Compare and Contrast Anchor Chart – Set of 4

Recognise the signal words that mark a comparison and those that mark a contrast

Answer a comparison question in a full sentence using a supplied frame such as "___ and ___ are similar in that they ___"

Read a two-circle diagram, telling the shared middle from the two outer sides

Restate a comparison question in their own words, working from the five stems on the chart

Display the complete version first and keep the blanked version back; asking students to supply SIMILAR, ALIKE and DIFFERENT themselves turns the same chart into a check on the vocabulary

The sentence frames work as a scaffold for spoken answers as much as written ones — take one frame a day and have the class fill it about two things in the room

The worked example uses two children in the same class, so it transfers directly: swap in two of your own students, two characters or two books and the diagram still works

Shrink the charts to fit a reading notebook if you want each student to carry the clue words rather than looking up at a wall display

The clue word panels are the piece worth copying onto the board during a lesson, since students reach for them while writing rather than while listening

Recognising comparison signal words — students learn to spot like, both, same, also and have in common as markers of similarity, and but, yet, although, unlike and whereas as markers of difference.

Reading a two-circle diagram — the worked example puts brother against sister and basketball against soccer on the outsides, with room 39, the bus, a dog and pizza in the shared middle.

Answering with a sentence frame — six openings, from "Both ___ and ___" to "In comparing ___ and ___ we see that ___", give students a way into a full written answer.

Interpreting the question — five stems on the chart show the different ways a comparison question can be worded, including "How can you tell ___ and ___ apart?"