Use partner discussions in history and literature classes. Assign each student a character from a particular historical era or from a book or poem. Students will comprehensively analyze their character, noting habits, speech patterns, philosophy, character and personality. Pair students and have each student describe his character to his partner. Then have each student discuss with the class three similarities and three differences between their own assigned character and their partner's. Ask open-ended questions to encourage critical thought. For example, why are the distinctions between these characters important? Based on these similarities and differences, is one character better than the other?
In cultural studies, use objects to help students see relationships between diverse cultures. Find replicas of two cultural artifacts or monuments. Have students write a comparative essay discussing the similarities and differences between the two objects. The objects serve as a creative launching pad for students to explore the cultural patterns and regions that the objects represent. For example, place a writing pen or miniature television next to a replica of an Egyptian pyramid or a Greek temple. Placing objects of different scale or from different time periods will encourage students to make connections between cultures that initially seem to have nothing in common.
Language games help students to think creatively about the similarities and differences between two objects or topics. In the Alphabet Game, students work in groups of four or five. Put two topics on the board, then give students three minutes to write down all the adjectives that describe one or both topics. Assign a letter for each round. In round one all the adjectives must begin with the letter "A." The language constraints force students to think creatively about the two objects of comparison. This format also allows students to practice teamwork and communication.
Write 10 to 20 topics on the board. Each student draws a scene that depicts one of the topics. Students then trade the pictures and try to guess which topic the drawing of their classmate represents. This activity helps students to notice the similarities between different topics. Allow students to discuss why they guessed a particular topic for the drawing they received. Students can then talk in small groups about why they chose to draw what they did in their own drawing. In their small groups students compare and contrast two or more of the topics you wrote on the board.