Compare & Contrast: General Comprehension Worksheets is a flexible and engaging resource that supports students in developing the comprehension strategy of comparing and contrasting. Designed for use with any fiction or non-fiction text, these worksheets guide students to analyse and record similarities and differences between characters, settings, events or entire texts, deepening their understanding and encouraging higher-order thinking.

Using clear and adaptable graphic organisers, students can visually map out the relationships between key elements. They may choose between a traditional Venn diagram or a similarities and differences table, depending on their learning style or task focus. These tools promote structured thinking and are especially helpful when exploring paired texts, comparing themes or examining character traits across different stories.

The templates are offered in blank, 12mm and 9mm lined versions to suit a range of year levels and writing abilities. Editable versions allow for full customisation, enabling you to modify headings and prompts to suit a specific task or text. Whether used in guided reading sessions, during independent reading tasks or as part of a text response unit, this resource supports a broad range of curriculum needs and comprehension goals.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Identify and compare key elements of texts such as characters, events and settings
• ✅ Recognise similarities and differences using structured visual tools
• ✅ Use language of comparison to express understanding
• ✅ Deepen comprehension by analysing relationships within and between texts
• ✅ Develop higher-order thinking skills through comparison-based reflection

What’s Included:

• Venn diagram templates for comparing and contrasting key text elements
• Similarities and differences table for structured analysis
• Editable templates for customisation across subjects or text types
• Three format options for each template:
• Blank
• 12mm lines
• 9mm lines

Materials Needed:

• Printed worksheets (A4 for individuals, A3 for groups or class use)
• Pencils or pens
• Selected texts for comparison (can be fiction, non-fiction or a mix)
• Optional: highlighters for marking common and differing details

How to Use:

• Choose a pair of characters, settings, events or texts to compare
• Select the most suitable template (Venn diagram or comparison table)
• Guide students to identify shared and unique traits or facts
• Encourage use of comparison language such as “both,” “however,” “unlike,” and “similarly”
• Use completed worksheets as a springboard for written responses or discussion

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during a paired text unit to compare themes or characters
• 💡 Integrate into a text response lesson on narrative structure or setting
• 💡 Adapt for use in content areas such as science or history to compare topics
• 💡 Display completed diagrams as part of a comprehension strategy wall

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Model comparing two familiar characters or topics before independent work
• 💛 Encourage students to support comparisons with evidence from the text
• 💛 Provide word banks or sentence stems for students needing writing support
• 💛 Revisit and build on comparison strategies across the year to build fluency

Compare & Contrast: General Comprehension Worksheets provides a clear and effective framework for helping students think critically about what they read. With editable and differentiated options, this resource will support meaningful comprehension across a wide range of texts and learning goals.

This resource is part of our comprehensive Comprehension Strategies Workbook PACKAGE.