Biographies - Unit for 4th graders!

Unit on Biographies
Unit Theme: Biography
4th graders will use role playing and drama to present what they have learned from their chosen biography.
Big Ideas:
• Types of biographies
• Point of view
• Presentations
• Researching and Gathering Information

Desired Results (Standards):
• Read widely from fiction, nonfiction, and electronic resources for information and personal fulfillment: including biographies and autobiographies.

Understandings:
• Students can explain their knowledge of the biography genre by creating their own biography project.
• Students can interpret facts and sift through data to find out what facts are important and relevant.
• Students will be able to take on a different perspective of many different people in their contributions and accomplishments.
• Students can empathize with their chosen figure by understanding that figure’s feelings and world point of view.

Text Sets:
A wide variety of books that could be read aloud, or as a choice for students who are looking for ideas for their own project.

Cooney, Barbara. Eleanor.
Christensen, Bonnie. Django: Worlds Greatest Jazz Guitarist.
Dahl, Roald. Boy: Tales of Childhood.
Houston, Jeanne Wakatsuki. Farewell to Manzanar.
Spinelli, Jerry. Knots in My Yo-Yo String: The Autobiography of a Kid.
Tanaka, Shelly. Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator.
Warren, Andrea. Orphan Train Rider: One Boy’s True Story.
Haley, Alex & Malcom X. The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley
Martin, Steve. Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life
Robinson, Tom. Ben Roethlisberger: Gifted and Giving Football Star
Josephson, Judith. Walt Disney: Genius of Entertainment
Ford, Carin. Dr. Seuss: Best-Loved Author
Dixon-Engel, Tara. The Wright Brothers: First in Flight
McLeod-Humphrey, Sandra. Dare to Dream!: 25 Extraordinary Lives (collective biography)


A different way to show how biographies are organized:
Material World by: Photojournalist Peter Menzel
• A much different take on biographies that include pictures and facts about tons of cultures from around the world by looking at specific families and interviewing them.


Websites:
• Biographies for Kids website (http://gardenofpraise.com/leaders.htm)
• Biography Channel website for kids (http://www.biography.com/bio4kids/index.jsp)
• Academy of Achievement website (http://www.achievement.org/galleryachieve.html)
• PBS Biography Series website (http://www.pbs.org/history/history_biographies.html)
• Spectrum Biographies website (http://www.incwell.com/Biographies/)

Grade Level: 4th / 5th

Essential Questions:
• How are biographies different from other genres/what makes them unique?
• What are essential elements of a biography?
• How would you construct your own autobiography?
• How do biographies show us how someone might have felt at a certain time and place?
• Where do we place biographies within the writing and text we use in class?
• How will you draw from the knowledge you learn to represent your figure and presenting to an audience?

Skills Learned:
Potential Minilessons:
• Fascinating facts – gathering important information and sifting through what is important
• Introducing biographies from a variety of texts – broadening and exposing students to new points of view
• Point of view – how write from different perspectives
• Creating a presentation – different ways to present information (powerpoint, skit or poster)
• How to research specific information – using the internet and books
• How to draw in an audience – attention getters
• Writing an effective presentation/autobiography

Assessment:
Does their presentation show the ability to:
• Research biographies
• Put information into their own words
• Understand a perspective other than their own
• Present information that is included in biographies

Creating Your Own Prezi

Making Your Own Prezi
1. Go to www.prezi.com
2. Go to “Sign-Up” and Create a username and password
3. When your account opens, click “Create a New Prezi” tab on the left side bar of the screen.
4. Choose your own title, description and layout by selecting each on the screen that appears.
5. Click “Create”
6. Your new Prezi will appear on your home page, select to begin creating and personalizing your Prezi.
7. Under the manage tab, click “Open”
8. The Prezi will now cover your entire screen
9. Click the Play icon and watch the tutorial that will explain the basics of adding features to your Prezi.
10. Double click anywhere to add an idea to your Prezi.
11. Use the zebra stripe circle to rotate, enlarge or move your idea around the canvas.
12. Use the right side zoom tab to move closer to text and add subtitles.
13. Continue adding ideas and information by double clicking anywhere else on the canvas.
14. At anytime, you can select the “Undo” tab in the upper right hand corner of the screen to undo something that you do not want on your screen.
15. In the upper left hand corner, there is a Navigation Key that will allow you to add images, change colors, write, frame text and create a path.
16. Creating a path is the last step after you are satisfied with your Prezi’s appearance.
17. Creating a path will allow you to present your Prezi by moving from text and images in the way in which you would like to present them.
18. To do this, you can click on “Path” in the Navigation Key and then proceed to click on the images in the order that you wish to present them.
19. After you have created your own path, select “Show” on the Navigation Bar, and you can present your Prezi.
20. Prezi allows you to save your presentations online to present at other locations.
21. When you have finished creating your very own Prezi, Click “exit” on the upper right hand corner of the screen to return to your home page.

Revised Lit Reflection: Eight and Twenty

Eight and Twenty

Daybreak

Blink, hard.
Clamp toes release, slightly better.
Now-
Take a breath
Worry thought
Worry thought
Blink, hard.

The Middle

Lists, things many things
Time of the essence
Nervous anxious
Blink, release
Better.
Overwhelming blink
Apprehensive for the 100th time
People pleasing, heart racing, how do I explain myself?
Blink, hoping everything is O.K.
Constant thoughts, constant racing, wondering, deciphering
Anxiety, pushing, crushing it further from my skin

Crash

For just a moment, peace ensues
Then blink again.
Better.

Literary Reflection

Daily

Blink. Hard.
Clamp toes release, slightly better
Now-
Take a breath.
Blink, again blink.
Worry thought
Worry thought
Blink, hard.
Lists, things many things
Time of the essence
Nervous, anxious
Blink, release.
Better.
Overwhelming blink
Worried for the 100th time
People pleasing, heart racing.
Blink, hoping everything is ok.
Constant thoughts, constant racing, wondering, worrying.
Anxiety, blinking it away
For just a moment, peace ensues.
Then blink again. Better.