This document provides instructions for a reading lesson to teach students how to compare and contrast elements in texts. The lesson involves: 1) creating a Venn diagram and summary with the teacher using an example, 2) doing it as a class for another example, 3) having students work individually or in groups on another example, and 4) doing an individual assessment comparing elements from stories read in class. The goal is for students to learn the skill through these scaffolded examples and practices.

1. Reading MiniLesson – Compare and Contrast
This MiniLesson is designed to assist students in creating comparison/contrast statements. This
MiniLesson allows the students to:
1. follow me in the creation of a Venn Diagram and Summary statement
2. create a Venn Diagram and Summary Statement as a class
3. create a Venn Diagram and Summary Statement individually and them compare the
results with the rest of the class
4. apply the practiced skills and create a Venn Diagram and Summary Statement
independently for assessment.
Going through these steps allows the student to see how I do it, see how their classmates do it, do
it for themselves and check their results with other classmates and then demonstrate the skills
that they have acquired and do it for themselves.
Direct Instruction
I have the students to create a Venn Diagram on a piece of paper and hand out copies of a
reading passage. I will discuss the skill and the strategy of comparing and contrasting, focusing
on the example passage provided.
Step 1 – I show them an example of how to use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast two
stories. As a class we discuss two known fictional characters, the Tooth Fairy and the
Boogeyman, and create Venn diagrams for them.
We then develop a Summary Statement discussing the similarities and differences of the two.
Summary: Both imaginary characters sneak into children’s rooms at night but the Tooth Fairy is
generous and welcomed in to children’s rooms while on the other hand, the scary Boogeyman is
not.
Guided Practice
1. I will distribute copies of a reading passage and guide students through the process of
creating a Venn Diagram and Summary Statement.

2. 2. I will read the selection aloud choose two characters, two settings, or two events to compare
and contrast. Then, have students note similarities and differences about each of the subjects.
3. I then ask the students to label each circle of the Venn Diagram and then place the “similar”
details in the center of the diagram and the “different” details in the separate part of the
appropriate circle.
4. Next, I have students identify the types of details to be included in the Venn diagram (for
example, “appearance” or “personality
5. The last thing that we do is create a Summary Statement using 1 or 2 sentences detailing the
most important similarities or differences.
Step 2 – As a class we read a passage and select two elements from that passage to compare
and contrast. We will read “The Yolk’s on Me” and create Venn diagrams comparing the
characters, settings and events from the passage as well as a summary statement.
Summary statement: _______________________________________________________
Independent/Group Practice
Have students work in groups (or individually) to complete the same tasks using another
passage.
Step 3 – In groups (or individually), they read another passage and do the same thing; identify
characters, settings and events from the passage. Once we identify the elements we create a
Summary statement.
Summary statement: __________________________________________________________

3. Once they have completed the reading, Venn diagrams and summary statements we share and
compare the results.
Assessment
Students will independently complete a Venn Diagram and Summary Statement, comparing and
contrasting two short stories from our Short Story Unit.
Step 4 – Individually they apply this technique to stories that we have read in class and do
their own comparisons and contrasts.
Directions: Select two characters, settings or events to compare and contrast. Gather details
about each of the subjects, and label the two separate parts of the circles in the diagram below.
List details that fit one or both subjects in the appropriate parts of the diagram. After making
sure that you have listed the same types of details for both subjects, write a summarizing
sentence. (ie: If comparing characters, did you look at actions, words, appearance for each
subject?)
Summary statement:____________________________________________________________