Description
What our Compare/Contrast Themes, etc. – Same Author lesson plan includes
Lesson Objectives and Overview: Compare/Contrast Themes, etc. – Same Author teaches students how to identify themes and then compare and contrast them with the themes in other works by the same author. At the end of the lesson, students will be able to compare and contrast the themes, settings, and plots of stories written by the same author about the same or similar characters. This lesson is for students in 3rd grade.
Classroom Procedure
Every lesson plan provides you with a classroom procedure page that outlines a step-by-step guide to follow. You do not have to follow the guide exactly. The guide helps you organize the lesson and details when to hand out worksheets. It also lists information in the yellow box that you might find useful. You will find the lesson objectives, state standards, and number of class sessions the lesson should take to complete in this area. In addition, it describes the supplies you will need as well as what and how you need to prepare beforehand. To prepare for this lesson ahead of time, you can pair the students for the activity and copy the handouts.
Options for Lesson
Included with this lesson is an “Options for Lesson” section that lists a number of suggestions for activities to add to the lesson or substitutions for the ones already in the lesson. One optional addition to this lesson is to visit the library and direct students to a section that contains multiple books from the same author. You can then have students read the summaries and try to identify plot differences between the books. You can also assign different books by the same author to the students and have them compare and contrast the books in terms of plot, characters, and more. For another activity, you can invite an author to speak to your class to discuss the process of writing a series of books. Finally, you can hold a class discussion related to a series of movies or TV shows with similar plots or characters.
Teacher Notes
The teacher notes page includes a paragraph with additional guidelines and things to think about as you begin to plan your lesson. This page also includes lines that you can use to add your own notes as you’re preparing for this lesson.
COMPARE/CONTRAST THEMES, ETC. – SAME AUTHOR LESSON PLAN CONTENT PAGES
Compare and Contrast Stories
The Compare/Contrast Themes, etc. – Same Author lesson plan includes five content pages. The lesson begins by describing the Harry Potter book series. It mentions that the books in the series has a consistent main character, many of the same side characters, a similar setting, and similar goals in each book.
Lots of authors write books that have similar themes, settings, and plots. Sometimes, the characters will even be the same or have similar personality traits. Someone might write one book about a boy moving to a new town and another about a girl starting at a new school. The characters are different, but their scenarios and problems are similar, and their settings may be as well. However, they’ll also have some differences. Their friends, specific troubles, and families might be different. Authors will often have some overlapping themes, characters, settings, and more across all of their books or stories.
If you want to understand an author’s work better, you can compare and contrast their different stories. You will also understand each story better. Another benefit is that you can use these skills in your real life.
The lesson closes with two short stories by the same author. It asks students to read the stories and compare and contrast their themes, settings, plot, and characters. The lesson also includes a helpful worksheet that students can use to compare and contrast.
COMPARE/CONTRAST THEMES, ETC. – SAME AUTHOR LESSON PLAN WORKSHEETS
The Compare/Contrast Themes, etc. – Same Author lesson plan includes three worksheets: an activity worksheet, a practice worksheet, and a homework assignment. You can refer to the guide on the classroom procedure page to determine when to hand out each worksheet.
WRITE A STORY ACTIVITY WORKSHEET
Students will work with a partner to complete the activity worksheet. Each pair will work together to create a short story. Their stories must have two elements that are similar and two that are different. They will discuss their ideas together but will write their stories separately. Next, they will read both stories and complete a chart that compares the two stories, noting their similarities and differences; another pair of students will also do this.
Students can also work either alone or in groups to complete this activity.
AESOP’S FABLES PRACTICE WORKSHEET
The practice worksheet asks students to read through several scenarios and answer the questions about them. They will then use the Internet to find two or more of Aesop’s Fables and will complete a chart that asks about the similarities and differences between the stories.
COMPARE/CONTRAST THEMES, ETC. – SAME AUTHOR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
For the homework assignment, students will read two stories written by the same author and complete the chart, which asks how the stories and similar and different in terms of characters, setting, theme, and plot.
Worksheet Answer Keys
This lesson plan includes answer keys for the practice worksheet and the homework assignment. If you choose to administer the lesson pages to your students via PDF, you will need to save a new file that omits these pages. Otherwise, you can simply print out the applicable pages and keep these as reference for yourself when grading assignments.
