Direct Instruction Lesson Plan Template

Name:
Central Focus/Big Idea of the Lesson:
Ashley Sorrentino
Compare and Contrast
th
Grade Level/Subject: 4 grade reading
Essential Standard/Common Core Objective:
RS.I.6
Compare and contrast a firsthand and secondhand account
Date taught:
3/17/15
of the same event or topic; describe the difference in focus
and the information provided.
Daily Lesson Objective:
Students will be able to compare and contrast the northern and southern sides of the war using a
venn diagram.
21st Century Skills: (Go to this link for more info
Academic Language Demand (Language
about these skills:
Function and Vocabulary):
Critical thinking and problem solving.
Prior Knowledge:
The students should have knowledge of the Civil War and what each side represents and why
they were fighting and how it ended.
Activity

1. Focus and Review

2. Statement of
Objective
for Student

3. Teacher Input

4. Guided Practice

Description of Activities and Setting

Ok class, remember when you choose a civil war leader and
you researched them on your computers? Well today we are
going to use the information that you came up with and using
a Venn diagram with a partner who has a different leader and
compare and contrast them. Do you know what a Venn
diagram is and what comparing and contrasting is? Right it is
when we find alike and unlike facts about two different
people.
You will need to find at least 3 things that are similar and 3
differences for each leader. And you must work with a partner
that has a different leader than you choose
Today I am going to teach you how to use a venn diagram
and how to compare and contrast 2 things.
First we are going to create a venn diagram together about
the civil war. Lets Compare and Contrast the North and the
South. I will read a short passage on the North and South
that has similarities and differences and then together we will
create a venn diagram of the similarities and differences on
the North and South.
Can anyone think of anything that is similar from the
passage that we read? Why is that similar? Where do we write
that on the Venn diagram? Good. Now can we come up with a
difference? What is that, how do you know that it is different?
Where do we write that?
Now that we have learned how to use the Venn diagram, get
with your partners and create your own Venn diagrams of the
civil war leaders you have chosen.

Time

5 mins

2 mins

10 mins

15 mins

5. Independent
Practice

6. Assessment
Methods of
all
objectives/skills:
7. Closure

I will have many documents that the students can read and
look at in paper form and a website that they can use on their
computers to research more on if they need to.
I will walk around and make sure that the students are on task
and understanding what they are doing and helping anyone
who needs extra help.
When the students are finished I will let a couple groups share
with the class what they came up with. They will have to
explain how they knew it was different or similar, who they
compared, and if they learned anything new or were surprised
by anything that was similar or different among the two
leaders.
Independently I will give the students a worksheet that has a
union soldier and a confederate soldier and they will have to
compare the two types of soldiers from the civil war. The
students will have two different columns on the sheet and
15 mins
they will have to list the differences and what is the same
about them. As the students are working I will walk around
and help those who need extra help.
I will have the students write a short paragraph about how to compare
and contrast and what they have learned about comparing and what it
means to compare.
They will have to write about 3 things that they have learned about
comparing and contrasting.
I will ask the students what they have learned today. Was this
assignment easy or hard? Did you enjoy it? Did you learn
5 mins
anything different or interesting?
All but about 5 of the students were able to compare and contrast the
different sides of the war using a venn diagram.

8. Assessment
Results of
all
objectives/skills:
Targeted Students
Modifications/Accommodations:
Students who are ELL or struggling I will pair
them with students who can help and teach
them about the assignment.
Materials/Technology:

Student/Small Group
Modifications/Accommodations:
For students who need extra help I will pull them
into a small group and work with them separately.

Laptops, worksheet on union and confederate soldiers, worksheet with venn diagram.
References: pinterest.

Reflection on lesson: (Write several paragraphs about what you learned from this lesson. What
were the strengths? What were the weaknesses? What did you learn about teaching and student
learning? How would you teach this lesson differently in the future?