Dynamic Curriculum Project 2015
Topic & Grade Level: Compare and Contrast Two Texts, 3rd Grade, Day 4 of Sequence
Objective: I can compare and contrast two texts. (New passages today to assess concept)
Standard: Common Core Informational Text 3.9: Compare and contrast the most important points and key details presented in two
texts on the same topic.
TN SPI 301.4.2 Informational text: Complete a simple graphic (e.g., chart, web) organizing information from text or technological sources.
Materials:
-pieces of skittles and M&Ms for the students (optional student engagement opportunity)
-Introduction to Text Structure Video
-Computer: internet access, ActivInspire
-Accompanying FlipChart You may want to consider removing the attached Venn and having the students draw their own for strategy
ownership, which would be a closer reality to testing.
-Anchor Chart showing all of the Venn Diagram (idea for chart attached at end of document page 5).
-Class sets of copies of the: you do group work and exit ticket You may want to consider removing the attached Venn and having the students
draw their own for strategy ownership, which would be a closer reality to testing.
-Red and Green Crayons- for underlining the details that are the alike/different
Setting: Whole Group, Partners, Small Group
Lesson Plan by: Jessica Willings
Dynamic Curriculum Project 2015
Procedures:
1. Call the students to your instructional meeting place. (Mine is on a rug where the students are seated in partners that are paired
lower/higher).
2. TTW introduce the standard, agenda, and essential questions with the students (from Flipchart).
3. TTW introduce the hook. Tell the students that today you plan on teaching them the third step in how to compare and contrast two new
texts. Show them a few of your best ridiculous faces or poses to facilitate engagement and laughter in the classroom. Allow children to
turn and strike a pose for their neighbor. Let them turn and talk about what they saw that was the same and different (compare and
contrast).
4. Show the Compare and Contrast Text Structures Video. This is will spark their thinking and lay some background for where you want
them to go. (This video will facilitate vocabulary and lends itself easily to the bridge into informational texts.)
5. Show the Venn Diagram strategy anchor chart. (Lester Laminack would call this drug addict teaching.)
6. Review the lesson objective and tell the students that you are going compare and contrast two texts, but first you are going to compare
and contrast two popular candies! Show the skittles and M&Ms and focus on both comparing and contrasting them. Chart the ideas on
the parts of the Venn diagram. Tell them they need to listen up carefully so that they can compare effectively on their own by the end of
the lesson. Tell them that if they can by showing you mastery, you will let them finish comparing and contrasting the skittles and M&Ms
by taste!
7. Step into your model: Reference the objective once again and show the first modeling passage from the flipchart. Think Aloud:
Today, I am going to compare and contrast two new texts. I know I am going to use the question on my chart to help me
compare and contrast: What is the same about the two texts we read? What is different about the two texts I read? I’ll
hold that in my brain as I read. Just as good reading practice, I’ll look at my title, headings, and graphics before I read
and ask myself my question too. If the author didn’t want me to see it and think deeply about it, he wouldn’t have
included it in his writing. Think aloud through those comparisons and contrasts and then start reading. Since I’ve not
read these texts before, I’m going to be extra careful…. Ok, I just finished the first passage, let me summarize what I just
read...Then, read the second one, and summarize it. Now, I’m ready to compare and contrast them. I’ll ask myself each of
the questions again and find ONE similarity and difference. I’ll save the rest for you! First, the comparing question: I’ll
underline one detail that is the same in green and chart it in the middle of the Venn diagram. Things that are different go
on the outsides of my Venn diagram where the question is on my anchor chart. I’ll ask myself the difference question and
I’m going to underline ONE difference in my text red because red means stop and these texts stop agreeing together
here. The circles do not agree on the sides, so I will put my difference there under their title. Underline one detail in the
passage that help you come to that comparison in red and chart them on the sides of the Venn.
Lesson Plan by: Jessica Willings
Dynamic Curriculum Project 2015
8. Refer back to the lesson objective and continue adding to Venn. Have your students in those pre-partnered groups. Review the
questions. Use a fluency strategy to read the passages, choral reading, echo reading, etc. Give one student the job as the questioner
(This would be lower of my two students) and allow the questioner to ask the other student the comparing question. The student will
answer and the questioner will give academic feedback. TTW signal for the kid’s attention and have the student’s switch roles to the
contrasting question. Then, open the classroom for discussion and feedback. Finally, underline the details in green and red and chart
them on the Venn diagram.
9. Go over group work expectations. Preplan which students will have which roles based on professional opinion. Have the students follow
the modeled process to accomplish their goals using their red crayons and pencils. If they finish early, have them grab a non-fiction book
from your classroom library or reading anthology and continue to practice the desired goal. Circulate the classroom to provide guidance.
Consider pulling a small group of struggling learners (RTI students) in order to aid the instruction.
10. Call the students back to your meeting place and reflect and close over the lesson. Ask the students what went well or what was more
challenging in order to gauge understanding for the next day’s lesson. Review assignment and answer essential questions. Introduce the
next day’s lesson: I can compare and contrast two texts. (Same as today, but teach them to turn their Venn’s into paragraphs.)*Lesson
not included.
11. Give students individual exit tickets to assess mastery and plan the next day’s lesson. As they finish, you could pass out the skittles and
M&Ms to contrast tastes.
Questions:
Essential Questions: What does it mean to compare/contrast? Why do I need to compare/contrast when I read? How will
comparing/contrasting add to my point of view?
Varied Questions: Why should we compare/ contrast multiple texts? What one sentence could you use to describe the first text? How is it
similar/different to the ideas presented in the second? How does the author’s perspective compare/contrast to your own?
Signal Words for Compare and Contrast Type Questions:
alike/like, both, different/difference, same, similar, however, although, as well as, more/most, on the other hand
Differentiation: Modifications are imbedded throughout the lesson in order to better scaffold the learning. The I Do and We Do texts for this
lesson are on a 5th and 4th grade level to foster reading growth. This lesson is designed to teach to the top with the needed scaffolds to capsulate
every learner. If further modification is needed, one might provide it by pulling a small group and aiding the instruction for the lower (RTI type).
For the highest students, the teacher could have the students begin to write a comparing and contrasting text. Additionally, the teacher could
read aloud to students will the given IEPs and noted modifications.
Lesson Plan by: Jessica Willings
Dynamic Curriculum Project 2015
Assessment:
Informal: The teacher will make note of struggling students throughout the lesson and circulation time. Additionally, the teacher will note any
students who mentioned struggles during the reflection portion of the lesson.
Formal: The teacher will scan for the desired percentage of mastery in the group work and in the exit ticket and provide appropriate and timely
feedback and re-teaching.
Resources:
Hook from youtube.com: McGraw Hill Text Structures
Passages adapted from: www.readworks.org
Venn Diagram from www.mathaids.com
Just thought this was helpful:
http://schools.polk-fl.net/Inwood/documents/Literary%20Focus/Compare%20Contrast%20Reference%20Card%202%20%282%29.pdf
Lesson Plan by: Jessica Willings
Dynamic Curriculum Project 2015
The Venn Diagram
Lesson Plan by: Jessica Willings