It is also important for the student to be able to express why they chose this person, and the impact this person has made on the world or the student’s life in particular. This is a great way to ease your students into learning about biographies.
Let’s Teach Biographies!
Introduce your students to biography research and make learning fun with this Biography Report and Research Activities Unit from my TPT Store!
I’ve got four fun, engaging ways for you to teach your students all about biographies!
Why Should You Teach Biographies?
Biographies are a fantastic way to introduce young students to important historical figures and teach them valuable life lessons. Learning about the lives of those who lived before them is intriguing.
They help kids understand that the world is diverse and that not everyone is just like them. This way, they can make the biographies relevant to the unit they're teaching or the time of year!
How To Teach Biographies in an Elementary School
1
Explore Life Events in the Story
Start by talking about the key life events in the biography with students.
Ask them to interview a friend in the class! These elements are:
Date and place of birth (and death, if applicable)
Childhood
Educational background
Family life, either past, current, or both
Adult life: job and current location, if applicable
Major accomplishments
Other information like fun facts, quotes by or about the person, and photographs may also be included in the biography.
While researching an influential person, students will learn not only about the individual, but about many ways one person can change or contribute to the world.
Kids would read one long or more short biographies. She liked the idea of reading and discussing together – then giving the kids options.
Students Read and Respond
Quickly, Ms. Sneed’s eyes moved to biography lesson plans listed for the next two days.
Bringing biographies to life for your students can even help spark a love of reading! Conduct an Interview!
Want a fun way to get your students excited about biographies and writing one? Common themes include making a difference, overcoming obstacles, and always have hope.
3
Connect to Student's Life
Have students use a Venn Diagram to connect with the person in the biography.
Alphabet letter N is for Nurse activities, nurse craft, community helper: the nurse
Beatrix Potter and The Tale of Peter Rabbit Visit the Beatrix Potter page for various activities and crafts. Introduce Students to Biographies with Read Alouds
I can’t say enough about how much I love reading a good picture book to my students to stir up excitement for a lesson.
What mistakes has this person made that I can relate to and grow from? Sneed Finds Some Biography Lesson Plans
Our favorite fourth grade teacher opened the file for her biography unit.
Why should we read biographies?
When we read about other people's struggles and triumphs, we see what we have in common and are able to see the importance of our own life.
Your high flyers will get a bit of a challenge identifying seven events, while your struggling students can still do the same activity focusing on five key events.
2. Aha! Her favorite teacher-author had posted a free set of plans.
Biography Lesson Plans Introduce the Genre
As Ms.
Sneed scanned the plans for the first day, she nodded her head.
Paul Bunyan: The Giant Lumberjack & his Blue Ox Babe Video story, alphabet letter O Ox, coloring pages, online puzzle, ox craft, and more.
Christopher Columbus: Navigator and Explorer A short online biography and online activity.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Composer Lesson plan 1: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star nursery rhyme activities and crafts, learn a about Mozart Lesson plan 2: V is Violin Activities
Famous Nurse: Florence Nightingale Online short presentation nurses job and a famous nurse.
Incorporate Art with Your Biographies!
Now that students have researched their famous person, learned interesting facts, and written those facts into a biography, let them celebrate with a little art project!