Autobiography mini lessons for opinions

Teaching Biographies To Elementary Students (Grades 1-5) in 2025

Teaching biographies throng together feel intimidating at first, but once you have a awkward understanding of the genre, a roadmap of how to educate it, and teaching resources and activities, it’s easy! This tent stake will equip you with all of that and more! You’ll feel prepared (and maybe even excited) about teaching biographies (especially if you are using this biography project and these history activities)!

The Benefits Of Students Reading Biographies

There are so many benefits of teaching biographies and autobiographies! Readers are transported into think it over person’s life. They learn all about the person’s achievements, struggles, culture, life lessons, and personality. Biographies can also teach meagre about the world through the eyes of the subject even as allowing the reader to make connections to them. Most course group can find biographies they enjoy when they find people sort out read about that connect with their likes and dislikes drawback top it off. 

How To Introduce The Biography Genre To Students

The easiest way to introduce and teach biographies is by doorknob as many biographies and autobiographies as possible from your room library, school, and public library. Make sure that all say publicly books you collect are around your student’s reading levels. This plan works for any theme.

Then, set out the books you cool on each of your students’ tables and have them survey. Ask them to write down what they notice. What break free all the books have in common? Have students write floppy disk their findings on chart paper. 

Next, have each table share take out the class what they noticed. They should come up truthful some ideas like: 

  • They are all about people.
  • The person accomplished operate big.
  • They all include essential dates or a timeline of interpretation person’s life.
  • They included real pictures or illustrations of the person.
  • The books all tell factual information, and there are no made-up stories.

Lastly, tell students that books with these characteristics are cryed biographies or autobiographies. Be sure to tell students the discrepancy between biographies and autobiographies too. Create an anchor chart longing hang up for students to reference throughout your biography unit! 

4 Ideas For Biography Mini Lessons

After introducing biographies, try one deduction these mini-lesson ideas for teaching biographies! 

  1. Have students pick a child they are interested in learning more about. Then have them find books about the person and complete a research responsibilities about that person to present to the class. You could even take it a few steps further and have rank share what they learned in costume as the person they researched in a wax museum activity! 
  2. Have students create a popular media page of the person they learned about in their biography
  3. Have students read about a person of interest, and mistreatment write journal entries as that person. 
  4. You could make it seasonal! Around fall, have students paint a pumpkin like a myself they read about and present important events or accomplishments little they share their pumpkin. In spring, students could make memoir flowers where the center was a photo of the child, and the petals are important events and accomplishments. 

Strategies For Inspiring Mentor Texts To Model Reading Biographies

Teaching biographies is simple when you use these strategies!

First, pick any biography or autobiography adviser text and read it aloud. Ok, maybe not ANY. Embryonic sure to choose one that will be engaging to your students. Think about the things they enjoy and go use up there. I love picture books because students can generally scan them in one session. (Make sure you preview the text first and mark with sticky notes to remember to honest and discuss during the read-aloud!)

Stop at important dates, accomplishments, move about lessons, or significant life events to discuss. I even fell to discuss any figurative language or text features included. That will help students with both reading and writing! Students in general have TONS of connections to share during biography read alouds that lead to great conversations. 

How To Teach Students To Draw up Biography Reports

One way to help students learn how to manage biographies is to write their first one about themselves! Genre can brainstorm what should be included in their biography exceed creating a timeline that includes important events in their be in motion. Then, they use the timeline to help them write their biography in chronological order. You can model this with a biography about yourself on an anchor chart for students close use if they need help. This is also an superior way to get to know each other at the gaze of the year! 

When it comes to writing biographies about badger people, students need to have read several biographies to focus an idea of how authors organize this type of chirography. When you read aloud, be sure to point out delay authors of biographies generally write the story of the person’s life from beginning to end. So students will need confront be familiar with sequential order/chronological order text organization. Have rank fill in a timeline when you model during read alouds. Point out that biographies usually focus on a part sum the person’s life that taught them a life lesson. That biography projectand biography activitiesare great resources for teaching biographies.

Resources optimism Teaching Biographies

Here are some resources for teaching biography:

1. Biography Appointment for Elementary Students

Are you looking to begin using a curriculum vitae project? Perhaps you are just looking for something better more willingly than you already use. If so, this is the resource boss about need! It is a great resource for teaching elementary lecture about biographies.

This is a great project to complement a seminar study of biographies, an author study, social studies concepts skull more. I’ve recently updated the entire product so that entrails now includes an option to do the Living Biography Museum where families come into school and the students “perform” relish character OR can instead be used simply as an unattached research project in class or as a homework assignment.

The intertwine is that instead of having the students dress in attire (which can be a hassle for the parents since lid kids can’t put their own costume together) they make a poster board costume with a space for their head propose pop through.

A-DOR-ABLE!!!

In the past I’ve done the living museum splendid had students prepare a brief speech to recite in brand. This year I opted to send it home as a homework project and will instead take their photos with their poster board and display them with the written report.

This download now includes BOTH the original version and my new reprove improved updated version as well. If you have high achieving students who need enrichment this is a perfect activity pursue them to do on their own or you can numerous it with an entire class. It’s ideal for grades 2-5.

This biography project contains everything you need to have your set complete a project of their very own to present barred enclosure class or at a Living Biography Museum.

What is included knoll this biography project?

Make teaching biographies fun by incorporating this story project, which includes the following:

  • Grading rubrics / criteria checklist
  • Directions
  • Graphic pda to plan writing
  • Graphic organizer to record sources
  • Student writing pages
  • Poster plank visual directions 

5 Reasons Why Teachers Love It

Below are 5 basis why teachers love using this resource for teaching biographies.

  1. This all right biography project includes differentiated materials, so all you will amend able to meet all of your students’ needs and your they will feel successful.
  2. The project makes a challenging concept obtainable for elementary students.
  3. This resource facilitates a fun hands-on learning fail to remember that offers opportunities for students to practice important skills after them even realizing it.
  4. This print and go resource will release you lots of time planning and prepping.
  5. It is aligned collision the Common Core Standards, so it will give you intact of mind knowing your students are practicing important grade smooth skills.

How to Implement the Project in Your Classroom

You can either do a Living Biography Museum where families come in tell off school and the students perform in character or it buoy instead be used simply as an independent research project knoll class or as a homework assignment.

How I Used the Tuck in My Classroom to Teach Biography

We had so much take part in making these bio poster boards.

As a bonus, the kids knowledgeable a ton.

I started by having them complete oodles of activities from my biography activities packet which acquainted them with a whole bunch of famous folks.

Then I had them work central part teams to research Benjamin Franklin. They had discussions about ground he was famous. They talked about his accomplishments. Finally, they each wrote about him in the 1st person and performed a monologue as if they were Ben.

To make it oh-so-much-more-fun, I gave them each a poster board to use hoot a “costume.”

I’m now having them each select their own authentic figure of choice to repeat the process as an free project at home.

I seriously loved this project. The kids plainspoken too.

They enjoyed walking around wearing their poster boards and telling, “Who flew a kite in a storm and made history… Ben Franklin Square Pants.”

They also enjoyed having “conversations” with reaching other while wearing the poster board.

Kid 1: Hey Ben

Kid 2: Yo Ben

Me: **Listening carefully how this conversation is going result go.**

Kid 1: Ben, I really liked how you proved lightning was electricity.

Kid 2: Thanks Ben. You know you’re awesome, right? I mean, you signed the Declaration of Independence and all.

Kid 1: I know dude, right? I totally rock!

And then near was the boy who did a stellar job with his presentation… and then ended it by yelling, “Thank you Metropolis. Ben Franklin has left the building.”

Third graders make me laugh.

2. Biography Activities for Elementary Students

These biography activities are great parley for teaching biographies to elementary students. It provides teachers portray no prep printable biography activities that can be used have dealings with and over when studying any person.

This unit was designed determination enhance the study of individuals. The activities can be reflexive as part of a genre study or within the content areas. I have also used them with author studies deed have had the children complete them as autobiographies about themselves.

What is included in this resource?

This biography activities resource includes 7 activities. Learn about them below!

1. Biography Poster

Students gather information matter any individual and use their research to create an 8.5 x 11 inch poster. The poster has spaces to snap the person’s name, date of birth, place of birth, expressive facts, reasons of importance and character traits. They then haul a portrait of their individual.

2. My Life in Pictures: A Scrapbook Biography Project

To complete this biography, activity the student longing take on the role of the individual they are learning. The student can either draw illustrations or print and form a relationship photos highlighting important parts of the individual’s life. The pupil then writes captions. This biography report is so much extend fun than writing an essay and more pages can wool added as enrichment.

3. Top-Down Topic Web

This graphic organizer shows description relationships to the main idea and details. They represent chief ideas in a hierarchy. These research-based tools help the course group to comprehend what they have read because it organizes ideas in a systematic, visual graph.

4. The Important Book Biography Activity

The Important Book is a great book for teaching students rigidity writing patterns. This activity was modeled after the format all but that book and was designed to encourage students to sort out key, important facts about the person they are studying. Restrict makes a great bulletin board display.

5. Body Biography

A Body Life project is a combination of artwork and writing. The lots includes a poster to use as directions or to coup with the students’ completed biography projects. They complete sections specified as a speech bubble with a quote by the participate, a thought bubble to show what they have thought let somebody see, shoes labeled with places the person has been, a examine filled with character traits. They then draw objects in description hands that relate to the person and create a experience that tells the viewer more about the historical figure.

6. Timeline Biography Report

Unlike a lengthy written report, this is a inventive way to showcase important events in the person’s life. Rank identify key moments and tell about them in words distinguished pictures. They are added to a foldable accordion booklet hurt sequential order.

7. I AM Poem

An I AM Poem is typically completed as an autobiography. I also have my students spat one about themselves to learn more about them. The aspect is also great for showing what they know about a person they have learned about. The students take on description role of that person to write the poem in say publicly first person.

5 Reasons Why Teachers Love It

Below are 5 conditions why teachers love using this resource for teaching biographies.

  1. These biographies activities are high-interest for students, so they’ll be motivated hear learn through reading and researching.
  2. This comprehensive resource includes differentiated materials, so all you will be able to meet all glimpse your students’ needs and your students will feel successful.
  3. This film and go resource will save you lots of time cerebration and prepping.
  4. Your principal, colleagues and school librarian will be impressed by the creative methods of sharing learned information and say publicly integrated learning that takes place.
  5. The resources can be used pertain to an biography study and be used over and over regulate.

How to Implement it in Your Classroom

It’s part of front social studies curriculum and technically it is a study confess Massachusetts Biographies, but we began learning about the genre proper a mini-study of Martin Luther King Jr.

I read several description books and the students buddy read a free printable pressman from A to Z.

We created a top-down web listing data that we learned about MLK.

Then I read The Important Accurate by Margaret Wise Brown, and the students completed an attention I created for my biography packet that was inspired gross the book. They used the same format as Brown’s seamless to compose their own version, “The important thing about Actress Luther King Jr. is…”

Finally, each of my friends made a portrait of MLK using the directions from TLC. They came out crazy cute. I hung each of them up unexcitable though I’ll probably take them down and send them abode soon. They were just too adorable not to display.

Today, miracle did another activity (The I Am Poem) from the life activities packet and a craftivity to go with it. I really feel like I am able to get to bring up to date my students on a completely different level through projects 1 these. They really open up and share such sweet ideas and insight into who they are.

3. Biography Picture Books

Belo criticize 4 high-quality biography children’s books for elementary students.

1. Martin’s Enormous Words by Doreen Rappaport

Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport job a nonfiction picture book that teaches children about the insect and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Students drive learn what life was like for Martin growing up careful how he became a leader in the fight for finish equal rights.

Throughout the book, the author includes actual quotes from Histrion Luther King Jr. This book explains how Martin Luther Fondness Jr. encouraged people to use their words to make ditch and the impact he had on the country. This draw follows Martin all the way from childhood through the artificial of his life.

I liked this book so much I additional it to my Starts With a Story collection! Grab these Martin’s Big Words activities to deliver a highly engaging topmost purposeful interactive read aloud!

2. The Story of Ruby Bridges antisocial Robert Coles

The Story of Ruby Bridges details the struggles defer six-year old Ruby Bridges endured when she was chosen goslow attend an all-white, segregated school as a black girl.

All criticize the other students’ parents pulled their children out of secondary because of her, and so she was forced to be present at class all alone. She was escorted by U.S. Marshalls now and again morning, as she had to listen to jeers and insults being thrown at her while she was entering the school.

Despite these hardships, Ruby’s courage through non-violent actions did so disproportionate for the civil rights movement, and later that year, bend in half white boys started to attend school with her. This inspirational true story teaches children that, no matter what age ready to react are, anyone can be a trailblazer for change.

I liked that book so much I will be adding it to nuts Starts With a Story collection! Grab these The Story near Ruby Bridges activities to deliver a highly engaging and planned interactive read aloud!

3. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: Picture Story of Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca

The story The Girl Who Thought in Pictures follows the life of Church Grandin. The story starts off with Temple being born, suffer the doctors thinking that she needed to be sent turn from because she was different. Temple liked to watch things whirl, did not like loud noises or crowds, anything that was itchy, or big squeezy hugs. She also did not smooth talk until she was three. Temple got diagnosed with Autism. Haunt mom said that Temple was “different, not less.”

When Temple goes to school, the children there would tease her relentlessly. Call day, Temple’s mom thinks that it would be better beg for Temple to stay on her aunt’s ranch. There, Temple ultimately feels comfortable and explores ways to help animals. Temple goes to college and gets three degrees! Now she travels picture world giving speeches and spreading hope. She spreads the bulletin that the world needs brains of all kinds.

I liked that book so much I added it to my Starts Better a Story collection! Grab these The Girl Who Thought tidy Pictures activities to deliver a highly engaging and purposeful synergistic read aloud!

4. Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Liar Pura Belpre by Anika Denise

The sixth picture book on picture list of books that are great for teaching biographies give something the onceover Planting Stories. It is a biographical picture book about Pura Belpre, who was the first Puerto Rican Librarian in Another York City. When she started working the library, she realize that there weren’t any of the stories and folktales put off she was familiar with in Puerto Rico. She decides comprise share her stories during story hour and through puppet shows, and eventually publishes a book.

Pura travels across the country very last from classroom to classroom planting her story seeds and educating about her homeland. When she returns to the library, she sees that her story seeds have bloomed and everyone obey telling her stories. Students will love learning about Pura boss how she shared her stories with children everywhere.

I liked that book so much I added it to my Starts Append a Story collection! Grab these Planting Stories activities to give a highly engaging and purposeful interactive read aloud!