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"The ability to break a concept into its similar and dissimilar characteristics allows students to understand (and often solve) complex problems by analyzing them in a more simple way. Teachers can either directly present similarities and differences, accompanied by deep discussion and inquiry, or simply ask students to identify similarities and differences on their own. While teacher-directed activities focus on identifying specific items, student-directed activities encourage variation and broaden understanding, research shows. Research also notes that graphic forms are a good way to represent similarities and differences. 

Applications:

• Use Venn diagrams or charts to compare and classify items.
• Engage students in comparing, classifying, and creating metaphors and analogies."

(Source: Getting Acquainted with the Essential Nine by Laura Varlas. ASCD Curriculum Update. Winter 2002)

Research

• SUMMARY OF KEY RESEARCH FINDINGS

Examples: Venn Diagrams

• “Where do the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 belong on this Venn diagram?”

  

• Compare the characteristics of plant and animal cells
•  Compare the religion of the Aztec and Maya
• Compare the characters of Jezebel and Elijah
• Compare the food of early American pioneers and people today

Scaffolding: At first, fill out parts of the diagram for the students

 Example: Comparison Matrix

Scaffolding: As learning develops include student choice.

Resources

• The Private Eye is a resource for teaching students how to use metaphor, and compare and contrast, through the use of jeweler's loupes and focused questioning. http://www.the-private-eye.com
• The Sourcebook for Teaching Science provides an online guide for how to teach science through the use of analogies. http://www.csun.edu/~vceed002/ref/analogy/analogy.htm
• Teaching Science Concepts to Children: The Role of Analogies is a Web site dedicated to improving science education provided by the College of Education, University of Georgia. http://www.coe.uga.edu/edpsych/faculty/glynn/twa.html
• Resources from Instructional Services
• Apple's Learning Interchange© teaching metaphor using technology
• Apple's Learning Interchange© teaching classification using technology
• Templates/ideas that use Kidspiration©, Inspiration©, and MS Word©
• From ASCD: A sample chapter on comparing 
• From ASCD: A sample chapter on classification
• Fron Sadlier-Oxford: An activity that teaches analogy use