Compare and Contrast

Instructional Focus Area For Weeks 19-21

Compare and Contrast

The Benchmark:
The student recognizes the use of comparison and contrast in a text. LA.A.2.2.7

Important Vocabulary and Definitions

Compare: Finding how two or more things
are alike. Clue words that tell how things are alike; same, like, both, alike, still,

likewise, in the same ways, in comparisons, at the same time, in the same manner, and similar.

Contrast: Finding how things are different. Clue words that tell how things are different; but, unlike, different, however, on the other hand, but, yet, nevertheless, conversely, rather, on the contrary, nonetheless, and whereas.
People, places, objects, and events can all be compared and contrasted.

Comparing and contrasting text is one of the most challenging critical reading skills to acquire because it requires evaluating and synthesizing.

Graphic Organizers:
Venn Diagram Three column notes Character mapping Semantic Feature Analysis

Application of Strategy:
Compare and contrast two events, characters,

settings, or ideas in a selection Identify compare and contrast statements and clue words in a given text Write similes, metaphors, and analogies that compare and contrast two or more things Demonstrate the results of compare and contrast in a graphic organizer

Critical Thinking Questions:

How did the author help readers learn

new ideas by comparing and contrasting? What text-to-text, text-to-world, or textto-self connections can you make? What similes, metaphors, or analogies did the author use to make comparisons? What ideas did the author compare and contrast?

A Critical Thinking Skill, the Rationale:

Comparing and contrasting text is a critical thinking skill. Mastering the skill leads students toward proficiency in reading, writing, analyzing problems and making decisions.

Teaching Strategies
Using one of the books from the Literature Suggestions, plan and present a Think-Aloud, modeling how to apply the skills for comparing and contrasting. Teach the vocabulary that signals the compare and contrast by identifying these words in text.
Teach and model the use of graphic organizers while reading and writing.

Venn Diagram
What is it? A Venn diagram is an graphic organizer that allows students to create a visual map that contains two overlapping circles enabling them to organize their thinking as they compare and contrast information in text.

Thinking Maps
Thinking maps integrate thinking skills and
mapping techniques. Learning to use these strategies helps students develop good writing skills. These techniques also help students become better learners as they develop life-long skills that help them to study.

Double Bubble Thinking Maps

When comparing and contrasting we use double bubble maps. This is similar in concept to a Venn diagram. Two items being compared are written in the two center circles. Outside bubbles display items that share qualities with only one object-these are contrasting qualities. Center bubbles that connect to both circles show similarities between the two items being compared. http://www.thinkingmaps.com/httmexam.php3

Double Bubble Map

Special Points of Interest

FACT: 3rd grade: 40% of the FCAT questions use expository text 4th & 5th grade: 50% of the FCAT questions use expository text Key Questions: How are ___ and ___ alike? How are you like ___ (person)? How is your family like ___s (persons) family? What did ___ and ___ (person or animal) do that is alike? ( can compare 3) Think about ___ and ___ (people) in the story. How are they alike? How are they different?

Literature Suggestions:

Borreguita and the Coyote Solomon and the Rusty Nail The Girl who Loved Horses Lon Po Po Song and Dance Man Deep in the Forest Fish Is Fish

Extension Activities FCRR Just Read Florida Activity Binder:

Character Characteristics: Students describe a character by using a graphic organizer. Grade 2-3 (C.001) Compare-A-Character: Students will identify similarities and differences between characters. Grade 2-3(C.002) Word Analysis: Students will identify similarities and differences between the meaning of words Grade K-1(V.029) Semantic Feature Analysis: Students will identify similarities and differences between the meaning of words. Grade K-1 (V.032)