Compare Notes, Keep the Difference

Worked classroom example

History

Worked example

One speaker foregrounds food prices; another stresses restrictions on assembly. Both may be accurate accounts of different contributing factors.

Teaching sequence

1. Prepare two accounts that emphasise different causes of a protest. Introduce compare notes, keep the difference with one clear success criterion: compare partner notes, retain differences in emphasis and return to the audio before deciding whether the accounts conflict.
2. Model one short example from two short spoken accounts. Think aloud about the language choice and the subject evidence; invite learners to test the example with a partner.
3. Learners apply the move to a new piece of History content. Use the prompt “Do these notes contradict each other, or focus on different causes?” to check whether their language matches their evidence.
4. Collect one independent response. Check that learners preserve both points and cite the spoken clue for each. Record one next step and adjust the scaffold to what this response shows.

Try it tomorrow

Compare partner notes, retain differences in emphasis and return to the audio before deciding whether the accounts conflict.

Independent check

Check that learners preserve both points and cite the spoken clue for each.

Scaffold built into this activity: Some scaffold

Provide a two-column organiser for speaker A and B, plus a replay of the key segment.

Teacher language

Ask learners to point to the evidence, wording or feature behind their answer. Give thinking time before inviting a revision.

Adjust the support

More support

Provide a two-column organiser for speaker A and B, plus a replay of the key segment.

Greater independence

Ask learners to infer each speaker’s purpose and separate emphasis from evidence.

Use the response to choose the next step; the scaffold label describes this activity design, not the learner.