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Lesson Title	Critical Thinking Using Compare and Contrast
Grade	K-2 3-5 6-8 9-12
Construct/Component	Higher Order Cognition
Subject Area	Language Arts
Objectives
Estimated Time Needed	45 minutes
Teacher Preparation	Compare/Contrast Outline Notebook paper Pens or pencils Two readings involving subjects that may be compared or contrasted
Materials
Lesson Procedure	1.The students read two separate paragraphs about animals who are clever hunters, the polar bear and the archer fish (see copyrighted materials). 2. Then using the compare and contrast outline, students find three likeness between the two animals. They then listed four diferences. 3. The differences are then put into categories such as size, species, habitat, etc. 4. They then decide on the most important likeness and chose two or three important differences. 5. Together the class writes an essay which is put on an overhead projector comparing and contrasting both animals. Follow-up: Have the students complete a similar activity in groups or independently.
Debrief (checking for understanding)
Extension/Going Further
Comments/Instructor's Note
Submitted By	Maureen Schmidt, Kathy Dorman, Susan Eisenberg, Andrea Martonffy
School	University of Chicago Laboratory School
Training Site	MI: PDP--Christian Learning Center, Wyoming
Other Training Site
Submitted By	Maureen Schmidt

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