You will learn
- Compare two stories.
- Compare characters and settings.
- Compare messages.
- Use a Venn diagram.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Compare means to find how things are alike.
- Contrast means to find how they are different.
- Look at characters, setting, problem, solution and message.
- Use words like both and but.
Words to know
find how things are alike
find how things are different
what the author wants us to learn
a different telling of the same story
1. Discover: Two clever animals
In one story, a clever hen outwits a fox. In another, a clever rabbit outwits a hyena. Both stories are about a small animal who uses thinking to stay safe. In the first, the hen calls the dogs. In the second, the rabbit tricks the hyena into a hole. Both teach that thinking is stronger than strength.
Think: How are the stories alike and different?
2. Understand: Comparing literature
Idea 1: Alike
Both stories have a clever small animal and a hungry bigger animal. Both teach that thinking is stronger than strength.
Idea 2: Different
The characters differ (hen, fox vs rabbit, hyena). The solutions differ: calling dogs vs tricking into a hole.
Idea 3: Organise
Use a Venn diagram. Write alike things in the middle and different things on each side.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Alike
Name one thing alike.
- Both…
Answer: Both have a clever small animal.
Example 2 (We do it together): Different
Name one difference.
- But…
Answer: The hen calls dogs but the rabbit tricks the hyena.
Example 3 (You try): Message
What is the shared message?
Show the steps and answer
- What both teach.
Answer: Thinking is stronger than strength.
Did you know?
Many cultures have clever-animal stories, and they share similar messages.
Why this matters
Comparing helps you notice details and understand deeper meanings.
4. Explore: Venn the stories
Compare two stories.
- Read two stories.
- Draw a Venn diagram.
- Fill in alike and different.
- Share the message.
Think about it: what did you notice?
You can compare literary texts.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- Both stories have ___.
- In the first story ___.
- In the second story ___.
- The shared message is ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. What does compare mean?
find how alike
Question 2. Name one alike.
clever small animal
Question 3. Name one difference.
different animals
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- To find how things are alike is to ___.
- To find how they are different is to ___.
- What the author wants us to learn is the ___.
- A different telling is a ___.
- A Venn diagram has ___ circles.
Level 2: Grow
- Both stories have a clever ___ animal.
- In one, the hen calls the ___.
- The shared message is that thinking beats ___.
Level 3: Stretch
- Why compare?
- What do we compare?
- What shows alike?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: English in everyday life
Compare two stories you know with a family member.
Show a sample answer
alike and different
Another one. Draw and fill a Venn diagram for two stories.
Show a sample answer
a Venn diagram
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Also different.
Fix: Check each.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can compare two stories.
- I can compare characters and settings.
- I can compare messages.
- I can use a Venn diagram.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Compare alike and different.
- Look at characters, setting, problem, message.
- Use a Venn diagram.
- Use both and but.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Responding to literature. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What does compare mean? [1 mark]
- Name one alike and one different. [2 marks]
- What is the shared message? [1 mark]
- What is a Venn diagram for? [1 mark]
- Explain how to compare two stories. [3 marks]
Total: 8 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- find how things are alike [1]
- alike [1]; different [1]
- thinking is stronger than strength [1]
- to show alike and different [1]
- look at characters, setting, problem [1]; find alike and different [1]; compare the message [1]
Score guide: 7 to 8 = secure. 5 to 6 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 5 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- To find alike is to ___.
- To find different is to ___.
- What the author wants to teach is the ___.
- A Venn diagram has ___ circles.
- Word for alike: ___.
- True or false: compare finds alike.
- True or false: contrast finds alike.
- Name an alike.
- Name a difference.
- Compare two stories.
Homework
Compare two stories and tell a family member.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. To find alike is to ___. | compare | 1 |
| 2. To find different is to ___. | contrast | 1 |
| 3. What the author wants to teach is the ___. | message | 1 |
| 4. A Venn diagram has ___ circles. | two | 1 |
| 5. Word for alike: ___. | both | 1 |
| 6. True or false: compare finds alike. | true | 1 |
| 7. True or false: contrast finds alike. | false | 1 |
| 8. Name an alike. | clever small animal | 1 |
| 9. Name a difference. | different animals | 1 |
| 10. Compare two stories. | alike and different | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 compare; 2 contrast; 3 message; 4 version; 5 two. Level 2: 1 small; 2 dogs; 3 strength. Level 3: 1 notice details; 2 characters, setting, message; 3 both.
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Compare two stories | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Compare characters and settings | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Compare messages | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Use a Venn diagram | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Only alike. Also different.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Use a ready-made Venn diagram.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child compares stories. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Read two stories.
- Ask: How are they alike?
- Praise comparing.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: compare two stories; compare characters and settings; compare messages; use a Venn diagram.
Prerequisite knowledge. Dialogue in stories.
Materials. Chart paper or board, pencils, picture or word cards, a reading book if available. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Write the key words and examples on the board or on cards before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Read two stories.
Explanation (10 min). Teach comparing.
Guided activity (10 min). Practise.
Independent activity (10 min). Share.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. How are they alike? How are they different?
Teacher explanation notes. Move from the spoken word to pictures and then to print. Read aloud often, point to the words, and let learners hear and say before they read and write.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use pictures. Extension. Compare three stories.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Only alike. Also different.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 8-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Use a ready-made Venn diagram. Enrichment. Compare three stories. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (official site): Grade 2 » Reading: Literature. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core RL.2.9 (compare and contrast two or more versions of the same story by different authors or from different cultures); Cambridge Primary English Stage 2 (reading). These sources informed the lesson.