Compare and Contrast Texts: Kenya's Long Dry Season

Kenya's Long Dry Season - Compare/Contrast

Activity Overview

In this activity, students will compare what they have read in "Kenya’s Long Dry Season" with the article, "Drought seen getting worse in Washington state this summer" (or similar) in a T-Chart. The T-Chart could have two columns, as in a traditional T-Chart and the example below, or use three columns for a Venn Diagram. These texts both discuss drought and the effects it can have on the environment and community, but for very different locations.

"Kenya’s Long Dry Season"

For the past three seasons, the rains have failed to come to Kenya.
Kenya's grasslands are dried out and cattle are dying.
The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) needs $230 million in donations.

"Drought seen getting worse in Washington state this summer"

Washington state is experiencing a drought. Farmers are being paid not to water their crops until the end of the summer.
Salmon may be stranded in shallow water or could be harmed by the warm temperatures.
The Department of Ecology is waiting for $18 million dollars to get water to help farmers.

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 4-5

Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Type of Activity: Compare and Contrast with T-Charts

Common Core Standards

[ELA-Literacy/RI/4/6] Compare and contrast a firsthand and secondhand account of the same event or topic; describe the differences in focus and the information provided.

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Template and Class Instructions

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T-Chart 3 Rows

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Rubric

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Compare and Contrast

Create a storyboard that finds the similarities and differences between two things.

	Proficient	Emerging	Beginning
Similarities	Student identifies and explains many of the similarities between the two.	Student identifies and explains some of the similarities between the two.	Student identifies and explains few of the similarities between the two.
Differences	Student identifies and explains many of the differences between the two.	Student identifies and explains some of the differences between the two.	Student identifies and explains few of the differences between the two.
Images	Images are clear and creative.	Most images are easy to understand, but at least two images do not fit.	Images are not easy to understand.
Spelling and Grammar	Student makes few errors.	Student makes two or three errors in spelling and grammar.	Student makes multiple errors in spelling and grammar.