Basic Skills Compare and Contrast, Grades 5 to 6: Using Comparisons and Contrasts to Build Comprehension

The activities in Compare and Contrast, Grades 5-6 are designed to improve students' reading comprehension skills and to give them the skills necessary for finding similarities and differences in text. With a variety of fun and instructional formats,teachers can provide an introduction, reinforcement, or independent practice for this cornerstone skill. Lessons are linked to other areas of the curriculum such as math, science, social studies, and language arts. Use these selections forindependent practice or whole-group instruction, Have students work with partners or teams to complete the more challenging activities. Another idea is to place the activity sheets in a center and reproduce the answer key for self-checking.