CCGPS Instructional Activity
Name of Activity: Biography through Cube
Created by: Brittany Elliott
Grade Level: 9th
Type of Standard: RI
Standard Number and Description
ELACC9-10RI7: Analyze various accounts of a subject told in different mediums (e.g., a person’s life story in
print and multimedia),
determining which details are emphasized in each account.
Skills/Concepts for Students:
 Objective summary
 Distinguishing main ideas from extraneous details
 Analysis of aesthetic and rhetorical strategies and elements
Strategies for Teachers:
 Provide quality examples of a person’s life that has been turned into a written biography
Sample Instructional Activity:
Purpose of Activity: Analyze the purpose of biography in literature. Emphasize that biography is
nonfiction, so the events happened to a real person.
Resources: Biography on Wilma Rudolph and Susan B. Anthony, construction paper, white paper,
scissors glue, pen/pencil, and detail chart.
Activity Steps: Total time: __20-25__minutes
1. Ask students what is the difference between biography and autobiography? Elicit response from
volunteers.
2. Distribute copies of Wilma Rudolph biography and Susan B. Anthony biography.
3. Have students read and highlight what they think are the important details
4. Allow students to get into group of 2-3 to share what they thought was important and make a
list (birthdate, accomplishments, setbacks, etc…)
5. Discuss (as a whole group) the lists that groups have come up with.
6. Distribute construction paper and tell students that they will be making a biography of their
own.
7. Instruct students on how to make the square (cube) foldable
8. In the middle of the foldable: Person’s name On each one of the flaps: Information about that
person depending on what the class decides is important and should be in the biography.
9. Allow students time to work on biography.
Recommended Vocabulary for Teaching and Learning:
Nonfiction
Autobiography
Details
Biography
Summarize