A Bubble Map places one topic in a central circle and surrounds it with smaller blank bubbles joined by short lines, each bubble holding a describing word, trait, or attribute. It is one of the eight Thinking Maps developed to train specific thinking skills — in this case, describing with adjectives and qualities. Students in grades 1 through 6 use it to build rich vocabulary around a subject before writing a descriptive paragraph, analysing a character, or exploring the properties of an object. Teachers appreciate how quickly the template makes abstract descriptions concrete and visible. Parents can print it at home to help young learners practise descriptive language around familiar objects or story characters.
Learning objectives
- Identify and record descriptive attributes of a topic or object
- Build adjective and descriptive vocabulary in context
- Prepare for descriptive or character-analysis writing
- Practise focused observation and detail-oriented thinking
- Distinguish a subject from its qualities in a visual format
- Support early literacy through labeling and sentence expansion
How to use this template
- Print the blank bubble map and write the topic or subject in the central circle.
- In each surrounding bubble, write one adjective, trait, or descriptive detail.
- Use additional bubbles by drawing new ones if more descriptions are needed.
- Review completed bubbles and rank or group similar descriptions together.
- Use the finished map as a word bank to write a descriptive paragraph or essay.
Classroom & home ideas
- After reading a picture book, have students fill a bubble map with words that describe the main character.
- Use it as a science observation tool: place an object like a leaf or rock in the centre and describe its physical properties in each bubble.
- Before a creative writing session, students build a bubble map about their setting or main character to generate descriptive language.
- In maths, place a shape in the centre and have students fill bubbles with its geometric properties.
- Whole-class activity: display a mystery object and fill a shared bubble map on the projector as students observe and volunteer descriptions.
Skills & curriculum links
Frequently asked questions
How many bubbles does this template include?
The printable has several surrounding bubbles pre-drawn around the central circle. Students can easily add more by drawing their own if the topic needs extra description.
What type of words should go in each bubble?
Descriptive words — adjectives, sensory details, traits, and qualities. Numbers and measurements also work when describing scientific observations.
Is a bubble map the same as a mind map?
No. A bubble map is specifically for describing one subject with adjectives. A mind map branches into subtopics and related ideas, which is a different thinking skill.
Can young students in grade 1 use this independently?
With teacher or parent guidance, yes. Young learners can draw pictures in the bubbles instead of writing words, and an adult can scribe the labels.
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