biography project worksheet

256 Biography English ESL worksheets pdf & doc

A great way to teach about history and content-area topics, biographies highlight famous figures, inventors, scientists, civil rights leaders, sports legends, and heroes. Many of these mini-books, plays, and passages feature question/response activities, biography worksheets, teaching guides, lesson ideas, and graphic organizers.

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Biography Booklet

Help your learners become experts about an important historical figure! Kindergarteners through second graders can use this versatile Biography Booklet printable to research and write about someone in booklet form. Each page has a prompt to help guide students. Choose single-sided or double-sided printing for this reader; after printing, cut the pages and staple them together to make two separate booklets. This literacy booklet is a great way to support early writing skills, including simple research and selecting a topic.

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Biography Writing Teaching Resources for 4th Grade

• Teaching Resource 24
• English Language Arts  22
• Writing  21
• Types of Writing  19
• Expository Writing  18
• Inquiry and Research  8
• Social Studies  5
• US History  4
• Historical Figures  3
• Reading Comprehension  3
• Women's Rights Movement  2
• Report Writing  2
• Reading Response Skills  2
• Text Structures  2
• Special Areas  2
• World History  1
• Westward Expansion  1
• Interact with Text  1
• Physical Education  1
• English Language Arts and Reading  1
• 1st Grade 1
• 2nd Grade 6
• 3rd Grade 19
• 4th Grade 22
• 5th Grade 23
• 6th Grade 18

resource types

• Templates 16
• Worksheets 5
• Word Walls 2
• Interactive Games 2
• Writing Checklist 2
• Checklist Templates 2
• Flipbooks 2
• Writing Templates 2
• Classroom Posters 1
• Inquiry Based Learning Activities 1
• Cut and Paste Worksheets 1
• Teaching Slides 1
• Task Cards 1
• Classroom Decor 1
• Graphic Organizers 1
• Brochure Templates 1

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File formats.

• Printable PDF 21
• Google Slides 11
• Microsoft Word (.docx) 2
• Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) 2
• Adobe Reader (.pdf) 1
• Teach Starter Publishing 24

Biography Timeline Template

Use this multipurpose timeline template for a variety of assignments, projects, and more!

Biography Writing Checklist

Now your students can make sure that they have everything they need in their biography.

Let's Research! Digital and Print Poster Project Templates

Conduct, organize, and display research about books, people, planets, animals, states, and countries with a versatile set of printable and digital poster templates.

My Research Project - Pennant Banner

Create a pennant banner for students to record and display their biography research.

Biography Cube

Research and create an interactive biography for a historical figure.

Informative Writing Word Wall

Display key vocabulary related to informative writing with a set of 48 word wall cards.

Biography Word Wall

A set of 30 vocabulary words related to biography writing.

Who is Amanda Gorman? Biography Research Template

Conduct and organize Amanda Gorman facts and research with a printable or digital flipbook activity.

Dr. Mae Jemison – Biography Structure Sorting Task

Read and sort to help students learn about the structure of a biography with our cut and paste biography worksheet.

Jane Addams Biography - Worksheet

Use this biographical constructed response worksheet to teach your students about Jane Addams.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition - Interactive Research Templates

Use these three templates to record notes or research project content on the life and contributions of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and Sacagawea

Writing a Biography Project

Use this PowerPoint template for students to author a researched-based biography on a historical figure.

Elements of a Biography Poster

Use this biographical writing poster with annotations to help your students understand how to write an engaging biography.

Writing Biographical Texts PowerPoint

A 29-slide, editable PowerPoint template to use when teaching older students about the structure and language features of biographical texts.

Biography Research Template

A research template for older students to use when writing a biography.

Biography Writing Checklist – Structure, Language, and Features

A checklist for students to use when proofreading and editing their biography writing.

Biography Brochure Template

Help your students organize their thoughts about their biography subject.

Biography Flipbook Template

Create a flipbook that clearly illustrates the most significant aspects of a biography subject.

Biography Writing Template

Guide students through the structure and elements included in biography writing.

Character Development – Fakebook Page Worksheet

Use research and creative writing skills to design a social media profile for fiction or nonfiction persons.

Biography Sentence Starters

Give students a jumpstart on writing about people with 24 sentence starters.

Athlete Profile Template

A worksheet to use in the classroom when writing athlete profiles.

• Biography Writing for 1st Grade
• Biography Writing for 2nd Grade
• Biography Writing for 3rd Grade
• Biography Writing for 5th Grade
• Biography Writing for 6th Grade

3 Ideas for Student Biography Research Projects Upper Elementary

When the second half of the school year comes around, it is officially biography season in my classroom!

That is because when the second half of the year comes we shift our focus during reading and writing to nonfiction and informative text . The engagement is instant as kids just love to read nonfiction. After we get our feet with reading a wide range of informative texts, we begin to closely study biographies.

Students LOVE to read about real people and the impact that they have had on the world . Every year students are always so motivated during our biography research project time. Our biography project is the first research project of the year, so it is important to me that I support them every step of the way.

Over the years I have found that by breaking down the process step by step for our biography reports students are not only successful when writing their first research essay of the year, but they are able to take the skills that they learned throughout the unit and apply it to future research projects that we do, like studying endangered animals and National Parks . 

Continue to read to find out how I approach teaching BEFORE I expect students to research and write an expository research essay .

1. Break Down Biographies

• are one person's telling about another person's life
• can be about people who have died or are still living
• include basic facts about the person of focus
• include information about the person's education and childhood
• usually tell about problems or struggles that they faced
• describe their major life achievements

Once we have gone over the characteristics found in biographies we get reading so that students can find these characteristics in action.

I start by reading a few short biographies like the ones found in anthologies like this one, Herstory written by Katherine Halligan:

We stop and discuss the elements that we listed on our anchor chart.  I have students find examples of struggles, accomplishments, and facts.

Once students have listened to a few biographies, I send them off to annotate a   biography article . 

Students take highlighters and sticky notes and mark up the text , citing where they found elements of biographies. This activity works well in partnerships so that the students can discuss each element with a peer.

At the close of this first lesson on biographies, I send students off with the task to think about a person that they would like to research . While I do like to encourage students to pick someone they are interested in, I do also guide them on who they select.

I tell my students to pick someone who has had an impact on the world and someone who is not a movie/TV/YouTube star. You can make any rules you want to help guide students or set no rules. I have found that spending a few minutes brainstorming appropriate people to research sets the tone for the whole project. That is why before we wrap up the lesson we brainstorm ten people who would be great to research. This brainstorming is just to get students excited and thinking. They do not have to pick from the brainstormed list.

The next day, after students have had time to think, and discuss it with their families, which I like to have them do, they submit their research request . They simply write their name on a piece of paper and the name of who they want to research and why. This is a great way to get students to pick someone intentionally and reduces repeat research projects. I never allow more than two people to pick the same person.

Grab the FREE form I have students use to request a focus person and guide right here.

2. Bring it Through the Writing Process

Once students have a good grasp on how to collect information, they are ready to work independently. I assign one topic for research each day. This helps the students stay focused on the daily task and make a research project manageable for upper elementary students. The breakdown I use for each day's research looks like thi s:

• Day 1: Family Life and Early Childhood
• Day 2: Young Adult Life
• Day 3: Adult Life
• Day 4: Accomplishments
• Day 5: Other Important and Interesting Information

Sometimes days are combined based on what resources students are using to collect information. Once students have collected information for their report, we pause our research and return to the writing process.

Students know that we use the writing process for all of our writing. However, mini-lessons in certain areas specific to informative writing are necessary to help students write their first research project. Mini-lessons I teach before students write that are specific to informative writing include :

• hooking your reader
• paragraph organization
• citing sources
• strong closure to wrap up your writing

Teaching students how to take notes and what to do with their notes helps them successfully write their first research project.

3. Get Student Creative Juices Flowing

• design a PPT presentation
• create a tri-fold handout to teach others
• create a puppet of the person
• design a poster
• prepare a speech as if they were the focus person
• allow students to come up with an idea for their presentation. I have to approve their idea based on the resources and materials we have available in the classroom.

When biography season comes around in your classroom, be sure to follow these tips for success! By breaking down biographies, using what students already know about the writing process , and allowing creative choice when it comes to project displays your students will be engaged, motivated, and write the best biography research projects you have ever seen.

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Biography Themed Teaching Resources

Our biographies on famous and historical figures will enhance your lessons and students will enjoy studying them. Included are reading warm-ups, poems, discussion guides, and more. These resources are appropriate for a variety of grade levels, from kindergarten through high school.

Printables for Grades K-5

• Nelson Mandela Biography: A Reading Warm-Up

Helen Keller Biography: A Reading Warm-Up

• Walt Disney Biography: A Nonfiction Reading Warm-Up
• Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad

Helen Keller

Getting to Know Me

Learn About Susan B. Anthony

• More Popular Biography Printables for Grades K-5

Printables for Grades 6-12

• We Beat the Street Discussion Guide
• Albert Einstein Biography: A Reading Warm-Up
• Albert Einstein, Physicist
• The Peanuts Gang: Charles Schulz
• Leonardo da Vinci
• Fastest Woman in the World: Wilma Rudolph
• More Biography Printables for Grades 6-12

Lesson Plans for Grades K-12

An Autobiographical Poem

• Sunflowers, Van Gogh, and You
• Rachel Carson: The Coming of a Silent Spring
• Martin Luther King Jr, Civil Rights Leader
• Marie Curie's Discovery
• Jackie Robinson and Civil Rights
• The Era of Thomas Jefferson
• More Biography Lesson Plans

Biography Teaching Guides

• Red Scarf Girl Teacher's Guide
• Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Teacher's Guide
• A Long Way Gone Teacher's Guide
• The Henry Books: A Teacher's Guide
• Up Close: Jane Goodall Discussion Guide
• Listening Is an Act of Love Teacher's Guide
• Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of the Macy's Day Parade Educator's Guide
• More Biography Teaching Guides

Social Studies Activities

Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl Discussion Guide

• Chronology of Conscription in the U.S. -- Colonial Era to 1999
• Benjamin Franklin Little Book
• Abraham Lincoln Biography & Mini-Book
• Ryan White, My Own Story
• Betsy Ross Little Book
• More Biography Activities for Social Studies

Reading & Language Arts Activities

• Babe Ruth Reading Warm-Up: Biography
• Henry Ford Biography: A Reading Warm-Up
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal

Learning About Famous People

• More Biography Activities for Reading & Language Arts

Science Activities

• Learn About Johnny Appleseed
• Science and Social Studies: Benjamin Franklin
• Bio of a Famous Scientist
• Jane Goodall, Ethologist
• The First Man in Space
• Early Astronomers
• More Biography Activities for Science Class

Holidays & Seasonal Resources

• "I Have a Dream" Little Book
• Jackie Robinson Coloring Page
• Rosa Parks Coloring Page
• Learn About Pocahontas
• Nonfiction Reading Warm-Up: Sacagawea Biography
• More Biography Resources for the Holidays

Art & Music Activities

• My Book About Abraham Lincoln
• My Book About George Washington
• George Washington Carver Coloring Page
• My Book About Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Claude Monet Biography: A Reading Warm-Up

I Have a Dream: Drawing Activity

• More Biography Activities for Art & Music

Biographies & Physical Education Connected

• Past Olympic Athletes: Profiles, Biographies, and Activities

Michelle Kwan Reading Warm-Up

• Jesse Owens: Olympic Champion
• Jackie Robinson Mini-Biography
• Jim Thorpe Reading Warm-Up
• Althea Gibson
• More Physical Education Biographies
• Overview of the Presidents: Basic Facts & Figures
• Martin Luther King Jr.'s Life
• Assassinations and Attempts in U.S. Since 1865
• Just Where Was Columbus?
• President Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. Biography
• President George Washington Biography
• President James Monroe Biography
• More Popular Biography References
• Martin Luther King Jr. Quiz
• Notable African-American Women Quiz
• Martin Luther King Jr. Printable Book (Grades 4-8)
• Popular Presidents' Day Printables

Recommended Biographies Resources

Albert Einstein Biography: A Reading Warm-Up (Grades 5 & 6)

Timeline: Conscription in the United States, 1620-Present

Sense and Sensibility

DAILY WARM-UPS

Clara Barton Reading Warm-Up

Theodor Seuss Geisel Biography

Influencing Others in Our World

Spoonerisms Activity

LESSON PLANS

Birthday Buddies

The Life and Accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr.

Harriet Tubman Writing Activity

Carleton Kendrick Ed.M., LCSW

Homesick: My Own Story

The Anne Frank and Miep Gies Connection

BIOGRAPHY ACTIVITIES | BIOGRAPHY PROJECT | BIOGRAPHY REPORT | AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Description

This top selling biography unit provides teachers with no-prep printable biography activities and projects that can be used over and over when studying any person. This unit is designed to be used when studying anyone. The activities can be used as part of a genre study or within the content areas. I have also used them with author studies and have had the children complete them as autobiographies about themselves.

Teachers looking for a biography poster project, biography scrapbook project, or other unique way to show their understanding of biographies, will find this resource helpful.

WHAT IS INCLUDED:

✔ Basic Overview of the Project: This about the project section serves as a basic overview for teachers.

✔ Biography Poster : Students gather information about any individual and use their research to create an 8.5 x 11 inch poster. The poster has spaces to record the person’s name, date of birth, place of birth, interesting facts, reasons of importance and character traits. They then draw a portrait of their individual.

✔ My Life in Pictures: A Scrapbook Biography Project : To complete this biography activity the student will take on the role of the individual they are studying. The student can either draw illustrations or print and attach photos highlighting important parts of the individual’s life. The student then writes captions. This biography report is so much more fun than writing an essay and more pages can be added as enrichment.

✔ Top-Down Topic Web : This graphic organizer shows the relationships to the main idea and details. They represent main ideas in a hierarchy. These research-based tools help the students to comprehend what they have read because it organizes ideas in a systematic, visual graph.

✔ The Important Book Biography Activity : The Important Book is a great book for teaching students about writing patterns. This activity was modeled after the format of that book and was designed to encourage students to identify key, important facts about the person they are studying. It makes a great bulletin board display.

✔ Body Biography : A Body Biography project is a combination of artwork and writing. The packet includes a poster to use as directions or to display with the students’ completed biography projects. They complete sections such as a speech bubble with a quote by the individual, a thought bubble to show what he/she has thought about, shoes labeled with places the person has been, a heart filled with character traits. They then draw objects in the hands that relate to the person and create a background that tells the viewer more about the historical figure.

✔ Timeline Biography Report : Unlike a lengthy written report, this is a creative way to showcase important events in the person’s life. Students identify key moments and tell about them in words and pictures. They are added to a foldable accordion booklet in sequential order.

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

5 REASONS TEACHERS LOVE THESE BIOGRAPHY ACTIVITIES:

► The resources are print-and-go, which saves you tons of time prepping.

► There are differentiated versions of the printables so you can meet the needs of your current class, and continue to use them if you change grade levels in the future.

► Kids LOVE it! They are motivated to read and research because the projects are engaging.

► Your principal, colleagues, and school librarian will be impressed by the creative methods of sharing learned information.

► Every page can be used with any biography study - use them again and again to integrate reading and writing through a creative project.

REAL TEACHER TESTIMONIALS

• This was great for our famous americans unit. Thank you. Your resources are engaging and thought provoking.
• I have used this the last two years for our History Fair and it never disappoints. Thank you for all your hard work!
• This was great to use in my multi-age classroom. The differentiation was already done for me.
• Great ideas and a variety of formats for presenting the work. This was great. Thanks.

OTHER POPULAR PROJECTS AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES

• Animal Research Project
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• Puppet Book Project
• A Living Biography Project

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Biography Project

In this activity, activity overview, template and class instructions, more storyboard that activities.

• This Activity is Part of Many Teacher Guides

Use this lesson plan with your class!

A Changemaker Project is a popular way for students to learn about different people from throughout history and all over the globe and research how they have positively impacted the world today.

In this activity, students will create a biography poster of someone past or present that was a positive agent of change. Students should be sure to include facts about their life, education, work, and more. As they research, they can use biography worksheets to keep track of information. Teachers may allow students to choose someone on their own, or provide a list for students to choose from. Our picture encyclopedia of biographies can be a great place to start! Students can find figures who have impacted history, literature, politics, science, and more! This example focuses on the life of Nelson Mandela , and can be used as a guide to show students what is possible. Their poster could be on any important Changemaker from history!

When finished, students' Changemaker posters can be printed, laminated, and hung around the classroom or school. Students can also present their posters to their classmates, adding a public speaking component to the project. Teachers may wish to organize a "gallery walk" where students have the opportunity to walk around as if they are in a museum and learn more about the lives of changemakers and notable figures from around the world!

For more templates to add to this assignment, check out our history infographic templates and biography poster templates !

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Objective: Research a "Changemaker" or important person and create a biography poster about them.

Student Instructions:

• Click "Start Assignment"
• Research a notable figure who made a positive impact on the world. Use a graphic organizer to write down and organize the important information you discover about this person.
• Using a poster template, create an eye-catching poster about your person.
• Include a character that looks like your person. Add other appropriate characters, items, and scenes to your design that represent your person.
• Save and exit when you're finished.

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-12

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Type of Activity: Biographies

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric .)

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