A Venn Diagram is a graphic organizer that compares/contrasts two or more things. When students compare and contrast, they observe the similarities and differences between things. The Venn Diagram shows how things are alike and how they are different. A Venn Diagram is made with two (or more) overlapping circles. Where the circles overlap, students write the characteristics that the things have in common. To the right and left of the overlapping area is where students list the differing characteristics of the things. The students could compare/contrast the characteristics of vertebrates and invertebrates and thus demonstrate their understanding of how these animals are alike and how they are different. Here is an example. The students could draw the Venn Diagrams in their English Language Arts or Science notebook or you could download one of the FREE Venn Diagram Worksheets from Learning Workroom's website. Click Here: www.LearningWorkroom.com Go to Free Worksheets Extension Activity (Combining Science and Language Arts) After completing the Venn Diagram, students can use the information in their Venn Diagrams to write an expository essay. An expository essay is written to inform readers about a specific subject. The essay should have 3 parts: a beginning, a middle, and an ending. Extension Activities (Combining Science and Art) Students could draw and label pictures of a vertebrate and an invertebrate. Students could create 2 posters. On one poster they could draw and label several vertebrates. Students could also get pictures online or from old magazines. Then could also list important characteristics about this group of animals on their poster. The other poster could be about invertebrates. ______________________________________________________________________
