Comparing is a kind of thinking

When we compare, we think about how things are similar

When we compare, we think about how things are different

Let’s try to compare

The ocean A creek

What do we know about the ocean? Has water Has waves Is at the beach The water is salty Can’t see to the other side

What do we know about a creek? Has water Has a current Is not at the beach The water is fresh, not salty Can see from one side to the other

Let’s compare! Has water Has waves Is at the beach The water is salty Can’t see to the other side The Ocean

Let’s compare! Has water Has waves Is at the beach The water is salty Can’t see to the other side The OceanA Creek Has water Has a current Is not at the beach The water is fresh, not salty Can see from one side to the other

Let’s compare! Has water Has waves Is at the beach The water is salty Can’t see to the other side The OceanA Creek Has water Has a current Is not at the beach The water is fresh, not salty Can see from one side to the other This is a similarity. Both the ocean and a creek have water.

Let’s compare! Has water Has waves Is at the beach The water is salty Can’t see to the other side The OceanA Creek Has water Has a current Is not at the beach The water is fresh, not salty Can see from one side to the other These are differences. They show how the ocean and a creek are not the same.

We compared! We thought about how the ocean and a creek are similar. We thought about how they are different.

We compared! There are many more similarities and differences that we could find. Any ideas?

Comparing helps us to learn. When we think about how things are similar and different, we notice new features

Let’s compare these creatures

Green frogSalamander

We can create a chart to compare FrogSalamander Legs Color Tail Where it lives Skin

FrogSalamander Legs Color Tail Where it lives Skin This chart helps us to look at different features of the frog and the salamander We can create a chart to compare

Let’s start with the legs Green frogSalamander

Let’s start with the legs Green frogSalamander 4 legs

Let’s start with the legs Green frogSalamander 4 legs

Let’s fill in the chart! FrogSalamander Legs Color Tail Where it lives Skin

Let’s fill in the chart! FrogSalamander Legs44 Color Tail Where it lives Skin

Let’s fill in the chart! FrogSalamander Legs44 Color Tail Where it lives Skin We’ll look at color next

What color do you notice?

Brown with black spots, some green

What color do you notice? Brown with black spots, some green All black

Let’s fill in the chart! FrogSalamander Legs44 Color Brown with black spots, some green Tail Where it lives Skin

Let’s fill in the chart! FrogSalamander Legs44 Color Brown with black spots, some green All black Tail Where it lives Skin

Let’s fill in the chart! FrogSalamander Legs44 Color Brown with black spots, some green All black Tail Where it lives Skin What is our next step?

What do you notice about the tails?

No tail

What do you notice about the tails? No tailA long tail

Let’s fill in the chart! FrogSalamander Legs44 Color Brown with black spots, some green All black TailNo tail Where it lives Skin

Let’s fill in the chart! FrogSalamander Legs44 Color Brown with black spots, some green All black TailNo tailLong tail Where it lives Skin

Let’s fill in the chart! FrogSalamander Legs44 Color Brown with black spots, some green All black TailNo tailLong tail Where it lives Skin What should we think about next?

Where do these creatures live?

Ponds and creeks

Where do these creatures live? Ponds and creeks

Let’s fill in the chart! FrogSalamander Legs44 Color Brown with black spots, some green All black TailNo tailLong tail Where it lives Ponds and creeks Skin What should we look at next?

What do you notice about the skin of these creatures?

Smooth

What do you notice about the skin of these creatures? Smooth

Let’s fill in the chart! FrogSalamander Legs44 Color Brown with black spots, some green All black TailNo tailLong tail Where it lives Ponds and creeks Skin Smooth

Let’s fill in the chart! FrogSalamander Legs44 Color Brown with black spots, some green All black TailNo tailLong tail Where it lives Ponds and creeks Skin Smooth

What are the similarities? FrogSalamander Legs44 Color Brown with black spots, some green All black TailNo tailLong tail Where it lives Ponds and creeks Skin Smooth

What are the similarities? FrogSalamander Legs44 Color Brown with black spots, some green All black TailNo tailLong tail Where it lives Ponds and creeks Skin Smooth

What are the differences? FrogSalamander Legs44 Color Brown with black spots, some green All black TailNo tailLong tail Where it lives Ponds and creeks Skin Smooth

What can this chart teach us? FrogSalamander Legs44 Color Brown with black spots, some green All black TailNo tailLong tail Where it lives Ponds and creeks Skin Smooth

We could find even more similarities and differences FrogSalamander Legs44 Color Brown with black spots, some green All black TailNo tailLong tail Where it lives Ponds and creeks Skin Smooth

What have we learned? When we compare, we look for ______________ and ______________.

What have we learned? When we compare, we look for similarities and ______________.

What have we learned? When we compare, we look for similarities and differences.

What did we do with these pictures?

We looked at how the ocean and a creek are similar and different.

What did we do with this chart? FrogSalamander Legs Color Tail Where it lives Skin

What did we do with this chart? FrogSalamander Legs Color Tail Where it lives Skin We used it to compare a frog and a salamander

What else can you compare?

How can comparing help you as a learner?

By Emily Kissner