Teacher guide · Curious Lab · Harder · about 30 min

⭕ Compare Two Things

Pupils practise curiosity and problem solving through "Compare Two Things": Spot the overlap and the difference.

Lesson guide

  1. 1. Hook · 5 min

    Show the ⭕ mission title and read the opening: "Choose your pair.". Take three quick guesses.

  2. 2. Model · 5 min

    Think aloud through the first step together. Use Sniff the Beagle's line as your prompt: "Great question! Ready to dig one layer deeper? Pick your next mission below."

  3. 3. Do · 10 min

    Pairs work through the 3 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"

  4. 4. Discuss · 10 min

    Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.

  5. 5. Reflect · 5 min

    Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used curiosity today.

Discussion questions

  • What was the hardest choice in "Compare Two Things", and why?
  • Choose your pair — explain your reasoning to a partner.
  • What do they have in common? Name three things — explain your reasoning to a partner.
  • What makes them different? Name three things — explain your reasoning to a partner.
  • Where could you use curiosity outside school this week?
  • If you did this again, what would you change?

Adapting it

Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.

Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.

Curriculum links

  • National Curriculum: Science: working scientifically — asking questions and observing
  • National Curriculum: Geography/History: enquiry and using sources
  • PSHE: Living in the wider world: media literacy and checking information

Pupil sheet

⭕ Compare Two Things

Name: ____________________   Date: __________

  1. 1. Choose your pair.

    ☐ Bee & Bird

    ☐ City & Village

    ☐ Book & Film

    ☐ Cat & Robot

  2. 2. What do they have in common? Name three things.

  3. 3. What makes them different? Name three things.