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