Curated OER
Comparing Sea Horses and Knights
Students investigate sea horses and knights. In this marine biology lesson, students read the book How to Hide an Octopus and discuss the purpose of camoflage. Students research knights and sea horses and record their research on...
Curated OER
Comparing/Contrasting Northern Life to Southern Life
Students compare and contrast the lives of African Americans who moved North vs. those who stayed in the South during the era of Jim Crow Laws.
Curated OER
Teach Text Structure for Nonfiction
Students explore the patterns of text structure to anticipate the kind of information that a reading might present. The lesson examines some of the components of reading writing and using nonfiction.
Curated OER
Frog Principal Lesson Plan
Learners read the fractured fairy tale, The Frog Principal by Stephanie Calmenson and compare it to the original version in order to gain deeper understanding of the fairy tale genre. In this fairy tale activity, students identify and...
Curated OER
Isolated Children and their Development
Students analyze a case study. In this child development lesson, students read case studies on children who are isolated and their development. Students break into groups, read the case study, and summarize their thoughts. Students then...
Curated OER
Paul Revere's Ride-Fact or Fiction?
Students discuss Paul Revere's ride. In this social studies lesson, students read Paul Revere's Ride and compare the differences between the poem and the historical event.
Curated OER
Reading About Children in Other Communities
Students read about children from other communities. They describe ways in which members of other communities meet one another's needs and design a Venn diagram that compares and contrasts their own way of living to another culture.
Curated OER
Comparing Chores - Past and Present
Students read "Sarah Norton's Day" and explore the responsibilities of colonial day children. As a group, students list the responsibilities they have at home. Using a Venn Diagram, they compare and contrast their chores and...
Santa Ana Unified School District
Lord of the Flies Unit
How does a society influence and shape individuals? Class members ponder this essential question as they read Lord of the Flies, as well as primary source materials about the historical background of the novel. As a...
Curated OER
Evaluating Eyewitness Reports
Students consider the advantages and disadvantages of eyewitness accounts as records of history. They research several accounts of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and then compare and contrast each version to arrive at a final picture.
Curated OER
Pop Tops
Get your class primed for a comparative analysis lesson plan with this activity. They compare and contrast their music preferences to those of their classmates. After reading an article, they identify current trends in popular music,...
National Geographic
Exploring Modern Human Migrations
Using maps, images, websites, and handouts, learners work to understand the nature of human migrations. They compare and contrast human migration from the past to the present, identify causes for migration, and trace migration routes on...
Curated OER
Introduction to Primary Sources
Students explore the usage of primary sources, what they are and how they originate. Artifacts are compared and contrasted as part of this historical inquiry as questions are formulated and conclusions drawn.
Curated OER
Heeding Advice
Compare and contrast various foreign perspectives on the George W. Bush administration's plans for military action. Middle schoolers read the article "Blair and Chirac Head to U.S. to Talks and a Show of Unity." Then, they analyze...
Curated OER
Character Education: Honesty
Middle schoolers define what honesty means. They will discuss omission as a form of telling lies. Furthermore, they will compare and contrast to other forms of lying. In the end, they give examples of different types of lies and evaluate...
Curated OER
Then and Now: Public Health from 1900 to Today
Throughout the 20th Century, the world has become a healthier place. By examining the public-health issues and diseases doctors faced during the 1900's, students will compare and contrast life from today vs. life in the 1900's. Their...
Curated OER
Twice Upon a Time: Multi-Cultural Cinderella
Engage your learners in a cross-cultural study by having them read, compare, and contrast various Cinderella stories from different cultures around the world. From this exercise, they will learn that plot element can seem...
MENSA Education & Research Foundation
It’s Greek to Me: Greek Mythology
It's no myth: this packet on Greek mythology is an excellent addition to your social studies curriculum. With writing activities, such as short answer responses and biopoems, and reading activities, which include creation stories and...
Curated OER
Exploration of 'pill bugs'
Fifth graders define words. They create a dichotomous key. After carefully examining pill bugs, 5th graders record observations. They compare and contrast habitats of pillbugs.
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Comparing Two Versions of The Mitten
Students listen to two versions of the story The Mitten and create a chart or a Venn Diagram to compare the two versions. In this literary comparison lesson, students create a chart or Venn Diagram and discuss the differences in...
Curated OER
There Was An Old Lady...
Students participate in various activities using the story There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. In this reading fluency instructional activity, students read the story and then practice comprehension, fluency, and writing. An...
Curated OER
Lesson Three: Go Free or Die
Fourth graders look for sensory details and figurative language. In this reading strategy lesson, 4th graders read the story Go Free or Die by J. Ferris and complete a chart with figurative language. They use a word wall in the...
Curated OER
Interpreting The Artist's Voice
Students view topical photographs to explore the concept of voice. They examine a series of photographs containing incomplete images. They draw conclusions about the images based on only the information provided. After viewing the...
Curated OER
Book Advertisements
Students engage in the practice of producing a report about favorite books. The show Reading Rainbow creates context for this activity. The making of an iMovie is done to present the book as an advertisement for the whole class.