Venn Diagrams are tools used to describe and compare attributes and characteristics of items, to look at how they are alike and different. It is drawn with at least two intersecting circles.

GLE 0406.5.1 SPI 0406.5.1 0406.5.2

Parts of a two circle Venn Diagram

Differences between the two items.

Similarities between the two items.

Parts of a three circle Venn Diagram.

animals

Breathe air with lungs.

Reptiles

Skin covered with scales.

Do not have to live part of their life in water.

Protective covering of eggs.

Mammals

Have hair or fur

Warm blooded

Babies are born alive

Amphibians

Have to live part of life in water

No protective covering on eggs

Undergo metamorphosis into adults

Cold blooded

Vertebrates

Similarities between the three items.

Similarities between just two items (mammals, amphibians)

Differences

How to make a Venn Diagram

1. Using a compass, draw at least two circles which intersect.

2. Label each circle with the name of each item or category.

mammals reptiles

3. List all similarities in the intersecting section. List all differences in the sections which do not intersect.

Mammals Reptiles

Breathe air with lungs

Have hair or fur

Warm-blooded

Babies are born alive

Skin covered with scales

Born or hatched as miniature replicas of their parents

Protective covering on eggs

Activity Example

1. Gather information on topic. This topic is two different kinds of clouds.

Cumulus Clouds Cirrus Clouds

Made of water droplets

Color will tell what kind of cloud it is

Thin, wispy strands

Ice crystals formed from the water vapor

Found very high in the atmosphere

Form when warm air rises and condenses

Vertical development

Clearly defined edges

Found low in the atmosphere

Clouds

If you have more than two items, you must use more circles. The very middle section will be for similarities for all items. The intersection of the other circles will be for similarities between just those items. This is an example of a three circle Venn Diagram for clouds.

Altocumulus Clouds

Cumulus CloudsCirrus Clouds

Formed by convection

Middle atmosphere

Ice crystals formed from water vapor

High atmosphere

Formed when warm air rises and condenses

Low in atmosphere

Made of water droplets

Additional Activities and Resources

http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/pdf/venn.pdf

http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/VennDiagrams/

http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/graphic/venn/

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g68/venn.html

http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/f/vennl.cfm