Unit Plan 20 (Grade PreK ELA): Compare Characters’ Adventures
PreK literature comparison unit: students explore two familiar stories to identify what’s the same and what’s different in characters’ adventures. Through retelling, sorting, and partner talk, they build comprehension, vocabulary, and early analytical thinking skills.
Focus: Same/different experiences across two stories
Grade Level: PreK
Subject Area: English Language Arts (Literature • Comparison • Oral Language)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 30–45 minutes per session (use two short blocks if needed)
I. Introduction
This week children compare the adventures and experiences of characters from two familiar stories. Through re-reading, retelling, and hands-on sorting with pictures, students learn to name what is the same and what is different about characters’ experiences and to talk with partners about their ideas.
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Identify and describe characters, settings, and major events from each story (RL.PK.3).
- Compare two stories by naming one thing the same and one thing different about the characters’ adventures (RL.PK.9).
- Participate in brief partner and small-group conversations, taking turns and staying on topic with adult support (SL.PK.1).
Standards Alignment — PreK
- RL.PK.9 With prompting and support, compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in familiar stories.
- RL.PK.3 With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
- SL.PK.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about prekindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
Success Criteria — student language
- “I can tell who is in the story and what happened.” (RL.PK.3)
- “I can say one thing the same and one thing different about the two stories.” (RL.PK.9)
- “I can talk with my partner and take turns.” (SL.PK.1)