How do I make a brace map?

Decide on the whole you want to break down, list its main parts, and split each part into subparts. Type them into the prompt box in left-to-right order, choose a style, and click Generate. Figviz draws the whole on the left, opens a large curly brace to the parts, and braces each part out to its subparts, ready to download as a PNG.

What is a brace map used for, and how is it different from a tree map?

A brace map is used to analyze the physical parts of a single whole, such as the parts of a plant or a computer. A tree map looks similar but classifies items into groups and categories instead of splitting one object into its physical pieces. Use a brace map when the question is "what is this made of?" and a tree map when the question is "how do these items sort into groups?"

Can I get a blank brace map template?

Yes. Ask Figviz for a blank brace map template and it will draw an empty box for the whole, a large curly brace opening to empty boxes for the parts, and smaller braces opening to empty boxes for subparts. Download the print-ready PNG so students can fill in the labels by hand during practice.

Is the brace map generator free?

Yes. Every Figviz account starts with free credits you can use right away, no credit card required. A pay-as-you-go credit pack removes the watermark and unlocks higher-resolution 4K export for large printing. Credits never expire.

Can I print a brace map for my classroom?

Yes. Figviz exports brace maps at up to 4K resolution, sharp enough for full-page handouts or wall posters. Download the PNG and print at home or school. For a wide bracket layout choose the 16:9 or 4:3 landscape aspect ratio so the whole, parts, and subparts all fit comfortably across the page.

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Brace Map Generator Brace Maps

Describe any whole object and get a clean, labeled brace map in seconds. The whole sits on the left, a large curly brace opens to its main parts, and each part braces out to its subparts. Free for teachers and students.

Last updated: 2026-06-24

✓Whole-to-parts brace structure✓Classic, colorful and minimal styles✓Blank template or filled example✓Print and slide ready

Brace Map Generator

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Brace Map Examples

Browse brace maps made with Figviz, or generate your own above

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Brace Map of a Plant

A whole-to-parts brace map breaking a plant into its main parts, with subparts braced out from the flower and leaves.

plantscienceparts of a whole

Brace Map of Human Body Systems

A brace map analyzing the human body as a whole, braced out into its major systems with example organs under each.

human bodybiologysystems

Brace Map of the Parts of a Book

A brace map showing the physical parts of a book, braced out into front matter, body, and back matter with subparts.

bookELAreading

Blank Brace Map Template

A blank, printable brace map template with empty label boxes for the whole, its parts, and subparts for students to fill in.

blanktemplateprintable

Brace Map of the Parts of a Computer

A brace map analyzing a computer as a whole, braced out into its main hardware parts with components as subparts.

computertechnologyparts of a whole

Simple Brace Map Example for Kids

An easy, kid-friendly brace map with large text breaking a familiar object into a few parts and subparts.

kidselementarysimple

What is a brace map?

A brace map is a whole-to-parts graphic organizer. You write a single whole object or concept on the left, draw a large curly brace that opens to its main parts, and then give each part its own brace that opens to its subparts. The result is a clean, branching bracket diagram that analyzes physical structure: how a whole is made up of its pieces. A brace map answers the question "what are the parts of this thing?" rather than showing a sequence of events or a chain of causes. Because the layout is so regular, a brace map generator is an ideal fit for AI: you describe the whole, its parts, and its subparts, and Figviz draws the brackets and labels for you, ready to print or drop into a lesson.

How to make a brace map

Pick the whole: a single physical object or concept you want to break down, such as a plant, a book, or a computer.

List its main parts: the major pieces the whole is made of, written as a short vertical column.

Break each part into subparts: the smaller pieces that make up each main part.

Type the whole, parts, and subparts into the prompt box, keeping the left-to-right whole-to-parts order.

Choose a style (Classic, Colorful, or Minimal) and an aspect ratio, then click Generate.

Review the brace map, refine the prompt to add or rename any branch, and download a high-resolution PNG.

When to use a brace map vs other organizers

Reach for a brace map when you want to analyze the physical structure of something: the parts and subparts that make up a whole. It is the right choice for breaking down an object, a body, a machine, or any concept that can be split into pieces. It is not the tool for showing a sequence, a timeline, or cause and effect, because a brace map says nothing about order or why things happen. A tree map looks similar but classifies items into groups and categories rather than splitting one whole into its physical parts. A bubble map describes a single topic with adjectives. A flow map shows steps in order. If your question is "what is this made of?", a brace map is the cleanest way to show it.

Brace map examples across subjects

Science: break a plant into roots, stem, leaves, and flower, then brace the flower out to petals and pollen.

Biology: analyze the human body as a whole made of circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and skeletal systems.

ELA: show the physical parts of a book, from the title page and table of contents to the chapters, glossary, and index.

Technology: take apart a computer into monitor, tower, keyboard, and mouse, with components like CPU and RAM under the tower.

Geography: break a continent into its regions and then list the countries that make up each region.

Using brace maps in the classroom

Model first: generate a filled brace map as an example, then hand out a blank template so students build their own from memory.

Pair with labeling: print a brace map next to a real diagram so students connect each labeled part to where it sits on the object.

Support writing: use the parts and subparts as a ready-made outline for a descriptive or explanatory paragraph about how something is built.

Scaffold for ELL students: add a small image or a native-language word beside each part label to reinforce vocabulary.

Print at 4K for crisp wall posters, or share the PNG to your learning platform so students can annotate it from home.

Frequently asked questions

A brace map is a whole-to-parts graphic organizer. The whole object goes on the left, a large curly brace opens to its main parts, and each part braces out to its subparts. It analyzes the physical structure of something, answering "what are the parts of this whole?" rather than showing a sequence or cause and effect.

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