Language Arts: A Mini Lesson for Comparison/Contrast

language arts

Overview

Comparison and Contrast is one of the 30 MicroLessons (mini lessons) available in the series, Language Arts Presenter.

Just connect your computer to a digital projector or SMART Board, select a student to operate the mouse and let Peter, the avatar, teach your kids a lesson on Comparison and Contrast.

This MicroLesson (like all of the others in the series) comes with a word search activity and a crossword puzzle based entirely on the presentation--the words found in the word search provide the word bank for the crossword puzzle.

Therefore, this presentation along with the time required to complete both puzzles will require 50-60 classroom minutes.

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MicroLesson 11 Details
Screenshots
PDF Puzzles
Noteworthy Notes
Free Download Details and Link
Full Download Details and Link 

MicroLesson 11 Details

MicroLesson 11
Comparison and Contrast
Presentation Time: 23-28 minutes
By the end of this MicroLesson, students will be able to...

• recognize that comparison and contrast are tools used by writers of all genres of literature.
• define comparison and contrast.
• explain why recognizing comparison and contrast enhances reading apprecation.
• list at least nine signal words that indicate similarities.
• list at least nine signal words that indicate differences.
• recognize that the presence of comparative adjectives indicates differences.
• correctly locate comparisons and contrasts when presented with 10 sample paragraphs.

Comparison and Contrast, Full Version comes with a word search, and a crossword puzzle.

I have thoroughly tested this MicroLesson with actual students in real-life, public, middle school classrooms--the vast majority of students became engaged, responsive, and productive (even the n'er-do-wells).

Screenshots

Both of the screenshots below are samples from the instruction portion of Comparison and Contrast.

These screenshots show how one of the questions and its associated answer appear in Comparison and Contrast:

PDF Puzzles

Here is the word search activity for Comparison and Contrast.

The words found in the activity above become the word bank for this crossword puzzle:

Noteworthy Notes

Like all of the MicroLessons in the Language Arts Presenter series, Comparison and Contrast includes...

• definitions and examples.
• direct instruction.
• a summary of the instruction.
• practice quizzes ranging from 5 to 15 questions.
• an on-screen answer key.
• a word search and crossword puzzle to extend the mini lesson.

Teachers report that during MicroLessons, they...

• appoint students to be mouse operators while they roam the classroom, keeping a wary eye on the knuckleheads.
• become dynamic partners with the avatars, giving additional examples of concepts, checking for comprehension, and reading questions and answer choices orally to the class.
• record scores, grade papers, or even work on lesson plans.

All of the titles in the Language Arts Presenter series are accessible with any of the major web browsers, including Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari.  As a result, these apps are compatible with all versions of both Windows and Mac.

Free Download Details and Link

Comparison and Contrast, Free Version is...

• complete in every regard.
• fully operational.
• available for an unlimited time trial.

The "Free Trial Version" stamps are a necessary annoyance.

When you consider the fact that I spent two and a half years of my life developing these MicroLessons, I would sincerely hope that you would agree that giving them away completely free of charge is not a plausible option.

Download: Comparison and Contrast, Free Version

Full Download Details and Link

Comparison and Contrast, Full Version...

• is exactly the same as the free version.
• is completely devoid of all "Free Trial Version" stamps.
• comes with a word search and a crossword puzzle.

Both versions of Comparison and Contrast are accessible with any of the major web browsers, including Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari.  As a result, these apps are compatible with all versions of both Windows and Mac.

Purchase: Comparison and Contrast, Full Version

NOW ON SALE: 50% OFF!

The Comprehension Bundle contains all seven Comprehension MicroLessons from the Language Arts Presenter series.

If purchased individually, the total cost for Comparison and Contrast along with its 6 companions would be $34.65. The bundle is now available for the much lower cost of $16.95--a savings of over 50%!

The titles in The Comprehension Bundle are as follows:

• Using Context Clues
• Identifying Cause and Effect
• Distinguishing Fact and Opinion
• Comparison and Contrast
• Recognizing Supporting Details
• Identifying the Main Idea
• Making Inferences

The Comprehension Bundle comes with a word search and a crossword puzzle for each MicroLesson.

MicroLesson 8: Comparison and Contrast, Full Version by Chad Manis is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

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