Learn to Compare and Contrast Graphic Organizer Activities

They will start by using their background knowledge and a picture to find basic similarities and differences between two familiar objects. This activity introduces the vocabulary compare and contrast. Graphic organizers are provided to help your students organize their ideas.

After learning to describe differences and similarities, move on to the story and picture cards. With these, your students will compare and contrast two objects by reading a short passage and finding information to add to their graphic organizers.

What is included in these Compare and Contrast Graphic Organizer Activities?

 • Compare and Contrast Story Cards

 • Full-Color Graphic Organizers

 • Blackline Graphic Organizers

 • Story Card Venn Diagrams

Compare and Contrast Story Cards

Each card includes a short descriptive passage and picture cards of the objects being compared in the text. Students look at the pictures, read the passage, and complete a graphic organizer to compare and contrast the objects. This activity integrates well into writing. Students can use their completed graphic organizers as planning sheets for a compare and contrast writing piece. Includes 8 story cards plus 16 picture cards.

Full-Color Graphic Organizers

These include Venn diagrams, bubble maps, and organizational tables. The first two organizers focus on just comparing and then just contrasting. This allows students to fully understand the concepts separately before putting them together. The rest of the organizers can be used with any two items of pieces of text. They work well for whole group or guided instruction. Includes 9 graphic organizers.

Black-line Graphic Organizers

Includes 2 black and white graphic organizers that can be copied for student use. These can be used with any story.

Story Card Venn-Diagrams

These are Venn diagrams that go with each story card. Each one includes pictures of the two objects being compared.

HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE THIS ACTIVITY:

For more advanced learners, you can increase the rigor by having them randomly pick two picture cards and then compare and contrast the objects using their own knowledge or by doing research. This can lead into a descriptive writing piece.

I like to use the color organizers to introduce and model how to compare and contrast. Then I put the story cards at a center with the student organizers so they can practice on their own.

The scaffolding this resource provides helps students of all levels succeed at comparing and contrasting

WHAT OTHER TEACHERS HAVE SAID:

❤️ “This truly helped my struggling students to understand compare and contrast from a written paragraph.” – Pamela

❤️ “I saw another speech therapist use these passages when teaching comparing and contrasting and I just had to have it too. I’ve used them with my 1st and 2nd grade language impaired students and they have been very helpful when teaching this skill. Thank you!” – Mitza