30

Biography Book Reports

Easy and Engaging Hands-On Literature Response Projects that Help Kids of All Learning Styles Explore the Genre of Biography
by Deborah Rovin-Murphy

New York Toronto London Auckland Sydney Mexico City New Delhi Hong Kong Buenos Aires

Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 How to Use This Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Introductory Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Activities
1 Sincerely Yours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 2 Dear Diary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 3 Extra! Extra! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 4 Those Were the Days . . . . . . . . . .11 5 Historical Problem Solving . . . . . . .12 6 Wish Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 7 Biography Poems . . . . . . . . . . . .14 8 Hero Trading Cards . . . . . . . . . . .15 9 Hanging Out With History . . . . . . .16 10 Bookmarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 11 Alike and Different . . . . . . . . . . .17 12 Postcards From the Past . . . . . . . .18 13 Packed With History . . . . . . . . . . .18 14 My Characters Character . . . . . . .19 15 Medal of Honor . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 16 Jumping Hurdles . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 17 Report Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 18 A Life at a Glance . . . . . . . . . . . .21 19 Mapping It Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 20 Guess Who? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 21 Graph It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 22 Situation Wanted . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 23 Get Into Character . . . . . . . . . . . .25 24 Filmstrip Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 25 Our Collections . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 26 Biography Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 27 Story of My Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 28 Museum Statue . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 29 Encyclopedia Entry . . . . . . . . . . . .31 30 Biography Bash . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Reproducibles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Bibliography of Childrens Biographies . .46

30 Biography Book Reports

Introduction
Why Use Biographies?

iographies are a link to our past. They bring history to life: Readers can feel, taste, and see history through the life of the person who lived it. The biography subject becomes a readers tour guide to another time. A biography of a person who achieved his or her goals, through hard work, determination, and ambition can also serve as a students inspiration and a role model. A biography can teach both problem solving and how to overcome obstacles. Students can empathize with the real problems of notable people. Biographies are a genre that students can enjoy and learn from for the rest of their lives! The activities in this book help students experience the stories of remarkable people who were once very much like themselves. By making a Venn diagram, writing a newspaper article, creating math word problems, giving speeches, and much more, students will explore the lives of their heroes and discover what they may have in common with them. Your class will write, explore, solve problems, and create while learning about history.

30 Biography Book Reports

How to Use This Book

The activities in this book can be used with individuals, small groups, or the whole class, and can be used with any biography. Students might select the activities they wish to complete.

Activit y 12

Postcards From the Past

a subject in the role of Put yourself to postcards. in order to reply

Create a class

Materials
index cards or postcards shoebox drawing and decorating supplies pens/pencils

hy subjects because magical mailboxard, display a list of biograpor postcards by the box. 1 blank index cards the mailbox or chalkbo

is a explain that it On the a shoebox and mailbox from can deliver letters to the past. that it

. Place subjects from students are studying s to one of the to write postcard life. Invite students s who s about their have mail. Student list, asking question e to the postto see which subjects then write a respons Check the mailbox that subject can have read about of view. subjects point card from the

2 3

story Packed With Hi

suitcase. phy subjects Fill a biogra
students cover student. Have construction paper 1 to one boxes with brown pizza box Distribute one to each their rd handle and attach a cardboa to make a suitcase. with end of the box a luggage tag it. on They might attach subjects name the biography , students Inside each suitcase from art place items (made d from home) materials or collecte biography subject. their to that relate

Activit y 13

Materials
small, clean pizza boxes construction paper art materials found objects

Act ivit

y 9

18

hanger white pape r yarn markers crayons hole punc her index card s

Materials

Create

Hangin g With H Out istory

a visual represe ntation mobile .

represen h them Write the picture tations. with yarn with the 3 the name of They to a cloth inside fact abou the subj of the han es t the subj ect ger. Disp on an inde ect. x card lay mob iles from and tape the ceili it to ng.
16

Students think of identify four an imag imp e or pictu ortant facts Students relat re that create pun represen ed to their subject hanger, ch a hole in and cut out four ts each and each fact. and labe l each and attac pictorial

1 2

Getting Started

ntroduce your biography unit by making a variety of biographies available in your classroom. Include a wide variety of subjects, both men and women, representatives of different ethnic groups, and people from different time periods. Make sure your collection provides books at various reading levels and includes a variety of formats, such as picture books, autobiographies, and anthologies.

Possible Biographical Subjects U.S. presidents World explorers Astronauts Musicians Writers Business leaders Scientists Activists World leaders Entertainers Philosophers Artists Athletes Inventors Pioneers

Helping Students Select a Biography

hen helping a student select a biography, keep in mind their interests and reading ability. For instance, depending on reading level, you might help students select a picture book, easy reader, short chapter book, or novel. Student interests might include sports (Peggy Fleming, Tiger Woods), writing (Gary Soto, Emily Dickinson), adventure (Lewis and Clark, Sally Ride), and so on.

30 Biography Book Reports


6
30 Biography Book Reports

Introductory
Create Interest
Discuss what makes a person notable. Ask students to brainstorm a list of notable people on a sheet of paper. Record students suggestions on chart paper. Categorize their suggestions (athletes, writers, and so on) and post the list as a class reference.

Guess and Match

From the biographies you have available in your classroom or library, select five subjects names and write them on the board. Then make a list of their occupations or accomplishments. Let students match each person to his or her accomplishment.

Example
1. Charles Lindbergh 2. Wilma Rudolph 3. Neil Armstrong 4. Marie Curie 5. Babe Ruth a. astronaut b. baseball player c. pilot d. Olympic medalist e. scientist

Activities
Biography Bop
1 this fun variation of musical chairs. Have each student 2
To help students select who they might read about, play stand behind a desk with chairs pushed in, waiting until the music starts. When the music begins, students begin walking around the room. When the music stops, students sit at the closest desk. Students open the biography on their desks and quietly skim the book for approximately 3-5 minutes until the music begins again. Continue the game for several rounds. When finished, let each student share information about

Materials
a different biography for each students desk tape/CD player

3 the people they read about during the game.

30 Biography Book Reports

Activity 1

Sincerely Yours
Write a letter to a biography subject.

1 Reprod ucible

Sincerely Yours
, Dear Sincerely Yours,
hy Book Reports 32 30 Biograp

1 their subject by asking questions and making comments. Have

students list two or three questions they would like to ask their subject. For example, Dr. Seuss, how did you feel when your first book was rejected twenty three times?

This activity lets students envision a personal connection with

Materials

2 3

Have students list two or three interesting facts about the subject. Then, have them list one of the subjects accomplishments and one important event that occurred during his or her life. Using the questions and information theyve written down, students can write a friendly letter to the subject on Reproducible 1. Model how to write facts in such a way that it sounds like a friendly letter. For example, It must have been exciting to be one of the first people to walk on the moon!

Reproducible 1 page 32 (one per student) pens/pencils

Activity 2

Dear Diary
Write an imaginary diary entry.

Have students pick an important event in the life of the subject. (For example, Jackie Robinsons first day with the Dodgers or the day the Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk.) Ask students to think about how the person may have

2 felt on this special day. Have them write diary entries on 3 times in the subjects life.

Dear Diar y,

date

Dear Diar y,

Have students complete several diary entries from different

date

Reproducible 2, including facts they know to be true as well as their own speculations. (For example, Today I took off in my Electra plane in an attempt to fly around the world. Im both excited and a little bit nervous. Amelia Earhart)

Materials
Reprod ucible 2

De ar Diary

33 Book Reports 30 Biography

Reproducible 2 page 33 (one or more per student) pens/pencils

Activity 3

Extra! Extra!
Write a newspaper article.

Reprod ucible

Biography B!ugle
Extra! Extra

1 covering a story (Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?).

Bring in local newspapers for students to examine as examples of newspaper-style writing. Have students pick an important event in their subjects life. On the first line of Reproducible 3, students each write a

Discuss with students the six questions reporters ask when

Materials

2 creative headline related to an event in their subjects life. 3 a news article under the headline.

For example, "Kid Genius Composes Symphony for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Using facts from the biography, students write and illustrate

hy Book Reports 34 30 Biograp

Reproducible 3 page 34 (one per student) drawing supplies pens/pencils

Tip
As a prewriting activity, have students write reporters questions down one side of a sheet of paper. They can then jot down answers on the other side of the page, using information from the biography.

10

Activity 4

Those Were the Days

Make snapshots for a biography subjects photo album.

1 memories and pictures of important events

Discuss how photo albums or scrapbooks hold

(if possible, share a photo album or scrapbook as an example). Tell students to close their eyes and imagine that they have entered their biography subjects house and are exploring their surroundings. (For example, if they are in Thomas Edisons house, they might see a phonograph, paper with ideas written on it, or an electric light bulb.) Have students list three important events from their subjects lives. They can look back through the biographies for ideas. Distribute three index cards to each student. Invite students to draw a snapshot of each event they listed.

3 After completing the drawings, students put photo 4 corners on the index cards and attach them to a sheet of
construction paper. They might add captions. Assemble the scrapbook pages into a class biography scrapbook!

Materials
index cards (three per student) photo corners construction paper drawing supplies pens/pencils

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Activity 5

Materials
pens/pencils paper

Historical Problem Solving

Incorporate math into the study of a biography subject.

1 Thomas Edison held over 1,000 patents. Galileos telescope 2

Students use the facts to write math problems. Use the following as examples: Fact: Betsy Ross was one of 17 children. Math Problem: If Betsy Ross was the eighth child born, how many children were older than Betsy? How many were younger? Fact: Harry Houdini often gave 20 shows a day. Math Problem: If Harry Houdini gave 20 shows a day, how many shows would he give in 5 days?

Discuss with students the idea that math is everywhere:

could make objects appear 1,000 times larger and 30 times closer than as seen with the naked eye. Babe Ruth had a record of 714 home runs when he retired! Invite students to brainstorm five number-related facts about their subject.

3 writing their math

When students finish

problems, they can trade with partners to solve.

Tip
Copy students problems and put them in a center for independent math work.

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Activity 6

Wish Book
Create a wish book using the character traits of biography subjects.

1 Have students name people studied in class and write each 2 persons name down. Beside each name, students write one
character trait they admire in that person. For example: Shakespeare Thomas Edison Wilma Rudolph creativity many interests persistence

Explain that one reason we read biographies is because we admire certain traits or attributes that the subject possesses.

Materials
drawing paper drawing supplies pens/pencils stapler

Then, students complete a wish book using their lists.

For example: I wish I were as creative as Shakespeare. I had as many interests as Thomas Edison. I had persistence like Wilma Rudolph.

use each page for one wish.

4 half and staple along the fold. They decorate the cover and

To make the book, students fold a stack of sheets of paper in

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Activity 7

Biography Poems
Try three different types of poetry.

1 Write an Acrostic Poem

Have students write the subjects first and last name in all capital letters vertically on a piece of paper. They can then use each letter as the beginning of a word or phrase that relates to that person.

3 Write a Diamante
Poem
A diamante poem is shaped like a diamond, and uses the following formula. Line 1 Line 2 person Line 3 Line 4 Line 5 persons first name two words that describe the three ing words related to the person four related nouns three words that describe how the person felt or things they did two more describing words persons last name

For example:

Abe Lincoln
Avid reader Brave Emancipation Log cabin Indiana and Illinois Noteworthy president Civil War Open to new ideas Lawyer Non-discriminating

Line 6 Line 7

2 Write a Clerihew Poem

A clerihew is a poem written about a famous person. It is four lines long and consists of two rhyming couplets.

For example:
George wise, brave fighting, leading, thinking general, president, farmer, leader planned, commanded, planted kind, humble Washington

For example:

Abe Lincoln
Abe Lincoln was a great president. You can see him on a shiny, copper cent. He helped the United States end slavery. He is known for his honesty and bravery.
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Activity 8

Hero Trading Cards

Create fun-fact hero trading cards.
Using Reproducible 4, have

1 students draw a portrait of their

biography subject and label it with his or her name. Have students add facts they learned from their reading.

to-back on colorful construction paper (trim the paper around the card). Students can trade their cards and have fun learning about each others biography subjects.

Cards Hero Trading

2 When complete, they cut the 3 sheet in half and mount back-

Materials
Reprod ucible 4

Name: Created by: Heroic Facts:

35 Book Reports 30 Biography

Tip
Put cards in a filing box for students to use as a reference.

Reproducible 4 page 35 (one per student) construction paper glue drawing supplies pens/pencils

15

Activity 9

Materials
hanger white paper yarn markers crayons hole puncher index cards tape scissors

Hanging Out With History

Create a visual representation mobile.

1 and think of an image or picture that represents each fact. Students create and cut out four pictorial representations. 2 They punch a hole in each and attach them with yarn to a
coat hanger, and label each picture with the fact about the subject.

Students identify four important facts related to their subject

Write the name of the subject on an index card and tape it to the inside of the hanger. Display mobiles from the ceiling.

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Activity 10

Bookmarks
Make bookmarks to teach other readers about a biography subject.

Materials
thick white paper hole punch yarn ruler drawing supplies pens/pencils scissors

1 promote their products, students can promote their subject by

Explain that just as advertisers come up with catchy phrases to

making biography bookmarks. Have each student divide a sheet of paper into four rectangular sections using a ruler, and cut them out. Students write a catchy phrase related to their subject on one

2 side of the bookmark. They can decorate the bookmark with

a picture of their subject or a symbol. On the other side of the bookmark, students write three related facts about their subject. Each student can make four different bookmarks on their

3 subject(s). After the bookmarks are complete, punch a hole in

the top and attach a tassel made of yarn. Make a grab bag and let students select two bookmarks made by their classmates!

Activity 11

Materials
Reprod ucible 5

Discover what you have in common with a biography subject.

1 Draw a Venn diagram on the board. As an example, select two volunteers to compare and contrast 2 themselves. Ask about their hobbies, likes and dislikes, interests, and dreams. Write things that the two students have in common in 3
the overlapping part of the circles. Write their differences in the appropriate circles. Invite students to brainstorm what they have in common with their biography subject and how are they different. Students can then complete their own Venn diagram.
17

hy Book Reports 36 30 Biograp

____________

Your Name: _______

e: Subjects Nam _______ ____________

Alike and Different

Reproducible 5 page 36 (one per student) pens/pencils

Activity 12

index cards or postcards shoebox drawing and decorating supplies pens/pencils

Postcards From the Past

Put yourself in the role of a subject in order to reply to postcards.
Create a class mailbox from a shoebox and explain that it is a 1 magical mailbox because it can deliver letters to the past. On the mailbox or chalkboard, display a list of biography subjects that students are studying. Place blank index cards or postcards by the box. Invite students to write postcards to one of the subjects from the list, asking questions about their life. Check the mailbox to see which subjects have mail. Students who have read about that subject can then write a response to the postcard from the subjects point of view.

Materials

2 3

Activity 13

small, clean pizza boxes construction paper art materials found objects

Packed With History

Fill a biography subjects suitcase.
Distribute one pizza box to each 1 student. Have students cover their boxes with brown construction paper and attach a cardboard handle to one end of the box to make a suitcase. They might attach a luggage tag with the biography subjects name on it. Inside each suitcase, students place items (made from art materials or collected from home) that relate to their biography subject.
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Materials

Activity 14

My Characters Character
Analyze a subjects character traits.

Materials

Reproducible 6 page 37 (one per student) pens/pencils

1 (explain that they are a persons special identifying qualities). Have each student make a list of their biography subjects 2 character traits. Let them choose four traits and write them
on the top line of each section of the reproducible.

Review the concept of character traits with students

Students draw a picture of their subject in the center of the reproducible. Underneath each character trait, students give examples. For example, for Rosa Parks a student might choose Courageous and write She was courageous for standing up for what she believed in and not giving up her seat.

Activity 15

Materials

Medal of Honor
Focus on one accomplishment that represents a subject.

1 something that makes his or her

Discuss how each subject has

contribution to the world unique. Using the reproducible, students write the name of the person being honored at the top of the medal. They list what the subject is being honored for. For example,

2 Martin Luther King for courage; Michelangelo for creativity. Students can color and cut out the medals 3 for a class display.
19

Reproducible 7 page 38 (one per student) crayons or markers scissors pens/pencils

Materials

Reproducible 8 page 39 (one per student) pens/pencils

Activity 16

Jumping Hurdles
Describe how a subject overcame an obstacle or solved a problem.

1 reach a goal. Using Reproducible 8, students list, on the left side, a 2 problem or obstacle that arose in their subjects life. On the
right side of the hurdle, students write how the subject solved the problem.

Point out that hard work and perseverance are needed to

Then, on the bottom of the page, students do the same for an obstacle or problem in their own lives.

Materials

Reproducible 9 page 40 (one per student) pens/pencils

Activity 17

Report Card
Evaluate a subjects performance.

1 by giving a grade and an evaluation, they can do the same

with their subjects.

Explain to the class that just as teachers complete report cards

2 Have students fill out Reproducible 9 by giving their 3 biography subject a letter grade for each school subject
and writing their comments.
20

Tell students to imagine that they are each the teacher and their student is their biography subject.

Activity 18

A Life at a Glance
Make a time line of a subjects life.

1 at least five important dates in their subjects life.

The time line ends with either the subjects death or the present year. Help students mark off

Starting with the subjects birth, have students list

Materials

2 increments of time on 3

a sentence strip to make a time line. They record each important event on the time line.

Tip
David Adlers picture book biographies have examples of time lines at the back of each book.

sentence strips drawing supplies pens/pencils

Students illustrate the important events on their time lines.

Try a Group Time line, Too:

Using information from individual time lines, create a class time line.
Cut butcher paper in half lengthwise to make a long,

Materials
long sheet of butcher paper drawing supplies pens/pencils

1 narrow sheet of paper. Survey the class to find the subject with the earliest birth 2 date. Construct the time line, using this date as the beginning
point and the present date as an ending point. Students plot the birth dates on the time line and add pictures.
21

Materials
map of the world paper drawing supplies double-sided tape scissors

Reprod ucible 10

Activity 19

Mapping It Out
Create an origin map.

1 world. Display a large world map. Have students draw, cut out, and label a small portrait of 2 their subject. Students can stick the portraits on each subjects place of 3 origin on the map with double-sided tape.
Activity 20

Point out that notable people come from places all over the

Materials
Guess Who?
_______ ____________ _______ ____________

Guess Who?
Write clues for others to guess the subject.

Time Perio d

Symb ol

1 research as clues to the identity of their biography subject.

Action

On Reproducible 10, students fill in information from their

Quote

Students reveal the time period, a symbol that represents the subject, a quote, and an action that is identified with the subject. Remind students not to make clues too easy or too difficult.

Extra Clue s
41 Book Reports 30 Biography nal Scholast ic Professio Books

Reproducible 10 page 41 (one per student) pens/pencils scissors glue paper

Students make a portrait of the subject on a piece of paper the size of the question mark square at the bottom right of the sheet. Then, they cut out three sides of the question mark square to make a flap and glue the portrait behind the flap. Partners exchange papers and
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Tip

Bind papers together in a Guess Who? book for the class library or to be shared at home with families.

3 try to guess each others subjects.

Activity 21

Graph It
Conduct a class survey and graph the results.

Materials
paper drawing supplies

1 reading about. List the following categories on the board:

G G G G

Discuss the variety of biography subjects students are

female subjects male subjects subject still alive subject not living Survey students and put tally

2 marks in the appropriate 3

categories. You might also use categories about the time period in which the subject lived, countries of origin, and so on.

Male

Using the information obtained in the survey, students create pie graphs or bar graphs.

45%

Female

55%

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Activity 22

Situation Wanted
Write an ad for the classifieds.

Materials
paper pens/pencils

Show students the classified ads from newspapers in your area. 1 Explain that a want ad is placed by an employer looking to hire someone to work for them, and a situation wanted ad is

placed by a person trying to find a job. Have each student write a situation wanted ad by listing the special skills of his or her subject. For example: Looking for work. Good with words and witty sayings. Good speaker. Experience with a printing press. Willing to travel. Will take risks. Please contact Benjamin Franklin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Tip
Use a computer to set students ads in columns like the want ads section of a newspaper.

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Activity 23

Get Into Character

Present a dramatic oral report by stepping into the shoes of a subject.

1 sheet of poster-board, leaving a hole where the persons face

would be, and add accessories. For example, a feather pen in Ben Franklins hand. Extras may include clothing, pictures, and other props. Students present

Students draw the head and torso of their subject on a large

2 oral reports in the

persona of the subject while sticking their heads through the hole in the cut-out.

posterboard scissors drawing supplies found objects

Materials

Laura Ingalls Wilder

25

Activity 24

Filmstrip Fun
Make a filmstrip of scenes from a subjects life.

Materials
Reprod ucible 11

Filmstrip Fun

__________ by The Life of __________

1 wrap the box in wrapping or construction paper, leaving the

cut side open.

Have students cut the tops off square tissue boxes. Then, they

2 On the reproducible, 3 students draw four

scenes from the life of their subject in chronological order.

Students cut slits opposite each other on two sides of the box, for pulling the filmstrip through.

them through the slits as they narrate the biography.

4 filmstrips and pull

Students cut out the

hy Book Reports 42 30 Biograp

Reproducible 11 page 42 (one per student) cube-shaped tissue box (one per student) wrapping or construction paper drawing supplies scissors

26

Activity 25

Our Collections
Honor a subject with a commemorative stamp and coin.

1 students write why they think their subject should be featured

on a stamp or coin.

Show students stamps and coins of famous persons. Have

2 coin honoring their subject. Encourage students to try to 3 Our Collections.

Display the finished products on a bulletin board titled

Using Reproducible 12, have students design a stamp and

incorporate details about what makes this person notable into the picture. For example, for Neil Armstrong, show a rocket or the moon in the background.

Materials
Our Collection

43 Book Reports 30 Biography

Reproducible 12 page 43 (one per student) drawing supplies

Elizabeth Blackwell Rosa Parks

27

Activity 26

Biography Box
Materials

empty, clean cereal boxes (one per student) white drawing paper drawing supplies scissors glue

Decorate a cereal box with images that represent a subject s life.

1 the cereal box onto white drawing paper and cut out the
rectangles.

Have students outline each of the four upright sides of

2 the large rectangles. Have them decorate the cut drawing 3 and display.
Glue the decorated sheets to the sides of the cereal box

Have students make a title for the biography box on one of

paper with facts, a time line, illustrations, quotes, poetry, pictures, or objects related to the subject.

28

Activity 27

Story of My Life
Write your own autobiography.

1 autobiography. Auto means self, bio means life, and

graph means drawing or writing.

Explain the meaning of the terms biography and

2 structure their writing. Have students write a draft based

on their answers. Then have them revise the draft into a final paper. Bind the stories into an autobiographic collection in the classroom library.

Instruct students to complete Reproducible 13 to help

Materials
Reprod ucible 13

Story of My Life
Name: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: es: Family memb ers/ag
ent List an accomplishm youre proud of: year... from each early years) A memorymember for the
(ask a family

What do you you grow up?

want to be when

hy Book Reports 44 30 Biograp

Reproducible 13 page 44 (one per student) pens/pencils

29

Activity 28

Museum Statue
Make a clay statue of a subject.

Materials
clay manila paper (one 14x14 square per student) scissors drawing supplies stapler

1 subjects. Have them make backdrops for the clay figures (see below). 2 Fold down one corner of the manila square to form a 3 Christopher Columbus might have a ship backdrop),
staple and place their models into the display.
fold cut

First, let students make clay models of their biography

triangle. Unfold and fold the opposite corner to form a triangle. Unfold. Cut a slit down one crease to the center. Fold one triangle made by the cut under the other and show students how this will later be stapled to form backdrop. Have students decorate the backdrop (for example,

30

Activity 29

Encyclopedia Entry
Create a class encyclopedia of notable people.

Materials
Reprod ucible 14

Encyclop edia
dates name of subject

Entry

1 On Reproducible 14, students write a biographical sketch 2 of their subject. Students draw a picture of their subject
along with dates next to the paragraph entry.

Discuss how information is presented in encyclopedias (you might examine one together).

3 classroom library.
Activity 30

Bind into a class book! Put your encyclopedia in the

45 Book Reports 30 Biography

Reproducible 14 page 45 (one per student) pens/pencils

Biography Bash
Celebrate the biography genre with a party!
At the conclusion of your biography unit, have students share what they have learned by hosting a Biography Bash. Decorate the classroom with all the projects you have created during the unit. Invite other classes, school personnel, and families to the party.

Yo u M i g h t :
G Encourage students to dress up as their subjects. G Have students give their Get Into Character reports (see page 25). G Give out door prizes such as biography bookmarks (page 17) and hero trading cards (page 15).

G Have students display their work on their desks. Students can answer questions as their biography subject. G Present each student with the medal of honor for their subject. G Display student-authored biographies and autobiographies. G Display your encyclopedia (see above).
31

Reproducible 1

Sincerely Yours

Dear

Sincerely Yours,

32 30 Biography Book Reports

Scholastic Professional Books

Reproducible 2

Dear Diary

Scholastic Professional Books

Dear Diary,

date

Dear Diary,

date

30 Biography Book Reports 33

Reproducible 3

Biography Bugle
Extra! Extra!

34 30 Biography Book Reports

Scholastic Professional Books

Reproducible 4

Hero Trading Cards

Scholastic Professional Books

Heroic Facts:

Created by:

Name:

30 Biography Book Reports 35

Reproducible 5

36 30 Biography Book Reports

Your Name: ___________________

Subjects Name: ___________________

Scholastic Professional Books

Reproducible 6

My Characters Character
Scholastic Professional Books

30 Biography Book Reports 37

Reproducible 7

Medal of Honor

is awarded this medal for

38 30 Biography Book Reports

Scholastic Professional Books

Reproducible 8

Jumping Hurdles

Obstacle/Problem

Solution

Scholastic Professional Books

30 Biography Book Reports 39

Reproducible 9

Report Card
SUBJECT GRADE

BRAVERY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
COMMENTS:

_______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

STRENGTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
COMMENTS:

_______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

WISDOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
COMMENTS:

_______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

RISK-TAKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
COMMENTS:

_______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

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Scholastic Professional Books

Reproducible 10

Guess Who?
___________________

___________________

Time Period

Symbol

Quote

Action

Extra Clues
Scholastic Professional Books 30 Biography Book Reports 41

Reproducible 11

Filmstrip Fun

__________

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__________

The Life of

by

Scholastic Professional Books

Reproducible 12

Our Collections

Scholastic Professional Books

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Reproducible 13

Story of My Life
Name: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Family members/ages:

A memory from each year...

(ask a family member for the early years)

List an accomplishment youre proud of:

What do you want to be when you grow up?

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Reproducible 14

Encyclopedia Entry
name of subject dates

Scholastic Professional Books

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Bibliography of Childrens
Series Step into Reading (Random House)
The Fly on the Ceiling: A Math Myth by Julie Glass (1998) The Great Houdini by Monica Kulling (1999) Abe Lincolns Hat by Martha Brenner (1994) Tiger Woods: Golfs Young Master by Sydelle A. Kramer (1998)

Rookie Biography (Childrens Press)

Elizabeth Blackwell: First Woman Doctor by Carol Greene (1991) Madam C.J. Walker: Pioneer Businesswoman by Marlene Toby (1995) Margaret Wise Brown by Carol Greene (1994)

Childhood of Famous Americans

(Aladdin) Sitting Bull: Dakota Boy by Augusta Stevenson (1996) Henry Ford: Young Man With Ideas by Hazel B. Aird (1986) Roberto Clemente: Young Ball Player by Montrew Dunham (1997) Clara Barton, Founder of the American Red Cross by Augusta Stevenson (1986)

Step-Up Biographies (Random House)

Meet Abraham Lincoln by Barbara Cary (1989) Meet George Washington by Joan Heilbroner (1989)

Hello Readers (Scholastic)

A Girl Named Helen Keller by Margo Lundell (1995) A Boy Named Boomer by Boomer Esiason (1995)

Troll Biographies (Troll Publishing)

Young Rosa Parks: A Civil Rights Heroine by Anne Benjamin (1996) Young Martin Luther King, Jr.: I Have a Dream by Joanne Mattern (1991)

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Biographies
Women of Our Times (Puffin)
Laura Ingalls Wilder: Growing Up in the Little House by Patricia Reilly Giff (1996) Mary McLeod Bethune: Voice of Black Hope by Milton Meltzer (1996) Our Golda: The Story of Golda Meir by David A. Adler (1986)

Gateway Biographies (Millbrook Publishing)

Bill Clinton: President of the 90s by Robert Cwiklik (1997) Colin Powell: Straight to the Top by Rose Blue (1997) Bill Gates: Computer King by Josepha Sherman (2000)

David A. Adlers Picture Books

(Chelsea House) A Picture Book of Helen Keller (1992) A Picture Book of John F. Kennedy (1999) A Picture Book of Paul Revere (1995) A Picture Book of Simon Bolivar (1992)

Lives of... by Kathleen Krull (Harcourt Brace)

Lives of the Writers: Comedies, Tragedies (And What the Neighbors Thought) (1994) Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (And What the Neighbors Thought) (1993) Lives of the Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (And What the Neighbors Thought) (1995) Lives of the Presidents (1998)

A Picture Book of Fredrick Douglass (1995) Lives of the Athletes: Thrills, Spills (And What the Neighbors Thought) (1999)

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Notable Picture Books With Biographical Subject

You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer by Shana Corey (Scholastic 2000) Young Teddy Roosevelt by Cheryll Harness (National Geographic Society 1998) Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin (Houghton Mifflin 1998) Leonardo Da Vinci by Diane Stanley (William Morrow 1996) Cleopatra by Diane Stanley (William Morrow 1994) Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man by David A.Adler (Gulliver 1997) The Babe and I by David A.Adler (Gulliver 1999) Americas Champion Swimmer by David A.Adler (Raintree/Steck-Vaughn, 2000) Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the Worlds Fastest Woman by Kathleen Krull (Harcourt Brace 1996) Stone Girl, Bone Girl: the Story of Mary Anning by Laurence Anholt (Orchard 1999) Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder by William Anderson (HarperCollins 1998) Whats the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? by Jean Fritz (Putnam 1976) Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride: Based on a True Story by Pam Munoz Ryan (Scholastic 1999)

The Legend of the Teddy Bear by Frank Murphy (Sleeping Bear 2000) Steamboat! The Story of Captain Blanche Leathers by Judith Heide Gilliland (DK 2000) Tutankhamens Gift Robert Sabuda (Atheneum 1994) The Starry Messenger by Peter Sis (Farrar Straus & Giroux 1996) William Shakespeare and the Globe by Aliki (HarperCollins 2000)

Computer Connections
The following are helpful websites for information on biographies. Teacher guidance is suggested in order to ensure appropriate website content. http://www.s9.com/biography This dictionary can be searched by birth years, death years, positions held, professions, literary and artistic works, achievements, and other key words. http://www.biographiesonline.com This website is a resource for finding books on a particular subject. http://www.bham.wednet.edu/bio/biomaker.htm This website lists step-by-step how to write a biography. http://www.brainbrawl.com/lesley/biographies.htm This website provides links to selected biographies available on the Internet. http://www.biography.com This site is connected with the A&E Biography television program.

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