Venn diagrams are graphic organizers that you can use to compare and contrast.  When you compare, you look at the differences between two or more items (things, people, ideas, etc).

Ideas for Use in the Classroom:

The Venn Diagram is easily adapted to any subject area.  The possibilities are endless.  Use a Venn Diagram whenever you want to show similarities and differences between two items.

Reading 

• characters in a book

• similar stories (adaptations of the same story, for example, The Egyptian Cinderella and Moss Gown)

• books by the same author

Writing 

• writing genre 

• pre-writing tool

Math

• polygons

• attribute blocks

• fact families

Science

• classifying animals and plants

• ecosystems

Social Studies

• cultures

• time periods

• historical events

• people

Online Resources:

VennDiagram.com  

The Graphic Organizer  

Ask ERIC  

Graphic Organizers

Resources and Literature:

Creating Success in the Classroom!  Visual Organizers & How to Use Them  by Patti Tarquin and Sharon Walker