Identifying Similarities and

Differences

Identifying Similarities and

Differences

Fiona Zhang, Irrey Zhang and Huguette Lewis

Fiona Zhang, Irrey Zhang and Huguette Lewis

This research based instructional strategy has proven to be one of the most effective ways to

enhance students’ understanding of and

ability to use

knowledge.

This research based instructional strategy has proven to be one of the most effective ways to

enhance students’ understanding of and

ability to use

knowledge.

Increasing student achievement by as

much as 45 %

Francis Bacon said “Knowledge is Power”. But true power is

APPLYING knowledge.

Highly - Effective FORMS

Teacher - Directed

Student - Directed

Graphic Organizer

Comparing Students are given the elements to compare.

Students select the characteristics on which items

are to be compared.Or, select both the items to

and the characteristics.

★t-charts★Venn diagrams

★comparison Matrix

Classifying Students are given the elements to classify.

Students are given the items to classify but must form the

categories themselves.Or, select both the items and

the characteristics

★Category table★bubble chart

Creating Metaphors

Teacher provides the first element of the metaphor and

the abstract relationship.

Presented with one element of a metaphor and asked to

identify the second element and describe the abstract

relationship.

★metaphor organizer★3-column chart (abstract

in middle)

Creating Analogies

Teacher might present students with one element

missing within the four parts of an analogy.

provide more elements. For example, provide the elements for the first pair of an analogy and ask students to generate

the second pair.

analogy organizer

The process of identifying similarities and differences between or among things or ideas.

The process of identifying similarities and differences between or among things or ideas.

Activity 1: ComparingActivity 1: Comparing

Use T-Chart to list key words that describe American Thanksgiving (1st column)

Use T-Chart to list key words that describe American Thanksgiving (1st column)

Moon FestivalMoon Festival

Use T-Chart to list key words that describe the Moon Festival (2nd column)

Use T-Chart to list key words that describe the Moon Festival (2nd column)

Use Venn Diagram to compare Thanksgiving to the Moon Festival Use Venn Diagram to compare Thanksgiving to the Moon Festival

Activity 2: ClassifyingActivity 2: Classifying

The process of grouping things that are alike into categories on the basis of their

characteristics.

The process of grouping things that are alike into categories on the basis of their

characteristics.

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/wordfamily/http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/wordfamily/

Activity 3: Creating

Metaphors

Activity 3: Creating

Metaphors

The process of identifying a general or basic pattern in a specific topic and then finding another topic that appears to be quite different but has the same general pattern.

The process of identifying a general or basic pattern in a specific topic and then finding another topic that appears to be quite different but has the same general pattern.

Activity 4: Creating Analogies

Activity 4: Creating Analogies

Process of identifying relationships between pairs of concepts - in other words, identifying relationships

between relationships.

Process of identifying relationships between pairs of concepts - in other words, identifying relationships

between relationships.

Analogies Jeopardy http://www.quia.com/cb/148767.htmlAnalogy word of the day http://www.factmonster.com/analogieshttp://vocabulary.co.il/blog/learning_vocabulary/building-vocabulary-with-analogy-games/

Analogies Jeopardy http://www.quia.com/cb/148767.htmlAnalogy word of the day http://www.factmonster.com/analogieshttp://vocabulary.co.il/blog/learning_vocabulary/building-vocabulary-with-analogy-games/