Biography Box Unit

Procedures:

•Students will review resources to choose a person famous in NYS history
•Famous person must be approved by teacher prior to initiation of research; suggested people include:
oGeorge Eastman
oMillard Fillmore
oJohn D. Rockefeller
oSusan B. Anthony
oFranklin D. Roosevelt
oNorman Rockwell
•Students will compile the following information:
oFull name
oPlace and date of birth
oBackground (education, marriage, children, etc)
oMajor contribution(s)
•Students will take notes and create a draft of their findings
•Students will consult with teacher for any assistance or suggestions
•Students will revise as necessary and type a final copy of their report using MS Word
•Students will gather 3-5 articles related to the individual and create a biography box of information by decorating a shoe box with images that have significance to the famous person. Students will have access to colored printers, scanners, or on-line graphics to enhance the appearance of the bio box.
•Students will present all material to the class at the end of the unit using MS Powerpoint

Goals and Objectives

•Students will research an individual famous in NYS history to gain knowledge of the individual and his/her contributions to the state
•Students will use resources available in the library and internet to research their topic; see the following websites for suggested resources:
http://www2.thingstodo.com/states/NY/famous_people.htm
http://www.50states.com/bio/newyork.htm (cybersleuth-kids)
http://www.northnet.org/stlawrenceaauw/profiles.htm
http://www.bigappleweb.de/newyorker.htm
http://www.netstate.com/states/peop/ny_peop.htm
•Students will create a report of their findings
•Students will create a biography box with artifacts representing the person
•Students will present the information learned about the individual

Assessments: Formal and Informal

•Observe students throughout each step – choosing topics, gathering information, creating sloppy copy, revision and gathering / creating bio box
•Use a checklist to ensure that each piece of the project is completed in succession and in a timely manner (see checklist)
•Use rubrics to evaluate the final report, the bio box, and the presentation

Set up and Preparation

•Review a number of heroes from NYS (including politicians, writers, inventors, etc) and provide a list of possible people to research
•Select books, periodicals, and websites that relate to this topic
•Prior knowledge / experience with taking notes, creating sloppy copies, editing, finalizing reports
•Introduction to bio box by presenting a completed bio box with a minimum of 5 items related to a famous individual from NYS
•Provide an outline of the components of this assignment (see checklist)
•Ensure that computers are internet accessible and that scanners and printers are also available for the 3-4 week period for the unit
•Provide copies of rubrics for all 3 assessments

Materials Needed

•Resources from the library and a list of websites that detail famous NY people
•Paper, pencil, erasers for creating drafts
•Computers for final reports, internet access, and a graphics program
•Scanners and printers for report and bio box
•Access to a copier to copy pictures or articles needed for bio box
•Shoe box or similar item for each student (to create bio box)
•Materials to decorate the bio box (including construction paper, glue, scissors, markers, and any specific items to the individual being researched)

Timeline

Social Studies is blocked for (3) 45 minute periods each week.
Phase 1: Choosing an individual to research and gathering information 2-3 days
Phase 2: Writing a sloppy copy, editing, teacher consult, final copy 3-4 days
Phase 3: Creating bio box (some work expected to be done at home)1-2 days
Phase 4: Presenting report and bio box (for approx 20 students)2-3 days

Total timeline is approximately 4 weeks of Social Studies periods