The Alamo
Lorenzo de Zavala and José Antonio Navarro: Their Contributions to the Independence of Texas
Lorenzo de Zavala and José Antonio Navarro were both native Mexicans and leaders of the Texas Revolution, but with different backgrounds and careers. Compare and contrast the two influential men with a research assignment in which...
Curriculum Corner
Coniferous and Deciduous Trees
What are the differences between coniferous and deciduous trees? Supplement your tree lessons with a set of activities that has learners describing, naming, comparing, and reading about deciduous and coniferous trees. The activities are...
Radford University
REALLY Tall!
Conduct indirect measurements three ways. Working in groups, pupils come up with different ways to measure three tall objects indirectly. The teacher provides measurement information requested by the teams, and learners then calculate...
Radford University
Choosing the Best Cylinders
Don't be fooled: the taller glass doesn't always hold the most. Given the dimensions of different cylindrical containers for beverages and popcorn, pupils calculate the volumes. They see how changing the dimensions affects the volume and...
Curated OER
Comparing African, American, and European Folktales
Students find compare an African, Native American, and European folktale. In this folktale lesson plan, students listen to three different folktales before finding the similarities and differences in them. They complete a worksheet of...
Curated OER
Bird Classification
For this bird classification worksheet, students are given a group of birds and then are to determine how they are similar or different from each other. Students read about 14 birds.
Curated OER
Comparing and Contrasting Literature Using Venn Diagrams
First graders create a venn diagram with two folktales. In this folktale lesson, 1st graders read Cinderella and Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe. They find the similarities and differences and chart these on a venn...
Curated OER
Dogs vs. Cats: Pet Ownership Essay
Students analyze patterns of organization used in writing to determine how and when comparisons and contrasts can be effectively utilized to identify similarities and differences or pros and cons.
Curated OER
Colors of Wildlife
Students observe wildlife animals. In this wildlife lesson, students cut out three different animals from a wildlife magazine. Then they compare the animals, verbally stating their similarities and differences.
Curated OER
A Planet Full of Animals
Students explore a variety of animals that live on our planet. The shapes, sizes, colors, movements, and coverings of the animals are observed. The similarities and differences in the animals are grouped according to common traits.
Curated OER
Probably Passage (Predicting)
Third graders practice predicting. In this prediction lesson, 3rd graders read a worksheet and they predict where 15 words will fit into the story. After they read the story, they discuss the similarities and differences between their...
Curated OER
Weddings Around the World
Students explore and become aware of the similarities and differences of weddings in China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. They assess a variety of tools to assist them including their parents, books on weddings, costumes and props. Given a...
Curated OER
Zome System
Get hundreds of interactive activity plans using the Zome Modeling System. Among dozens of lessons, a first exposure to similar triangles can be very visual for the learner. Here, young geometers explore the number of different shapes...
Curated OER
Hanukah Worksheet: Which One is Different?
In this Hanukkah activity, learners circle the picture that does not match the others. There are 3 sets of pictures in which students find the one that does not match the others.
Curated OER
Different People/Different Times
Learners read and compare two selections by two different authors with the theme man vs. nature. They complete a literary analysis paper comparing and contrasting the author's treatment of the topic with emphasis on setting, historical...
EngageNY
Prove the Pythagorean Theorem Using Similarity
Amaze your classes with the ability to find side lengths of triangles immediately — they'll all want to know your trick! Learners use the Pythagorean Theorem and special right triangle relationships to find missing side lengths.
Curated OER
Character Study
Third graders work in pairs to choose two characters and find their similarities and differences. In this character lesson, 3rd graders compare characters by their actions and attributes. Students individually complete a...
Improving Measurement and Geometry in Elementary Schools
Rep Tiles
In addition to the catchy title, this lesson plan provides upper graders an opportunity to more closely scrutinize the attributes of plane figures. In particular, they focus on the similarity of different shapes. Both whole-class and...
Curated OER
Comparing Cinderella and The Rough-Face Girl
Pupils examine similarities and differences between cultures. They'll see that literature, reading, and story telling is something all cultures have in common. They should construct Venn diagrams to help them compare and contrast the...
Curated OER
Bird Airport Control
Students visit a local wetland and record observations of waterfowl on downloadable worksheets. They compile class data and list similarities and differences among species of birds observed.
CK-12 Foundation
Sums of Integers with Different Signs: Board Game
Five questions challenge scholars to show what they know about integers. Using an interactive board game, learners move pieces to discover where a player landed, then answer problems involving both positive and negative integers.
Curated OER
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter: Venn Diagram
“When a person knows and can’t make the others understand, what does he do?” Why (s)he collects evidence and writes an essay! Prepare your readers for a compare/contrast or reflective essay on The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by giving them...
Curated OER
Disco Dances
Two line dances that are similar yet different. These two dances are performed to disco music, fast and upbeat. Do grapevines, heel-toe moves, and even tuck your arms up and flap them like chicken wings. These two dances are sure to get...
Curated OER
Comparing Investments
Money, money, money. A complete lesson that makes use of different representations of simple and compound interest, including written scenarios, tables, graphs, and equations to highlight similarities and differences between linear and...