Part 2: Ideas - generating ideas - spider diagrams

Firstly, please let me apologise for the images on this blog!

I don't know how many times I've tried to upload them, but two of them just will not go the right way round. I've tried using different sizes and layouts, but they will not co-operate.

So, if anyone can help, please let me know. The same thing happened when I was uploading the images for the 'say hello' work. In the end I had to change the images to portrait format to get round the problem.


Anyway to get back to this exercise.


I found the spider diagram for 'seaside' by far the easiest. I suppose it's because it's an actual physical thing. Also we went on lots of seaside holidays when I was a child, so I have those memories, plus I live by the sea, and always have done, so it's something I know well.

All the other words I found quite difficult.

The next one was 'childhood'. I based some of this from personal memories, but obviously, I had to think more generally. Although my memories are of a safe and secure time, many children are not so lucky.

'Angry' is difficult because it's an emotion plus I'm not a particularly angry person. The idea of angry as inflamed came to me, but I had to resort to the dictionary for relating angry to the weather or the sea.

'Festival' was very difficult and I didn't do it justice at all. It would probably have been possible to fill several pages of associated words for even a handful of religious festivals. But I didn't think about that at the time!

Once I had done the spider diagrams, it was interesting to work alongside another person - for which thanks for taking the time to assist! Many of the words coincided with mine, but there were plenty of additional ones (marked in red) and extra ideas that evolved as we discussed them (shown with asterisks).

After reflecting on this exercise, I think the use of spider diagrams for ideas generation is effective. It takes ideas beyond first thoughts, and co-operation with one or possibly several others, takes them even further. It's good to have effective tools!