The overarching goal of this review article is to discuss and provide evidence of ways that visual displays can be used to improve classroom thinking skills. Specifically, we attempt to first, provide a synthesis of the relationship among visual displays, visual literacy, and visual thinking. Second, we review the relatively scant educational interventions used to improve the use of visual displays. Third, we discuss five ways that visual displays improve the efficiency and depth of cognitive processes, thereby enhancing the use of thinking skills. Fourth, we review research which illustrates how visual displays improve classroom thinking and deeper learning. Fifth, using the most current research, we provide a template for integrated instruction intervention for using visual displays in the classroom. This template includes the use of complementary domain-general and domain or task-specific strategies and a 12-step computer-based tutorial sequence suitable for middle school and high school students.