Support your students in sorting and organising their ideas with our versatile Top Down Topic Web Graphic Organiser Templates! This flexible set of templates is ideal for any subject or topic area, helping students visually group and categorise information using the top down topic web model. Whether brainstorming, planning or revising, these organisers support clarity and structure in thinking and writing.

Each web begins with a main idea or topic at the top, branching down into related subtopics and details. This clear visual layout encourages students to break down complex ideas into manageable parts, develop hierarchical thinking, and strengthen their ability to connect concepts. The resource is perfect for narrative and information planning, science topics, inquiry-based learning, and more.

Top Down Topic Web Graphic Organiser Templates come in three differentiated versions - blank boxes, 12mm lines and 9mm lines - making them suitable for a range of age groups and handwriting abilities. Editable text boxes allow you to customise headings, categories or subject-specific content, giving you flexibility to adapt the templates across learning areas and student needs.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Organise information logically using visual structure
• ✅ Identify key ideas and supporting details
• ✅ Use graphic organisers to support planning and idea development
• ✅ Strengthen categorising and hierarchical thinking skills
• ✅ Apply the top down topic web model across curriculum areas

What’s Included:

• Three versions of the top down topic web template
• Each version includes:
  • Blank boxes for drawing or early writing
  • 12mm lines for developing writers
  • 9mm lines for confident or older students
• Editable file format with customisable text boxes

Materials Needed:

• Printed templates (A4 for individual work, A3 for group work)
• Pencils, pens or markers
• Optional sticky notes or highlighters for interactive planning

How to Use:

1. Choose the version that suits your students’ writing level.
2. Introduce the top down topic web format using a modelled example.
3. Students write the main topic at the top, then break it into categories or subtopics below.
4. Use the lines or boxes to add specific details, facts or examples under each branch.
5. Review completed webs to support writing, discussion or further investigation.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during inquiry units to organise facts about a topic (e.g. animals, countries, habitats)
• 💡 Support narrative or information report planning in writing sessions
• 💡 Brainstorm ideas during group discussions or whole-class lessons
• 💡 Use as a revision tool to summarise knowledge from a topic before assessment
• 💡 Pair with digital research tasks to record and categorise online findings

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Print on A3 for group work or wall displays
• 💛 Provide sentence starters or word banks to support students during planning
• 💛 Encourage colour coding or symbols to distinguish different branches or ideas
• 💛 Save student webs as part of writing portfolios or research journals

Top Down Topic Web Graphic Organiser Templates are a simple yet powerful tool to help students organise and expand their thinking - supporting planning, comprehension and creativity across all curriculum areas.

Available in a fully editable format.