Printable biography book report template
Teaching Students to Write Biography Reports
Biographies are many students first glimpse at history. It is one of my favorite units to teach every year. It is a great opportunity for students to read, research, use technology, and write!
If youre teaching students to write biography reports this year, then check out how I like to break it down!
Breaking Down Writing a Biography Report (Grades )
Writing these types of reports is part of the Common Core writing standards for Grades as well as many other states standards.
There are several steps to take as you teach your students to write a biography report.
The first step ALWAYS: Introduce Biographies
Before I even begin to teach my students how to write a biography, I like to read several from our school library.
Biography book report template pdf Practicing at home would be very beneficial. Marie faced not only the loss of her beloved husband, Pierre, in a tragic accident but also significant gender-based discrimination in the scientific community. It provides sections for the title of the literature, author, subject overview, personal opinion on the book, personal accomplishments, and opinion on the subject. Sam cooperates consistently with others becomes Sam needs to cooperate more consistently with others, and Sally uses vivid language in writing may instead read With practice, Sally will learn to use vivid language in her writing.For second and third grade students:
- Have several biographies in the classroom and give students time to explore the books. Then discuss: What did you notice about all these books? How are they the same? How are they different?
- Discuss genre and introduce biographies.
- Then, I would read them biographies about many different people.Printable biography book report template scholastic Her work earned her two Nobel Prizes: one in Physics , shared with Pierre and Henri Becquerel, and another in Chemistry for her work with radium. Reimagining Morning Meetings for The Food Timeline indicates that strawberries and raspberries were available in the 1st century in Europe; other sources identify them as New World commodities. In her biography, Marie Curie: A Life , author Susan Quinn takes readers on a journey through the life of this extraordinary woman, detailing her childhood, scientific contributions, personal challenges, and legacy.
For fourth and fifth grade students:
- Make a class anchor chart discussing what you already know about biographies. Look for gaps in understanding, and make sure students know the main characteristics of a biography.
- Then, read several different biographies about the same person with a focus on the different information each biography shared, as well as what information was the same.
Did all of the biographies have the characteristics we listed on our anchor chart?
It is important to make note of the characteristics that biographies have so that when students write their own, they already have an understanding of how they are written!
Once students have been exposed to biographies, you can begin to teach about writing them.
Discuss Text Structure of Biographies
Depending on the grade you teach, you may not necessarily call it “text structure,” however it is important for students to understand that most biographies are written in a chronological/sequential way.
Since we are writing about someone’s life, it wouldn’t make sense for the report to be out of order.
While we go over this, I like to create a timeline with my students.
If you are using my biography writing units, I recommend:
- Using the mentor text to create a timeline of the subject’s life.Printable biography book report template To make it easier for you to characterize the book, you can use this nonfiction book report template. You might draw a second arrow on the board -- from the Old World to the New World -- and post appropriate drawings or images around it. For example: Many sources note that tomatoes originated in the New World; The Food Timeline indicates that tomatoes were introduced to the New World in Other than that, you can easily edit it.
You can do this on the board or on chart paper.
- Use the research text to create a timeline of the subject’s life (this is the person the students will write about, and a text is included in the units). For older students, you may choose to have them fill out the timeline on their own.
How to Write an Engaging Introduction for the Biography Report
At the beginning of the report, students should write an engaging introduction that includes one (or both) of two main components.
The introduction should include one (or both) of these components:
- Introduce the subject with their full name and birth information or
- Briefly preview what they are most famous for
Practice writing a variety of introductions and have students choose the one they like the best.
(TIP:Model some poorly written introductions as well, and discuss why those are not a good fit!)
Crafting the Body Paragraphs of the Biography Report
When teaching your students to write biography reports, it is important to explain to them what the body paragraphs should include.
The body paragraphs should include the major events in the person’s life.
Read over the body paragraphs from your mentor text and discuss what was included and what was not included.
Free printable biography book report template No thanks, I don't need to stay current on what works in education! Objectives Students will learn about changes that occurred in the New World and Old World as a result of early exploration. You've reached the end of another grading period, and what could be more daunting than the task of composing insightful, original, and unique comments about every child in your class? Also, if you want, you can easily modify it.What was included in the timeline you created? What did you leave out?
You can make a T chart with your students and discuss what are major events in your own life, and what are not.
Writing a Conclusion for the Biography Report
Most conclusions in a biography end with the persons death.
While this can be noted, its important for students to understand that they shouldnt just end their report with and then they died in .
It is more important for them to end their report with the legacy of the person.
To help students understand what a persons legacy means:
- Review and write legacies of other famous individuals from biographies you have read to your class.
- Ask them what their person is most known for (and review their introduction).
- Ask them how this person has impacted other people.
If you are looking for resources for teaching your students to write a biography report, check out my writing units.
These units also include a Google Slides option so you can teach the whole unit digitally!
Preview the Grades Biography Writing Units here:
Get resources for teaching your Grades students to write a biography report here.