CCSS.RI.6.9 Worksheet: Compare & Contrast — Grade 6 Aligned

This worksheet provides targeted practice for CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.9, requiring students to compare and contrast key information from two different passages about coyotes. Using a classic Venn diagram, learners will analyze details about the animals' classification, diet, and habitat, strengthening their ability to synthesize information from multiple sources.

At a Glance

• Grade: 6 (adaptable for 5-7) · Subject: ELA, Reading Informational Text
• Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.9 — Compare and contrast one author's presentation of events with that of another.
• Skill Focus: Comparing & Contrasting Informational Texts
• Format: 1 page · 4 sorting tasks · Answer key included · PDF
• Best For: Guided practice, formative assessment, text analysis station
• Time: 20–25 minutes

What's Inside

This single-page resource features a clear Venn diagram labeled for comparing and contrasting. The worksheet includes four pre-written statement cards for students to cut and paste, which describe key attributes of coyotes. This hands-on, kinesthetic approach helps learners physically sort the information. A complete answer key is provided for quick and easy grading.

Evidence of Mastery

This activity directly assesses RI.6.9. While lacking a formal rubric, its focused task provides clear evidence of a student's ability to distinguish between shared and unique details from two texts. Successful completion shows they can identify similarities and differences. The visual output of the Venn diagram serves as direct evidence for standards-based gradebooks.

Standards Alignment

This worksheet is built around CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.9: "Compare and contrast one author's presentation of events with that of another." It also supports CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.1 by requiring students to use the passages to justify placements. Both standard codes can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or district curriculum mapping tools.

How to Use It

Use this worksheet after students have read two distinct passages about coyotes, either as a small-group activity or an individual formative assessment. For a formative tip, observe which category students fill first; hesitation with 'Compare' suggests difficulty synthesizing, while errors in 'Contrast' may point to misreading. The activity is designed to be completed in 20-25 minutes.

Who It's For

Designed for 6th-grade students, this resource can be adapted for 5th or 7th grade. To support struggling readers, pre-highlight key sentences in the source passages that correspond to each statement card. The worksheet pairs perfectly with a lesson on compare and contrast signal words.

This worksheet provides a practical application for comparing and contrasting informational texts, a skill central to CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.9. By having students physically sort facts from two passages, the activity operationalizes the analytical process of identifying similarities and differences in an author's presentation. According to Fisher & Frey (2014), such structured, text-dependent tasks are crucial for building the close reading skills necessary for college and career readiness. This approach moves beyond simple comprehension to the critical evaluation of how different sources handle the same topic, a key indicator of literacy proficiency. The focused nature of this single-page exercise provides a clear, documentable artifact of student mastery, suitable for progress monitoring and portfolio assessment.