Creating Lives: An Introduction to Biography

Classroom Activities

Three activities will be given as an example of how the content of this unit can be distributed. The three will take about a week each or more depending on any extra activities. To introduce biography to the classroom the student will pick someone in the classroom and draw a portrait and write three sentences about them. The questions for the sentences should be crafted to ask personal information. That information can be such things as how many siblings, favorite games or places to go. Then let each introduce their portrait to the class. After this introduce the word biography, define and explain the basic components of this genre. This reference could be to Hermione Lee's book on biography. It states some of the expected pieces in this type of story. At this time introduce a diary and give each student one. You can purchase them inexpensively at a dollar store. Give examples of their use and tell the students that they may write anything daily about themselves in them. Let the students know for the next several months we will be reading about three individuals biographies. They are Helen Keller, Walt Disney and Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss). As you read each of their bios, state their special interest or group involvement. I would start off with Helen Keller. The biographies of these individuals can be found in your school library or at the public library.

Lesson 1 Helen Keller

Read the biography Helen Keller by Nigel Hunter. Chunk the story and ask questions along the way. The questions should promote comprehension strategies. Those questions can be through the writer's craft. Take in consideration of the setting, mood, characterization and point of view. Also ask questions that sum up what a page may have said about a particular time in her life. Ask about pictures or illustrations and the details. Encourage the students to talk to each other about the story. Ask how do you think Helen learned how to read? This should lead into a discussion about her education and how she read her stories with Braille. Helen's special interest was promoting AFB- American Foundation for the Blind. To celebrate this in our class room we will be making a Braille sign with the help of the Art Department. At this time introduce The Helen Keller Museum website. It has a pictorial biography. Let students explore the site. Discuss Braille and embossing. Tell the class we will be getting a sign made in Braille that reads First Grade Room 101. One example of the process of making Braille can be found in the appendices. (Accessed July 22, 2010 ehow.com)

Lesson 2 Walt Disney

Introduce Walt Disney movies show two examples. Let the students take a survey on the ones that they most like. The class will dictate which movie will be shown. Show the movie of their choice. Tell them that you will show the other ones later on in the year. Introduce Walt's biography Walt Disney Creator of Magical Worlds by Charnan Simon. Continue to use some of the reading concepts that will help with comprehension skills as discussed in the strategies section. Tell about his love for making drawings and telling stories with pictures. He enjoyed movie making He also made the famous Walt Disney characters Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Minnie. These characters were used in animation films. They may name the other ones. Introduce his website and how it can be used. We will make a Flip Book which is an early form of animation. The direction for making the book will be in the appendices. (Accessed July 22, 2010 ehow.com)

Lesson 3 Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr.Seuss)

Introduce Dr. Seuss. I happen to have a hat that goes with one of his stories. The biography about him can be read with much drama. Continue with asking questions to solicit comprehension skills. Read the biography The Boy on Fairfield Street How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss by Kathleen Krull. This biography starts as most fairy tales do, that is with "once upon a time. This is a great time to talk about the way stories or poems are written, since he writes in a poetic form. This is also an opportunity to talk about how the biography is written. Introduce the website Seussville and show how to use the story maker. State the fact that Dr. Seuss enjoyed writing in a special tempo and rhyming style. His stories helped students learn how to read. He wrote books like our readers. At this time all of Dr. Seuss books should be made available on the reading shelves. A list of some of the appropriate ones will follow. These books can be used for different reading levels. After reading about Dr. Seuss, introduce dolch words.

Dolch words are words that are frequently seen in sentences and reading material that is based on the level of the reader and their books. Most of the words cannot be sounded out. They have no particular phonetic pattern. They are also called Sight Words These words should be posted in the room and flashed several times a week. This will help the students read fluently. There are forty one words.

Dolch Words

There are 41 sight words in the Dolch first grade word list:

after, again, an, any, as, ask, by, could, every, fly, from, give, giving, had, has, her, him, his, how, just, know, let, live, may, of, old, once, open, over, put, round, some, stop, take, thank, them, then, think, walk, were and when.

Dr. Seuss Books

Bartholomew and the Oobleck

And to Think I Saw that on Mulberry Street

The Cat in the Hat

The Foot Book

Fox in a Sox

Gerald McBoing Boing

Green Eggs and Ham

Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!

Hop on Pop

The Lorax

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Horton Hears a Who

The King Stilts

There's a Wocket in my Pocket

Daisy- Head Mayzie

Yertle the Turtle

McElligots Pool

Oh the Places You'll Go