Image of kid eating pizza and another kid eating a taco
iStockPhoto/Getty Images (Pizza); Shutterstock.com (All other images); Drew Willis (Maps); © Jayzynism | Dreamstime.com (Squid Pizza); iStockPhoto/Getty Images (Cactus Taco); Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)
Alike and Different,

Pizza Party or Taco Time?

So many people love pizza and tacos. But what do you know about these yummy foods?

From the September 2025 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will compare and contrast pizza and tacos.

Lexiles: 420L
Featured Skill: Comparing Texts,
Common Core Standards
  • RF.1.1 Features of print RI.1.1 Key details RI.1.3 Connecting information RI.1.4 Vocabulary RI.1.5 Text features RI.1.6 Distinguish between information from words and images RI.1.7 Use visuals RI.1.9 Compare texts SL.1.1 Participate in collaborative discussions with peers and adults SL.1.2 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud
TEKS Standards
  • Social Studies
    (4) Geography. The student understands the purpose of geographic tools, including maps and globes. The student is expected to: (B) locate and explore the community, Texas, and the United States on maps and globes. (5) Geography. The student understands physical and human characteristics of place to better understand their community and the world around them. The student is expected to: (A) identify and describe the physical characteristics of a place such as landforms, bodies of water, Earth’s resources, and weather. (14) Culture. The student understands the importance of family and community beliefs, language, and traditions. The student is expected to: (A) describe and explain the importance of beliefs, language, and traditions of families and communities.

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Would You Pick a Pizza Party?

Long Ago

Pizza is from a place we now call Italy.

People started making pizza long ago. At first, it did not have tomato sauce. People thought tomatoes were poison!


A Lot of Toppings

Would you eat squid pizza?

Today pepperoni is the most popular topping. Some people like pineapple or squid!


Fun to Eat

Yum!

The bottom part of pizza is crust. You can pick it up with your hands. What fun!


Would you pick a pizza party?


Would You Want Taco Time?

Long Ago

Tacos are from a place we now call Mexico.

Tacos have been around for thousands of years. The first tacos had meat, beans, or fish, just like they do today.


A Lot of Fillings

cactus

Now we put all kinds of fillings in tacos. You can even have a cactus taco.


Fun to Eat

tortilla

Tacos are made with tortillas. You eat them with your hands. Taco-rrific!


Would you want taco time?


What does your class think?

Would you want a pizza party or taco time?

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video (1)
Slideshows (1)
Activities (3)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
video (1)
Slideshows (1)
Activities (3) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)

More About the Article

English Language Arts Focus

Compare and contrast

Social Studies Focus

Food history

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Implementation

  • Whole group

Pairings and Text Connections

Before-Reading Resources

  • Vocabulary slideshow (5 minutes) topping, crust, fillings, tortillas
  • Video: Skill Power: Compare and Contrast (5 minutes) A fun how-to video on how and why we compare and contrast

Suggested Reading Focus

Compare and contrast (20 minutes)

  • Tell students they will be reading texts about pizza and tacos. Prompt them to think about how these foods are alike and different as they read.
  • Preview the parallel structure of the texts. What do children notice about these two pages? (They are set up similarly. Each section has a heading. All the headings are the same.)
  • Read “Would You Pick a Pizza Party?” and stop at the end of each section to check comprehension. Then read “Would You Pick a Taco Party?,” again stopping at the end of each section to check comprehension.
  • For the second read-through, review the texts under the same headings back-to-back so children can focus on comparing and contrasting. Then discuss what was learned from each section.
  • Compare the photos. What can children learn from them?
  • To close, ask students to turn and talk about ways pizza and tacos are alike and different. You can also have a class vote to see which students would prefer: a pizza party or a taco party?

After-Reading Skills Practice

  • Skills: Compare/contrast (15 minutes)

Text-to-Speech