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Entire Librarylesson-planThird GradeReading & WritingFinding Similarities and Differences

Lesson Plan

Finding Similarities and Differences

Good readers analyze texts by looking at similarities and differences. Use this lesson to teach your students to compare and contrast the story elements of two fiction texts.
Need extra help for EL students? Try the Focus on the Differences pre-lesson.
Grade
Third Grade
Subject
Reading & Writing
English Learner
English Learner Content
View aligned standards
RL.3.9
Need extra help for EL students? Try the Focus on the Differences pre-lesson.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to compare and contrast the story elements in two fiction texts.

The adjustment to the whole group lesson is a modification to differentiate for children who are English learners.
EL adjustments

Introduction

(3 minutes)
Venn Diagram Graphic OrganizerCompare Similar StoriesComparing Two Fiction Texts
  • Ask students to think about what it means to compare and contrast two things. Allow students to discuss and share answers.
  • Accept answers and clarify that when we compare and contrast, we look at what is the same and different about two things. Share that we do this in our everyday lives as we look at weather, people, food, cars, and situations. Explain that good readers do this as they read.
  • Read aloud the student objective with the class.

Beginning:

  • Allow students to use their home language (L1) or their new language (L2) when discussing what it means to compare and contrast two things.
  • Contrast two things that are familiar to ELs to model the academic language used in comparing and contrasting.

Intermediate: Ask a student to summarize the meaning of compare and contrast after the teacher provides an explanation.