Title:
Biography: Famous Woman in History
Grade Level:
3-5
Subject:
English Language Arts
Author:
Kristina Guerra
Teacher Innovation Grant Recipient:
This teacher is a recipient of Teacher Innovation Grant.
Brief Description:
Women's History Month is in the month of March. As the students study famous women in history, they will work with a partner in choosing a woman that inspired them, and whom they'd like to highlight in a written report.
California State Standards Addressed:
2.0 Writing Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)
Goal(s):
Students will be proficient in writing expository text and show proficiency in the characteristics of expository writing.
Specific Objectives:
-Students will write a biography that includes three paragraphs (childhood, adulthood, and important events).
-Students will improve their expository writing by using factual information only and deleting any opinions, and combining short sentences to create complex sentences.
Required Materials:
Anticipatory Set (Lead-in):
Read children's biography of Helen Keller and Anne Frank. Discuss reasons why they are considered to be famous women in history. What made them inspirational? What odds did they face and overcome? What can we learn from them? Why are they still remembered even today?
Lesson Plan Procedure:
Students and their partner will choose a women to focus on from various biography books provided by the teacher. Using the document camera, teacher will show a student example of a completed report from a previous year's student (or you can model each section/paragraph). Teacher and students will highlight the important parts that pertain to each section of childhood, adulthood, and important events. Emphasize and highlight dates, numbers, titles of awards, and significant names in order to show facts. Students will use a graphic organizer or index cards to write down important facts and information for each of the three sections. They will then begin to write their rough draft. After each section/paragraph, they will revise and edit with their partner. Teacher will use a current student sample with the document camera to show revision (delete and add information), and to "sentence lift" for editing (to combine sentences and delete opinions). Students are to meet with teacher to show their revisons and editing before moving on to the next section/paragraph. Once their rough draft is complete, they will use a computer or laptop to type their report and add a photo of the women in history.
Closure (Reflect Anticipatory Set):
Students will journal their thoughts on the woman in history they chose to study by answering some of the questions discussed in the introduction: Why was she inspirational to you? What can we learn from her? Why do you think she is still remembered even today?
Plan for Independent Practice:
Students will independently write three factual and informative paragraphs alongside their partner. They will revise and edit each paragraph following a model lesson given by the teacher.
Assessment Based on Objectives:
Students and their partner will present their report to the class using the document camera.
Possible Connections to Other Subjects:
- Social Studies/History
- Computers and Technology
Adaptations and Extensions:
The final report can be a power point presentation. Bulleted facts and information can be on each slide for the sections of childhood, adulthood, and important events.
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