Compare & Contrast

Our current genre study in Writers Workshop is Compare & Contrast. Students have been eagerly working through the same writing process as previous genres, only with these modifications:

Prewrite - matrix instead of a storyboard

Draft - 2 paragraphs instead of 3, utilizing topic and conclusion sentences

Edit - eliminate tag & quote (dialogue)

Revise - adjectives & verbs, and now learning to add similes!

Here are some of our first completed drafts for compare & contrast, courtesy of the writers in room 302! They will all tell you that there may have been a tear in my eye since I was SO incredibly proud as I listened to them sharing this morning. We have only been modeling how to write similes to enrich our writing for 3 days, and already students have implemented this without me even using it in the context of a draft! This truly is a special group of students!!!!!

HERE ARE OUR FIRST DRAFTS!!!!!

          Here are some ways that China and Flower are different. China is fat and Flowers is skinny. China nibbles while Flower Licks. China has cowlicks, and Flower has slick fur. China has a big nose, while Flower has a small nose. China weighs about 40 grams. Flower weighs about 30 grams. 

          Here are some of their personalities. China acts like a snail, while flower acts like a normal Guinea pig. They both like to cuddle. They are cute. They both like juicy lettuce. They are also both lazy.

By: Kaiden

          Here are some ways cheetahs and rabbits are alike and different. Cheetahs are fast and so are rabbits. Cheetahs have orange and black spots, while on the other hand rabbits are gray with white on their butt. The cheetahs live in Africa. Rabbits live all over the world. Cheetahs live in groups. Also, rabbits live in groups too. 

          Cheetahs stalk their prey. Rabbits steal your food out of your garden. Cheetahs play with their babies, and rabbits do too. Cheetahs run for entertainment. Rabbits hand out Easter eggs on Easter. Cheetahs teach their babies to survive. Rabbits teach their babies to steal. Chetahs run, and rabbits like to hop all over. 

By: Caedon

          Here are some ways boys and girls are alike. Boys are pretty funny, and so are girls. Girls are really good, and boys are also good. Boys are sometimes happy, on the other hand girls are like that too. We are both children because we have moms and dads. Both of us argue because we have fights with our friends.

          Here are some ways we are different. Boys have short hair and girls have very long hair. Girls are amazingly clean, on the other hand boys are pretty gross. Boys are very strong and girls are kinda weak. Boys definitely talk a lot. Girls talk less than boys talk. There were some ways that we're different and the same.

By: Raegan

          Here are some ways Abby and Renata are alike. Both cool girls are really funny. Also, they both are really crazy. In addition both are really, really smart. Those were some ways Abby and Renata are alike. 

          Here are some ways Abby and Renata are different. Active Abby has ditry blonde hair, and Renata has dark brown hair. Also, Abby has 2 brothers and awesome Renata has 1 brother. In addition, Abby has blue eyes and Renata has brown eyes. 

By: Alexus

          Here are some ways a dog and a lion are the same. Dogs are quick and so are lions, and they are both hairy. They have big teeth like sharp pencils. They are good guards and fun to take care of. In addition, they can chew things. 

          Here are some ways a dog and a lion are different. A dog is fuzzy and a huge lion is hairy, and a dog is a little strong and the lion is very strong. A dog can be a rescue dog and the lion is an excellent hunter. The dog you can play with, and the lion you can ride on. That's how they're different and the same.

By: Justin

          Here are some ways that adults and kids are alike. First, both have a family to live with. Also, adults and kids have clothes to wear. Both people are good when it comes around to something important. Last, everyone likes to have an awesome time at a party. Those are some ways that adults and kids are alike.

          Here are some ways that adults and kids are different. First, adults are tall and of course kids are short. Also, adults have important jobs and kids like to play. A lot of adults like to be very serious and most kids like to be really crazy and loud. Those are some ways that adults and kids are different.

By: Haley

Little Red

Last week we began studying the comprehension skill of compare and contrast, or making text-to-text connections to explain how two stories are alike and different. As you can imagine, this is a very real skill that we unconsciously use every day. In fact, tomorrow in math we will be comparing and contrasting the attributes of solid shapes (how are a rectangular prism and a triangular prism alike and different, or how are a cylinder and a sphere alike and different)! LOVE when skills overlap into other subjects and "real life!" Anyway...last week the story in our reading book was Lon Po Po, which is the Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it!!! After reading Lon Po Po we read a few versions of Little Red Riding Hood to find similarities and differences. This version is my absolute favorite!!! Little Red lives on the prairie (how appropriate since we live right smack in the middle of one), and always wears her red hooded sweatshirt while out riding her bike. One very hot day she asks to bring her grandma muffins (Grandma gets very crabby when it's hot), and the rest I won't spoil!!! Let's just saw there are no woodcutters and the wolf doesn't die in this version...he gets put to work instead! At the very end of the story is the recipe for Grandma's super secret muffins, which all the kids begged me to copy for them. Since this weekend is supposed to be ridiculously cold, it might be a great Saturday activity while you're all stuck inside! I'll type the recipe below, just promise that if you make a batch that you'll send in one for me! :)

Grandma's Wheat Berry Muffins

Makes about 12.

2 eggs

1/2 cup melted butter or margarine

1 cup sugar

1/2 tsp almond extract

1 cup wheat flour

1 cup white flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups blueberries

1/2 cup sunflower seeds (Grandma's secret ingredient)

First turn on the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, butter, sugar, and almond extract. In another bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add that to the egg mixture and stir just until combined. Gently stir in the blueberries and the secret ingredient after making sure there are no wolves lurking about. Fill oiled muffin tins 3/4 full, and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes. These muffins taste best when shared.

1 more thing -------- cooking with your kids is one of the best ways for them to practice and master the skills of measuring and fractions, not to mention it's a TON of fun!!! If you haven't already discovered my Pinterest board, I have a zillion recipes pinned. Maybe you can also find something new and yummy to cook with your kids for dinner this weekend!!!