Being able to compare and contrast helps students build vocabulary skills. So, how do you teach similarities and differences in speech therapy? Let’s dive in! Here’s a step-by-step guide to teaching this important language skill.
Why Do We Teach Similarities and Differences?
We work on similarities and differences to help children build vocabulary skills.
Learning to compare and contrast also helps children:
- describe and organize their ideas
- build reasoning and critical thinking skills
- improve storytelling and conversational skills
- develop flexible thinking and make connections between ideas
- strengthen reading comprehension and learning across subjects
Foundational Skills for Similarities and Differences
We often use various types of information when we compare and contrast items. If the child has difficulty with any of these foundational skills below, you might want to focus on it.
Some important language skills for similarities and differences include:
- categories
- object functions
- actions
- word associations
- attributes (color, size, shape, texture, etc.)
- parts
- locations
- comparative language (e.g. bigger, taller, faster)
How To Teach Similarities and Differences in Speech Therapy
Step 1: Review the features we use to compare and contrast
As mentioned above, children need to understand the different types of information we use when we compare and contrast, such as categories, functions, actions, attributes, parts, and locations.
When first introducing similarities and differences, it can be helpful to review each feature one at a time. This can help students understand what kinds of information they can use when comparing items.
For example, when comparing two items, we can talk about:
- what group they’re in (category)
- what we use them for (function)
- what they look like (attributes)
- what they’re made of (material)
- what parts they have (parts)
- where we find them (location)
I like to use visuals when walking through these features. Depending on the child, I might use one that’s more detailed like the page on the left that I use to teach describing (see image below), or a more general one like the page on the right.
If a child has difficulty understanding or using one of these features, it may help to spend extra time teaching and practicing that skill before expecting them to use it independently when comparing and contrasting. See the image below for an example of review pages you might use for quick practice with a specific feature. In this image, these activities help practice same vs. different category and function.
Step 2: Start with simple similarities and differences
Next, you can practice with simple comparisons like naming one similarity and one difference with familiar items. You can use visual supports and sentence starters like in the visual in the section above to provide extra scaffolding for the student.
Step 3: Expand with more similarities and differences
Once they’re able to name a similarity and a difference, you can increase the difficulty gradually by asking them to name two similarities and two differences, then three. As the student gets more confident, you can also fade additional supports like the visuals and sentence starters so they can identify similarities and differences more independently.
Activities to Teach and Practice Similarities and Differences
Here are some of my favorite ways to teach and practice similarities and differences in speech therapy sessions.
Toys
Here are some great toys to target similarities and differences along with which types of comparisons work best for the type of toy:
Play food
- Categories: e.g., fruit vs. vegetable
- Attributes: color, size, shape, texture, taste, temperature
- Parts: e.g., stem, crust, etc.
- Location: e.g., found in the fridge vs. the freezer
Toy animals
- Categories: e.g., farm animal vs. zoo animal
- Actions: e.g., fly vs. swim
- Attributes: size, color, pattern, speed (fast/slow)
- Parts: e.g., tail vs. wings
- Location: e.g., ocean vs. jungle
Crafts
- Functions: e.g., cutting vs. coloring
- Attributes: size, color, shape
- Made of: e.g., plastic vs. paper
- Parts: e.g., handle vs. lid
Books
Books are an amazing way to practice similarities and differences in context. You can compare characters, objects, settings, or events while reading stories. For example:
- A bird and a plane: “both can fly but how are they different?”
- “How are these two characters the same? How are they different?”
Structured Activities
Structured activities like printable activity sheets can help children practice similarities and differences in a focused way. They’re great to use as mini-lessons to pre-teach a skill before practicing it in natural contexts like books and toy play.
If you’re looking for no-prep materials for teaching comparing and contrasting skills, I created a Similarities and Differences Activity Packet that includes visuals, review activities for each feature, and lots of activity pages to practice one, two, and three similarities and differences.
Adapting Activities for Older Students and Virtual Sessions
Older students
With older students, you can practice comparing and contrasting with more advanced vocabulary like Tier 2 words, emotions, academic concepts, or real-life situations to support vocabulary development, critical thinking, and expressive language skills.
Teletherapy
You can teach similarities and differences virtually with a variety of activities like games, online books, picture scenes, and digital worksheets. For example, see the image below for a fun activity to target this skill virtually, which is also included in the Activity Packet.
Carryover and Home Practice
Practicing similarities and differences outside of speech therapy helps the child apply what they’ve learned in other situations.
Caregivers and teachers can support this skill during daily routines by comparing items in their environment. This can happen naturally during activities like:
- cooking and cleaning
- getting dressed
- making crafts
- playing with toys
You can also use information handouts to provide caregivers and teachers with simple ideas for practicing similarities and differences outside the speech therapy room.
What’s Next After Similarities and Differences?
Once children have strong comparing and contrasting skills, they can continue developing related vocabulary and language processing skills, including:
- Synonyms, antonyms, and shades of meaning
- Multiple meaning words
- Context clues
- Prefixes and suffixes
A Step-by-Step Resource for Teaching Similarities and Differences
We’ve discussed how to teach similarities and differences in speech therapy step by step. Whether you’re a speech therapist, parent, or educator, teaching this skill can be simple and effective! If you’re looking for a structured way to teach and practice this skill, my Similarities and Differences Activity Packet includes leveled activities that keep children engaged while they’re learning and practicing.
The packet includes visuals as well as structured activity pages to practice comparing and contrasting items both with some support and independently. These activities are perfect as mini-lessons to introduce the skill or to use during therapy sessions for structured practice and alongside play-based activities to support vocabulary development.
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