“The caged bird sings/with fearful trill/of the things unknown/but longed for still.” –Maya Angelou
A caged bird may be how many teachers feel when it comes to implementing the Common Core State Standards, but for today the image is the basis for showcasing some of our most powerful tools–the Compare and Contrast templates/accompanying lesson plans.
Comparing and contrasting is a key part of the CCSS. In fact, the phrase “compare and contrast” shows up in the standards no less than 31 times, spanning the subject spectrum from reading literature, producing clear writing, interpreting informational texts and studying history.
At Inspiration we take pride in providing tools that help students both read closely and write effectively, and our Compare/Contrast tools are among the clearest examples of this dual benefit. Black History Month is a perfect time to use these tools due to the wealth of African-American cultural contributions. Additionally, the templates help show students that it’s important to investigate the differences between black leaders in our history and not lump them together.
Take writers Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou, for example. Although they have much in common, they also have clear differences that deserve to be highlighted. Here’s what an Inspiration 9.1 “Compare and Contrast” template might look like when filled in with information about Morrison and Angelou:
By illustrating the commonalities and differences between the two writers, students can create a base of knowledge in the Diagram View and then switch to Outline View in order to facilitate their writing. Although this example template focuses on the authors themselves, it is easily modified to meet Standard RL 6.9, or “Compare and contrast texts in different forms or genres (e.g. stories and poems; historical novels and fantasy stories) in terms of their approaches to similar themes and topics.”
Toni Morrison writes, “Writing is a way of thinking–not just feeling but thinking about things that are disparate, unresolved, mysterious, problematic or just sweet.” We encourage you to use the compare and contrast template as well as the accompanying lesson plan (“Comparison Analysis” under English Language Arts) and help students develop their thinking!
Signing off from Inspiration HQ,
Stephanie H.
