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LESSON MINI

Researching and Writing Life Stories

Grade:

3-5

Topic:

Biography

Unit:

Biographies Explored
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Overview

Boy reaching for book on library shelf.
© Wavebreakmedia—iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

In this lesson mini, students gain a deeper understanding of how biographies help us learn about important people and their impact on the world. They learn to differentiate between biographies and autobiographies, analyze age-appropriate biographical texts, and practice note-taking skills. Through group work and class discussion, students examine the lives of notable figures and identify key elements of their life stories.

Ideas for Implementation
Science or Social Studies
Literacy
Library media
Learning centers
Intervention or enrichment
Interdisciplinary collaboration
Key Vocabulary & Definitions
author (noun): the person who writes a book or story
autobiography (noun): a written story about someone’s own life, written by that person
biography a written story about a real person’s life, written by someone other than that person
chronological order (noun phrase): the arrangement of events in the order that they happened in time, from first to last
source (noun): a place where information comes from, such as a book, a person, a website, or a documentary
subject (noun): the person a biography or autobiography is about
Authentic Learning Extensions
Authentic learning opportunities for studying biographies involve real-world experiences and practical applications that help students understand biographical concepts meaningfully. Here are some examples:
Connecting with Community: Identify an important figure relevant to the students’ local community to increase real-life relevance. With proper permissions, and if possible, invite this local community figure to the class as a guest speaker. If the person is deceased or unavailable, try to have a secondary source, such as someone who knew the person well, speak to the class. This connection makes history more tangible and meaningful.
Field Trips: Organize a visit to a museum, research institution, or university where students can interact with experts related to a specific historical figure the entire class has researched. This experience allows students to see real-world research in action and engage directly with knowledgeable individuals in the field.
From Page to Stage: Have your class produce a documentary-style short film or play about a historical figure. Encourage a class discussion on what to include in the documentary, how to describe each part, which pictures would best depict the person’s life, and whether reenactments should be included. This activity integrates creativity, collaboration, and historical analysis.
Library Exploration Sessions: Schedule a visit to the school library or local library where students can explore sources related to their biography research topics. Librarians can assist students in locating materials and teach them how to use catalogs and databases effectively. This fosters research skills and resourcefulness.

Choose Activity

Activity 1
Activity 2
Activity 3
Activity 4
Activity 5
2
Researching and Writing Life Stories

Activity

1:

Uncovering Life Stories with 5Ws and 1H

By the end of the activity, students will be able to analyze a biography using the 5Ws and 1H method, identify key elements of a person’s life story, and explain how these details contribute to the understanding of historical or notable figures.

>40

Minutes

Materials

Whiteboard and display
Writing utensils

Resources

5Ws and 1H graphic organizer (one per student and one for teacher display)
Britannica School Amelia Earhart article https://school.eb.com/levels/elementary/article/Amelia-Earhart/353073
Britannica School Malala Yousafzai article https://school.eb.com/levels/elementary/article/Malala-Yousafzai/610609
Britannica School Neil Armstrong article https://school.eb.com/levels/elementary/article/Neil-Armstrong/352784
1
Tell students that during today’s activity they will be detectives, uncovering key information about people’s lives from biographies.
2
Introduce or review the concept of a biography:
a)
Explain that a biography is a story about someone’s life written by another person.
b)
Guide students in creating a simple definition for “biography.”
c)
Briefly discuss why people write and read biographies (to learn about important or interesting people).
3
Display and introduce the 5Ws and 1 H graphic organizer that students will use to identify key details in biographies. Explain each component:
Who? identifying key information such as the subject’s name, occupation, or hobbies
What? identifying significant events and experiences in the person’s life
Where? identifying significant locations in the person’s life story
When? identifying the time period in which the story takes place
Why? identifying any motivations for the subject’s actions
How? explaining how these details help us understand the main message about this person’s life
4
Model how to use the graphic organizer with a simple, familiar example. You could use a short paragraph about a well-known figure such as Martin Luther King, Jr., or Rosa Parks.
5
Divide the class into small groups, and distribute a graphic organizer to each student in the group. Assign each group a different age-appropriate biography from Britannica School (e.g., Amelia Earhart article, Malala Yousafzai article, Neil Armstrong article).
6
Have groups read their assigned biographies and complete the 5Ws and 1H graphic organizer.
7
After students complete the organizers, have each group present their findings to the class, sharing the key details they discovered about their subject.
8
Discuss the concept of “significance” in life events. Ask students to identify which events in their subject’s life seem most important, and why.
9
To wrap up the activity, facilitate a class discussion on how biographical details reveal life stories. Ask students the following questions:
What was the most interesting thing you learned about your subject?
How do biographies help us understand people from different times or places?
If you were to write a biography, who would you choose as your subject, and why?
Step-by-Step Support: For younger or struggling students, consider having the small groups complete one section of the 5Ws and 1H graphic organizer at a time before reporting back to the class. This allows for real-time corrections and prevents students from becoming overwhelmed.
Extended Research: For older or more advanced students, provide additional resources from Britannica School for their assigned figure. Encourage them to incorporate this extra information into their 5Ws and 1H graphic organizer for a more comprehensive biography.
Biography Presentation Project: Have students create and present a digital or nondigital visual presentation about their assigned historical figure using the 5Ws and 1H graphic organizer. This reinforces understanding of biographical details, practices presentation skills, and allows for peer learning.
Parallel Teaching: For collaborative teaching and learning environments, this learning activity is well-suited to a Parallel Teaching strategy. In this model, the class is divided into two groups, and each teacher delivers the same activity simultaneously to their group. This reduces the student-teacher ratio, allowing for more interaction and individualized attention. With smaller groups, students are more likely to participate actively and receive immediate feedback, which fosters a deeper understanding of the content and promotes a more engaging learning experience. Evidence suggests that small-group instruction leads to increased student engagement and improved academic outcomes.
Introduction: Teachers collaborate to introduce the “biography detective” concept and explain the 5Ws and 1H graphic organizer. They can take turns demonstrating how to use the organizer with a simple example.
Group Work: Each teacher guides their group in reading their assigned biographies from Britannica School and completing the 5Ws and 1H graphic organizer. They provide support and clarification as needed.
Presentation Practice: Teachers help their groups prepare to present their findings, offering guidance on public speaking and how to effectively share biographical information.
Wrap-Up: Bring the class back together for group presentations. Both teachers facilitate the final discussion on the importance of biographical details and how they reveal life stories.
Researching and Writing Life Stories

Activity

2:

Biography Note-Taking

By the end of the activity, students will be able to take notes on a biography they read.

>40

Minutes

Materials

Preselected examples of biographies
Whiteboard and display
Writing utensils

Resources

Biography Note Catcher handout (one per student and one for teacher display)
Britannica School Jane Addams article https://school.eb.com/levels/elementary/article/Jane-Addams/352705
1
Tell students that during today’s activity they will learn to take notes using a Biography Note Catcher handout that details the history and timeline of key achievements of the person selected.
2
Show students the covers of several biographies. Ask:
What do all of these books have in common?
Consider introducing or reviewing a kid-friendly definition of the word biography, such as “a story written about someone’s life by someone else.”
3
Have students brainstorm as a class what elements they would expect a biography to include. Write their ideas on the board. Guide them toward answers such as these: a person’s name, when they were born, important things they did, and why they’re remembered.
4
Display the Jane Addams article, or a preferred text of your choosing, and tell students they will learn about her role as an important historical figure. Read a short excerpt aloud as a class, modeling how to identify key details as you read.
5
Introduce the Biography Note Catcher graphic organizer to the class. Explain each section of the organizer and how it helps organize information about a person’s life. Model how to fill out the organizer using the information from the excerpt you just read. Think aloud as you fill in one or two sections.
6
Organize students into pairs or small groups, and distribute a Biography Note Catcher graphic organizer to each student. Have students read the rest of the article together with their partner or group, stopping after each paragraph to discuss what information to put in their organizer.
7
As students work, circulate to provide support and clarification as needed. Encourage students to use their own words instead of copying directly from the text.
8
After students have completed their notes, bring the class back together to review and discuss their findings. As a class, fill in the displayed copy of the Biography Note Catcher, ensuring all key points about Jane Addams are covered.
9
Wrap up the activity by having students reflect on the process. Ask the following questions:
How did the Biography Note Catcher help you understand Jane Addams’s life?
What was challenging about taking notes?
What would you do differently next time?
Note-Taking Practice: For younger or struggling students, consider taking notes or highlighting key information as you read the text for the first time. This will ensure that students do not get overwhelmed by the size of the Biography Note Catcher because they will already know where the important information is.
Library Visit: For older or more advanced students, consider a trip to the school library or media center to find a book about their biography subject to supplement their note catchers. This will give them a more in-depth understanding of their biographical figure within a larger historical context.
Biography Trading Cards: Have students create biography trading cards based on their note catchers. On one side, they could draw a picture of their historical figure, and on the other side, they could list key facts and achievements. The card could be displayed in the classroom or shared with other classes.
Parallel Teaching: For collaborative teaching and learning environments, this learning activity is well suited to a Parallel Teaching strategy. In this model, the class is divided into two groups, and each teacher delivers the same activity simultaneously to their group. This reduces the student-teacher ratio, allowing for more interaction and individualized attention. With smaller groups, students are more likely to participate actively and receive immediate feedback, which fosters a deeper understanding of the content and promotes a more engaging learning experience. Evidence suggests that small-group instruction leads to increased student engagement and improved academic outcomes.
Introduction: Both teachers introduce the concept of biographies and the Biography Note Catcher graphic organizer to their respective groups, ensuring all students understand the task.
Modeling: Each teacher models how to use the note catcher, thinking aloud as they fill in the organizer.
Guided Practice: As students work in pairs to complete their note catchers, each teacher circulates within their group, providing support as needed.
Group Sharing: Within each group, students share their completed note catchers, with teachers facilitating the discussion
Wrap-Up: Both groups come together for a final discussion. Each teacher leads their group in sharing key findings about Jane Addams, creating a comprehensive class note catcher.
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