Most students are visual learners and the use of graphic organizers will assist them in learning and organizing information.  Teachers should introduce each graphic organizer and model its use for students before expecting students to use them on their own.  Graphic organizers encourage students to make connections with the text by creating a visual structure.  Here are several graphic organizers that can help students summarize.

Chain of Events

Problem-Solution Chart

Story Pyramid

Websites on Graphic Organizers for Summarization:

Scholastic Graphic Organizers - PDF

http://teacher.scholastic.com/reading/bestpractices/vocabulary/pdf/sr_allgo.pdf

Reading Graphic Organizers and Printables
http://www.sanchezclass.com/reading-graphic-organizers.htm

Summary Frames - PDF

http://sddial.k12.sd.us/esa/doc/teachers/marzano/SummaryFrames.pdf

Graphic Organizers for Reading Comprehension - PDF

http://www.saskschools.ca/~qvss/curriculum/goread.pdf

Free Graphic Organizers

http://freeology.com/graphicorgs/index.php

Blank Graphic Organizers for Fiction Selections - PDF

http://www.cmsdnet.net/opd/ELAPacingCharts/Fourth%20Grade%20Graphic%20Organizers.pdf