Biography Book Report and Character in a Can -- Due Date: Monday, May 2nd, 2016
Biography writing project
What to Do in Class:
1.) Choose a biography book from the selection of books supplied by your teacher or from your ideas that you
generated as we explored our personal interests
2.) Read the book in its entirety the first time.
Students will need to read both in class and at home
3.) Take notes on the outlines that are provided in class that go along with the lesson. This is where students will
rereading to find the information that they will need for their biography writing.
Students will be directed in class and will also have some note taking to do at home.
4.) Students will be drafting their written biography – a time when writers take all they know about their idea or
topic – its focus, purpose, genre, and audience – and put it all together in a clear structure so it is easy for readers
to understand.
Our lessons focus on organizational planning and genre-specific text structures such as: introductions or ways to
begin, thesis statements, creating paragraphs, headings or labels, a table of contents, transitional or temporal
words to connect ideas, and conclusions or endings.
-Students will be directed in class and will also have to do some rereading of their writing, revising,
and editing at home based on the writing workshop lesson that day.
Step by step directions and all the details are coming home tomorrow and will also be posted.
** Final published biographies may either be in printing, cursive, or typed. Biography due: No later than
Monday, May 2nd
What to Do at Home:
1.) Decorate your can*** to look like the person you are writing the biography on.
2.) Work on any of the above “in class” pieces, as needed.
3.) Work on the final published copy of your biography. This may include illustrations and text features that are
commonly used in books. ( This will be taught and covered in class.)
4.) When your can is completed, bring it to school!
***Character in a Can – Goal – To make a visual representation of the person from your biography!
What You Need:
can (the size of a coffee can) or other container (2L pop container, etc.)
paper or other material to wrap around it
yarn, felt, buttons, etc. to make facial features, hair, clothes
markers, crayons, glue, scissors
index cards (teachers will supply)
Please Note: This doesn’t have to be a coffee can. Be creative!
Character in a Can: DUE no later than Monday, May 2nd
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Your Name: ______________________________
Biography Person: ______________________________
Please list the books or resources that you are planning on using:
1.
2.
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3.