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.
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Student Instructions
Students will compare, analyze, and synthesize the ideas in two different texts.
Prepare students by teaching important words such as drought, environment, donation, farmer, and salmon before starting the activity. This helps all learners better understand the texts and participate confidently in the comparison.
Demonstrate the process by completing one row of the T-Chart in front of your students while describing your thought process out loud. This shows students how to find similarities and differences and gives them a clear example to follow.
Encourage students to use direct quotes or specific details from each article when adding information to the chart. This strengthens their comparison skills and supports their answers with clear evidence.
Pair students or create small groups to share their T-Chart findings. Encourage them to discuss similarities and differences they noticed, which helps build critical thinking and collaboration skills.
Ask students to draw scenes or items for each T-Chart cell, such as a dry savanna or stranded salmon. Visual representations help solidify understanding and make learning more engaging.
Use a T-Chart or Venn Diagram to help students organize similarities and differences between the texts. Guide them to focus on key details, causes, and effects in each article, encouraging discussion about how drought impacts different communities.
A T-Chart is a graphic organizer with two columns for comparing two topics. Write each article's title at the top of each column. Students list related details from each text underneath, making it easy to see similarities and differences.
Kenya's drought led to dried grasslands, dying cattle, and a need for food aid. In Washington state, the drought affects farmers and salmon, and the government is seeking funds for water. The impacts and responses differ by location.
Encourage students to identify key themes in each text, compare them using a chart, and then discuss or write about what the texts have in common and how they differ. Ask guiding questions to connect their findings.
Suggest students draw scenes, characters, or items from each article to visually represent the information. Use dialogue bubbles or captions to show key details, helping make the comparison more engaging and memorable.