The Venn Diagram is a graphic organizer that enables students to record similarities and differences between two topics. Introduced by logician and philosopher John Venn in the late 19th century, the diagram consists of two overlapping circles. Students write details that tell how the subjects are different in the outer circles while details on how the subjects are alike are written in the middle where the two circles intersect. This tool can be used with any subject and provides students with a visual way of comparing and contrasting concepts.
Second grade students created Venn's using Kidspiration. Working with partners, each student was given an information sheet on countries in Africa. Students were asked to record at least three facts in each section of the Venn.
