Unit Plan 27 (Grade PreK ELA): Synthesizing Across Two Texts (Same Topic)

Focus: What’s the same/different; one oral/written conclusion

Grade Level: PreK

Subject Area: English Language Arts (Informational Text • Early Research • 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 two texts on the same topic (e.g., two books about rain, two simple animal texts). They practice noticing what is the same and different, and they create one short conclusion said aloud and dictated/written with teacher support. Visuals, sorting, and repeated oral rehearsal make synthesizing accessible and joyful.

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…

1. Identify one same idea and one different idea across two simple texts on the same topic (RI.PK.9).
2. Gather/recall a key fact from each text using pictures and short text to answer a guiding question (W.PK.8).
3. Confirm understanding by asking/answering a clarifying question during discussions (SL.PK.2).
4. Produce one conclusion orally and with dictated words or picture labels that combine ideas from both texts (RI.PK.9; W.PK.8).
5. Use topic vocabulary (e.g., rain, wet, coat, habitat, grow) during shares (supports W.PK.8; SL.PK.2).

Standards Alignment — PreK

• RI.PK.9 With prompting and support, identify basic similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic.
• W.PK.8 With guidance and support, recall/gather information from experiences or provided sources to answer a question.
• SL.PK.2 Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally by asking/answering questions.

Success Criteria — student language

• “Both books say ___.” (RI.PK.9)
• “This book says ___, but the other says ___.” (RI.PK.9)
• “Our conclusion is ___.” (W.PK.8)
• “I asked ___ because I wanted to make sure.” (SL.PK.2)