This article discusses the four forms of identifying similarities and differences: comparing, classifying, creating metaphors, and creating analogies and how these strategies can be used in an elementary classroom.

Watch a video that explains how to write a comparison/contrast essay. Print a document to accompany the video for more practice. Comparison/contrast essays help you learn really efficiently, because they present information in a way our brains like. When we see something new, we want to know how it's similar to something we already know about, and how it's different, too. Let's say that you need to buy a car. When you look at the different models, you'll compare what's similar and different between the models. When a cell phone manufacturer comes up with a new model, they tell you what great features the phone has that people have liked before (the similarities) and what fantastic new features it has that help it stand out (the differences).

This handout introduces you to four principles for visual design: contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity.

Students will use gumdrops and toothpicks to create the tallest Christmas tree. This is a fun and educational activity which encourages students to use math and engineering skills.

This article provides links to standards-based science and literacy lessons about weather, climate, polar climates, and climate change.

Students' eyes are opened to the value of creative, expressive and succinct visual presentation of data, findings and concepts. Student pairs design, redesign and perform simple experiments to test the differences in thermal conductivity (heat flow) through different media (foil and thin steel). Then students create visual diagrams of their findings that can be understood by anyone with little background on the subject, applying their newly learned art vocabulary and concepts to clearly communicate their results. The principles of visual design include contrast, alignment, repetition and proximity; the elements of visual design include an awareness of the use of lines, color, texture, shape, size, value and space. If students already have data available from other experiments, have them jump right into the diagram creation and critique portions of the activity.

In this activity, students will share their preferences based on likes and dislikes. Students will discuss their preferences on multiple different topics to include activities, food, clothing, items, etc, using complete sentences.

This article provides geography lessons to teach elementary students about the polar regions. Literacy extensions are included for each lesson.

This article provides a list of children's literature relating to the geography and characteristics of the Arctic and Antarctica.

In this activity, students will share their preferences based on likes and dislikes. Students will discuss their preferences on multiple different topics to include activities, food, clothing, items, etc, using complete sentences. 

In this activity, students will share their preferences based on likes and dislikes. Students will discuss their preferences on multiple different topics to include activities, food, clothing, items, etc, using complete sentences.

This lesson can be used to provide an example of the compare and contrast text structure.  It also give students the chance to compare and contrast using a venn diagram after reading an expository text. 

Students learn the value of writing and art in science and engineering. They acquire vocabulary that is appropriate for explaining visual art and learn about visual design principles (contrast, alignment, repetition and proximity) and elements (lines, color, texture, shape, size, value and space) that are helpful when making visual aids. A PowerPoint(TM) presentation heightens students' awareness of the connection between art and engineering in order to improve the presentation of results, findings, concepts, information and prototype designs. Students also learn about the science and engineering research funding process that relies on effective proposal presentations, as well as some thermal conductivity / heat flow basics including the real-world example of a heat sink which prepares them for the associated activity in which they focus on creating diagrams to communicate their own collected experimental data.