Simple Ways to Teach Making Comparisons for Deeper Understanding

With every skill lesson, the first step is to model. Starting with two concrete objects that students can work with and observe helps get them talking and thinking. For example, you might use lemons and oranges. Students can look at them, touch them, and smell them, but if you cut into them, they might observe additional features that are alike or different.

Using analogy to talk about comparisons helps students think more deeply. We can connect this to the books we read, and especially how we consider the characters and plot. On the surface, we may observe similarities and difference about how the characters look, but upon deeper reflection, we may think about more (character traits, how characters respond/react, and the intricacies of the plot).

For comparisons, both stories take place in the winter and include re-purposing articles of clothing, and they both include animals, a Jan Brett trademark too. The characters, Nikki and Lisa, are also quite similar in how they respond to the events of the story. Finally, you might explore the settings of the books too.

The organizer to the right can be used to explore the story elements in both books. Students should include the differences on the hat and mitten organizers and the connections under “both books”.

The next group of texts I’d pair are versions of the same fairy tale. There are so many versions that you will have no trouble finding a collection to use. If you can’t find those I have listed on the organizer, you can always insert a text box over a title I chose and add what you can find. There were at least 20 versions of Cinderella and The Three Little Pigs.

The versions of Cinderella I selected feature four different cultures including Native American, Chinese, Mexican, and African American. You might do a jigsaw lesson where you have groups read and break down each book’s characters, setting, problem, solution, and other differences. You might also share them as mentor text lessons.

In addition to Cinderella, you can also find many versions of The Three Little Pigs. Here are the titles I like best:

• The Three Little Pigs by James Marshall
• Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Schwartz
• The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieska
• Susan Lowell’s The Three Javalinas 
• and
• The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas

Like the versions of Cinderella, you can have your students disect the book’s characters, setting, problem, solution, and other differences. You might also project these organizers on a smartboard and give your students sticky notes to record their ideas on and see what each of your groups observe.

Another great option is to compare books with the same character. My favorite author of all time is Patricia Polacco. Why? Well, she was a struggling reader when she was young, and her story is an inspiration to all who have a hard time, and she’s shared her reading journey through a collection of books that chronical her experiences with teachers that inspired her and helped her overcome her challenges. There are five books that share her story, Thank You Mr. Falker, Junkyard Wonders, The Art of Mrs. Chew, Mr. Wayne’s Masterpiece, and  An A from Mrs. Keller.

Final Thoughts…

So, as you can see, there are LOTS of options with comparing across texts. You are sure to have titles you enjoy pairing too.  In fact, as I’m closing this post, I thought of a few fiction and nonfiction texts I’ve paired.

• Owl Moon and Owls by Gail Gibbons
• Stellaluna and Bats by Gail Gibbons
• Verdi and National Geographic Snakes

There are many fictional books that include factual information about the animal characters. Making comparisons between fiction and nonfiction texts helps kids better understand the differences.