Strategy Reflection #1-Similarities & Differences

Identifying Similarities and Differences

What?
I decided to implement the Venn Diagram with my United States History class to teach them to identify similarities and differences in lessons we study. We have been studying the American Revolutionary war and are currently studying the War of 1812. My students have enjoyed these two lessons and really seemed to grasp a hold of each event. I wanted to determine how well my students have understood what I have taught them.

So What?
I printed off a Venn Diagram template from Edhelper.com. Edhelper.com has various graphic organizers and appealing templates to make using graphic organizers fun. I decided to stick with the traditional Venn Diagram template. I gave each student the Venn Diagram. I asked that above one circle they write American Revolution and above the other circle write War of 1812. I explained to them that for this assignment I wanted them to list all the details of each war and then in the middle where the circles meet they needed to write details that were similar. I gave them 10 minutes to work without notes or textbooks. I did allow them to work together if they needed some help. I walked among them to see how well they were able to work on the assignment. Each student had listed different details about each war. Some listed under the American Revolution included famous people such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, and many more. They had listed the date 1775-1783, Second Continental Congress, and the Treaty of Paris. Under the War of 1812 my students had listed the date 1812-1815, Treaty of Ghent, Star Spangled Banner, Andrew Jackson, and the burning of Washington D.C. by the British. In the middle circles they listed United States, British, American independence, causalities, weak nation of America going to war, French, and American Indians. I was amazed at how well they were able to take all the facts from these two wars and create a diagram of a higher level of thinking. Even though I allowed them to use their books after the 10 minutes, my students still understood the concept of similarities and differences.


Now What?
Since this activity went so well I am planning on utilizing higher level thinking activities that will enable my students to think beyond what I expect them to. I plan to use more graphic organizers and Venn diagrams to check for understanding after a lesson that I taught. I have discovered that there is more to checking for understanding than just using tests. If I can just conduct a quick similarities and differences activity I can determine if I need to reteach a lesson or if I can go on. My students seemed to enjoy this activity even though some of them, at first, had trouble grasping the concept or even the point of the activity.