Compare and Contrast is our latest unit. We are using Benchmark Universe in our school district and sometimes it’s hard to get practice with our emergent readers.

It can be an easy skill for students to TALK about, but we wanted to see if we could get them to write about it independently. We were strategic and explicit in our lessons and practice.

Compare and Contrast – We Do. Whole Group Lessons

I have said it before and I’ll say it again, if you haven’t done it together, don’t ask them to do it alone.

Make sure you take the time to SHOW them how to do it and HELP them do it, then they will do it.

Monday, the Venn or double bubble diagram was put under the document camera. The teacher discussed the Venn and students helped determine which objects were about the dog and the fish exclusively, and which items were about both.

Tuesday, students helped recreate the double bubble and interactively write one sentence about the dog.

Wednesday, students helped recreate the double bubble and interactively write one sentence about the fish.

Thursday, students helped recreate the double bubble and interactively write a sentence about both the dog and the fish. 

If you don’t have a document camera we had options of large cards used  with a pocket chart for 3-column sorting, hula hoops for double bubble sorting on the carpet, or a large poster on the easel.

Compare and Contrast – You Do. Part 1. Independent Practice

The next week, this becomes a center. To ensure students understand the process, the same double bubble is put in the center for students to create independently.

Students are asked to color and cut all items on the paper.

Students have the option of creating a 3-column sort or double bubble sort with the pictures.

The sheets can be differentiated so one set of students can write words under the unlabeled pictures, one set of students could write a first letter, and one set of students could simply sort.

Compare and Contrast – You Do. Part 2.

After students create the double bubble, they are asked to write 3 sentences: one about the dog, one about the fish, one about both. Students are encouraged to use the words on the double bubble as a model. Here are some actual kindergarten writings.

“The dog likes bon. The fish like fish food. both have a tail.”

“The dog can eat a boen. a fish can eat fish fod. that both are pet.”

“A dog Livs in a dog haus. A fish Lives in a tac. they both anmol.”

You Do. Part 3. Repeated Practice.

We have put this in the reading comprehension center for the next several weeks. The more practice students have with creating and writing about compare and contrast, the more the lesson will be meaningful.

If you would like a sample set, click Compare and Contrast Sample Set.

If you would like to purchase the full Compare and Contrast for Early Learner Set, click the link or the picture below.

I also have a Reading Comprehension BIG BUNDLE which includes the Compare and Contrast Set.