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Three-circle Venn diagram (free printable)

Three large overlapping circles for comparing three things, with a label for each and room to write in every region. Name your topics and print.

Printed on the sheet. Leave it empty to write by hand.
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Three-Way Comparison, page 1Three-Way ComparisonNameDateTopic ATopic BTopic CFree at teach.peabody.kids

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About this sheet

Comparing three things is harder than comparing two, and a page with three overlapping circles is a good way to show why. There are seven regions: three that belong to one topic alone, three that belong to two topics, and one in the middle that belongs to all three. Students find the middle the hardest and the most interesting. The circles are large enough to write inside, and the tints are light so that overlaps are visible without hiding the writing. Use it for three characters, three versions of a story, three kinds of rock, or three numbers and their factors. Name the topics in the box and print.

Grades: 3 to 8. Best in: September, October, January.

How to use it

  1. Type the names of your three topics, one per line. Print on portrait letter or A4.
  2. Start with the middle: ask students for one thing true of all three, and write it in the center region together.
  3. Fill the pair regions next, then the single regions, and finish by writing one sentence that summarizes what they learned.

Five ideas for class

  1. Compare three versions of a fairy tale, with the shared plot points in the middle and the unique details in the outer parts.
  2. Use it for three types of a science topic, such as three states of matter or three kinds of rock, with a key fact in each region.
  3. In math, use it for the factors of three numbers and find the common factors in the center.
  4. Make it a team challenge: each group gets a different set of three topics and presents what they found in the middle.
  5. Ask students to decide which of the three is most unlike the others, and write why on the back of the page.

Related

Questions

Is it too hard for younger students?

For second grade and below, the two-circle diagram is usually enough. Introduce three circles once students can fill in two with confidence.

What if nothing is true of all three?

Then the middle stays empty, and that is a result. Asking students to explain why it is empty is a good question.

How do I fit writing in the overlaps?

Use short phrases, and write in a smaller hand. For longer thoughts, number them and write the full sentences on the back.

How do I save it as a PDF?

Choose Print, then pick “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints: the page around it is hidden. You can also save a sheet as a PNG image under the preview.

Can I print it in black and white?

Yes. Switch to Black and white beside the sheet: fills turn white and lines turn black, so it saves ink and photocopies cleanly.

Is what I type saved or sent anywhere?

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