Comparison and Contrast engages students in delineating, differentiating, and distinguishing information. The four connected strategies for Comparison and Contrast are comparing, classifying, creating analogies, and creating metaphors.

When using Comparison and Contrast, the teacher will model how to analyze, qualify, and organize subtle and significant similarities or differences.

Students will identify similarities and/or differences between two or more items in order to understand how they are alike, equal, or analogous to each other.

Comparison and Contrast is not effective for comparing unlike, irrelevant, and dissimilar ideas or concepts. It is not about the artifacts alone, such as a Venn diagram or T chart. This strategy is especially effective when the learning requires analysis to examine subtle similarities and differences between relevant ideas or concepts and results in a deeper understanding of the people, places, things, or ideas being studied.

Teacher Behaviors for Promoting SEL Competencies

• Teach students how to build upon each other’s thoughts.
• Provide students with the appropriate language and actions for communicating how to agree and disagree. Model how to use the appropriate language and actions.

Student Behaviors for Developing SEL Competencies

• Recognize, understand, and empathize with others when using comparison, analogies, classification, and metaphors.
• Build or extend upon peers’ thoughts and ideas.