Biography

Reading the Biography

Grade Levels:3rd - 6th Grade
[Can easily be modified for middle and high school]

Subject: Language Arts; American History

Learner's Outcome:The student will read a biography about a famous American, keeping a reading journal about the main character that includes the following:

setting

main events

character sketches

Duration of the Lesson: This will depend upon the length of the biography being read.

    Materials:    biography
                      biography reading journal template
                rubric assessment

    Technology Tools/Courseware:   computer
                                                    word processor software (Microsoft
                                                            Word; Lotus Word Pro; Word Perfect;
                                                             Children's Writing and Publishing)

Teacher Notes:

Select a biography that is appropriate for your grade level.
Have a copy for each student.
Use audio books or TROLL's Biography CD's for those students who are unable to read the proposed selection.
Download the biography reading journal template on each computer or on the network prior to the beginning of the lesson.
If only one or a few computers are available in your classroom, prepare a schedule for student use OR print out biography reading journal template for each student. They will need one for each chapter.
Make a copy of the biography reading journal template and the rubric assessmentfor each student to be used in the introductory lesson.
Make an overhead of the biography reading journal template if using an overhead projector.
Prior to the lesson, set up the overhead projector or the data projector.

Lesson Procedures

Modifications:
Students with special needs:

Assign a reading buddy to help them with the reading and the completion of the journal pages.
Provide audio books and/or interactive cd software (Troll's Biographies)

Enrichment Activities:

Go to Biographies About Presidents . Select a president and create a timeline chart using all the dates given in the biography.
Create a word puzzle using people found on the Biographies about Explorers and Associated People.
Make a corresponding timeline of events in history with the individual's timeline.
Read another biography about the individual written by a different author. Compare the two biographies. How are they the same? How are they different?

Internet treasure hunt on George Washington.

Evaluation/Assessment:

Students will receive points for each journal page completed. These points will then be turned into a numerical grade for the completed reading journal. An instructional rubric will be used in scoring each page.

RUBRIC

State and National Standards:
   West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives:
        Reading Comprehension:    3.15, 3.16, 3.17, 3.20, 3.24, 3.27, 3.31,
                                                    4.19, 4.20, 4.21, 4.26, 4.29, 4.37, 4.40,
                                                    5.15, 5.16, 5.18, 5.19, 5.20, 5.21, 5.24, 5.34,
                                                    6.16, 6.22, 6.26, 6.27, 6.30, 6.31
        Study Skills:    3.77, 3.79, 4.85, 4.87, 5.176, 6.148, 6.150
        Computer/Technology:    3.85, 4.101, 5.18, 6.155

National Standards

References:

Diana Burns
Cheryl Osborne
Linda Whitman
Bradley Elementary
210 Bradley School Road
Mt. Hope, WV 25880
304-256-4605

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