Begin class with a simple “would you rather” or “this or that” icebreaker. Invite participants to answer questions quickly by either raising hands or moving to sides of a room.

In making these decisions, we often quickly compare and contrast the two items. A dog and cat share some similarities: both are animals, have four legs, and are often family pets. Dogs and cats are different in a variety of ways. These differences likely helped in identifying a preference.

We compare and contrast things in everyday life. It can be as simple as talking about the similarities between shirts, or the differences in flavors of kinds of cereal, or the similarities and differences within pieces of literature.

• Dog or cat
• Hot weather or cold weather
• Chocolate or vanilla ice cream
• Scary movie or comedy movie
• Truck or sedan
• Markers or crayons
• Curtains or blinds
• Superman or Batman
• Salty/savory or sweet
• Big city or small town

The objective of the lesson is to use a graphic organizer to compare and contrast two related books, in this case, A Tree for Me and [a related book about trees].

Learners will compare and contrast A Tree for Me by Nancy Van Laan with a related work using a Venn diagram.

Prior to reading, encourage participants to think about "wh- questions." If possible, write the questions on a large writing surface:

• what is the book about?
• who are the characters involved in the story?
• and what do you notice about the book?

Read A Tree for Me by Nancy Van Laan aloud for those that have never read it before and use it as a refresher for those that have.

To compare something means to point out the similarities between two things. To contrast means to point out the differences between two things. Comparing and contrasting help us to understand concepts and relationships more deeply.

There are multiple skills involved in comparing and contrasting. To do so, one must generalize, categorize, sort, and evaluate information. Using a graphic organizer, such as a Venn diagram, presents ideas and relationships between concepts visually. Graphic organizers assist in categorizing and sorting information. When the information is presented visually, it becomes easier to evaluate.

Venn diagrams are named after British logician John Venn (1880). However, similar visual diagrams date back to the 1200s.

Prefix meanings:
com- “together” or “in common”
contra- “against” or “opposite”

generalize: draw general conclusions
categorize: put into categories
sort: arrange according to characteristic
evaluate: determine value or significance

Ask participants to recall the "wh- questions" offered before the reading:

As participants answer these questions, write down the responses on a large writing surface.

Next, read aloud a second book about trees. (See the Supplemental Book Suggestions for recommended titles.) Again, emphasize listening for key elements and answers to "wh- questions."

After reading the second book, give wait time for participants to think about the elements of the second book and potentially confer with a neighbor. Create another list of responses offered by the group as modeled by the previous activity. Provide suggestions or prompting questions if necessary.

These two lists provide details about each of the books. However, our task is to compare and contrast two related books. Transferring these to a Venn diagram will help us to clearly see what these two have in common (compare) and how they are different (contrast)

• what is the book about?
• who are the characters involved in the story?
• and what do you notice about the book?

Some examples for key elements to write about A Tree for Me:

• Main character is a child
• Child climbs trees
• Animals live in trees: owl, opossums, grasshopper, worms…
• Rhyming words
• Illustrations are made from paper
• Repetition of "Up I go to the tippy tiptop…"

Pass out the copies of the blank Venn diagram graphic organizer to each participant. Begin by instructing participants to label one of the circles A Tree for Me and the other circle with the title of the second book.

Model how to use a Venn diagram using the lists created by the group. Emphasize that when comparing, we look for similarities; this information is written in the middle where the circles cross over. Ask: "What do these books have in common?" List one or two appropriate answers in the center of the Venn diagram. Stop before completing the list.

To contrast, look for the differences. Use the two separate circles to list the contrasting elements of the books. Ask: "What does A Tree for Me have that the other book does not?" and "What is unique about [the second book]?" Take one item from each list and write it into each of the respective circles.

See sample Venn diagram for reference.

After modeling the use of a Venn diagram, move into individual practice. Invite participants to develop their graphic organizers using the lists created by the group. Circulate to monitor success.

Once participants have had time to work individually, ask them to turn to the person next to them and discuss what each person wrote in their graphic organizer. Invite participants to amend their organizers as needed. This sharing allows those less comfortable to get more ideas and reflect upon responses before moving into class discussion.

Transition into a group discussion. Ask participants to share what they have written on each side of the Venn diagram (contrast) and in the center (compare). The graphic organizer has arranged the information gathered from the “wh- questions” and lists, so that it can be easily evaluated. For a traditional writing assignment this could help to organize ideas for a five-paragraph compare and contrast essay. However, the benefit of graphic organizers is not limited to academics. Visually presenting information can simplify complex ideas. A Venn diagram can be beneficial in decision-making when evaluating two alternatives. For example, when buying a car, a Venn diagram could be used to compare and contrast vehicles. It can also be used to identify commonalities, to see where ideas or concepts overlap.

Through the use of a Venn diagram, participants have compared and contrasted two different pieces of literature. This involved identifying key elements of the texts, sorting the information, organizing it in a visual format, and finally evaluating the similarities and differences between the books.

Learners will compare and contrast A Tree for Me by Nancy Van Laan with a related work using a Venn diagram.

A graphic organizer is a great tool for visually communicating thoughts and ideas. A Venn diagram provides a structure for comparing and contrasting two items, in this case, pieces of literature.

Encourage participants to pay attention to ways in which they compare and contrast items in everyday life. E.g., comparing products at a grocery store, online shopping, travel routes, or restaurant choices.

Reflect on the activity:

How might you use a Venn diagram in the future?

How does seeing information organized visually impact your understanding?

How could a Venn diagram be used to decide a movie for a group of people? Where might their interests overlap?

How could it be used to decide upon places to live or products to purchase?