Compare and Contrast Unit & Nonfiction Review Bundle - With Informational Texts

This resource has everything you need to teach your students how to compare and contrast nonfiction texts - and how to write compare and contrast nonfiction essays! It includes no prep and low prep resources that make teaching this skill easier on you while keeping your students engaged and learning.

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This bundle includes the following 3 compare and contrast nonfiction resources:

1. Compare and Contrast Nonfiction

This resource makes it easy for you to teach comparing and contrasting in nonfiction texts / informational texts so that your students develop a thorough understanding. Students will have the opportunity to compare two topics in the same text, as well as to compare and contrast two texts on the same topic. Instead of simply practicing filling out a Venn Diagram, students will practice this skill in a variety of different ways.

This resource includes:

• 2 introductory compare and contrast activities
• 1 nonfiction reading passage comparing backpacking to camping with questions and a scaffolded Venn Diagram cut and paste activity
• 1 reading comprehension passage that comparing Tropical Rainforests to Temperate Rainforests with questions and a chart for students to fill in
• 1 informational text about our solar system's inner planets and outer planets, with a scavenger hunt activity to help students find similarities and differences between the two
• 2 nonfiction texts on hurricanes, each written from a different perspective, with comprehension questions and a Venn Diagram activity to help students compare and contrast the two texts
• 2 nonfiction texts on dachshunds with a snowball fight activity to help students compare and contrast two texts on the same topic
• a grading rubric and answer keys

2. Compare and Contrast Writing

This compare and contrast essay writing resource provides scaffolding so even your struggling students can successfully write a short paper comparing and contrasting a topic of their choice. Differentiated rough drafts and a teacher model make teaching this skill easy!

Most of this resource is geared towards helping your students walk through the entire writing process as they write a compare and contrast essay; however, there are a few activities for additional practice included to help your students practice writing paragraphs that compare and contrast two topics of their choice.

Include in this compare and contrast essay writing practice activity:

• a suggestion page to help students come up with topics for their essay
• a brainstorming page for students to compare and contrast topics of their choice
• 2 differentiated rough drafts, one that provides additional scaffolding (a compare and contrast template / outline)
• a revising and editing page
• a variety of final draft paper options
• a teacher model that compares and contrasts cats with dogs
• paragraph frames for additional practice with writing compare and contrast paragraphs
• two compare and contrast rubrics for assessment

You can also use this with 2nd grade, 3rd grade, or 4th grade students to practice comparing two texts. This resource is excellent to practice comparing and contrasting with ESL students or other struggling or low language students, as the scaffolding helps them be successful.

3. Compare and Contrast Nonfiction Task Cards

Help students compare and contrast using these 24 nonfiction task cards. Students practice comparing and contrasting key details within text, t-charts, tables, timelines, graphs, and pictures.

These task cards (which can also be used for compare and contrast Scoot) give students an opportunity to practice comparing and contrasting in different ways instead of only within text or using Venn Diagrams. The task cards cover a variety of topics, including comparing animals, fruit, habitats, natural disasters, landforms, shapes, and more.

This resource contains:

• 24 compare and contrast task cards with nonfiction text or nonfiction text features
• An answer sheet that requires students to use evidence from the text in their answer
• An answer key and a grading rubric

These task cards make a great comparing and contrasting center or review for a state test. They are best used with 2nd grade, 3rd grade, or 4th grade students (upper elementary) ELA lessons.

The preview shows everything that is included with the resource, which is ideal for 3rd grade, 4th grade, or 5th grade (upper elementary) students. Depending on your students' abilities, you can use these activities as independent assignments, compare and contrast homework, small group activities, whole group comparing and contrasting lessons, or for assessment.

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