Famous African American Research Project
Assignment: You will be researching a famous African American in
class to help celebrate Black History Month (February). A majority of
this assignment will be done in class. You will have time to research in
class and during computer lab. You may want to go to the public
library with your parents to check out books on the person that
you are researching.
Once you finish researching your famous African American, you will
need to write a five-paragraph essay about what you have learned. I
will help you through the process. You will also have an opportunity to
showcase what you have learned by participating in a living wax museum.
The living wax museum takes inspiration from the wax museums around
the world which features lifelike representations of famous people.
Below is a checklist to help keep you on track:
 Prewriting: Research famous African American in computer
lab/class. Fill out Biography Research Graphic Organizer.
o Use at least 2 sources of information
o Organize information into appropriate categories
 Rough Draft: Use research collected to write a rough draft.
Your draft should have five paragraphs.
o Use prewriting for draft
o Put information in chronological order
 Editing/Revising: Revise and edit your rough draft.
o Revise for content
o Edit for correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation
 Final Copy: Type/Publish final copy.
o Five Paragraphs
o Topic sentence for each paragraph
o Each paragraph contains supporting details
o Concluding sentence for each paragraph
o Chronological order of events
o Use of transition words for sentence variety
o Closing/Wrap up at end of paper
o Appropriate spelling, capitalization, and punctuation
 Write a 30-second speech for Living Wax Museum.
o Practice speech at home
o Use note cards if you need to
o You will give the 30-second speech to the class and
showcase your poster before the Living Wax Museum takes
place.
 Make a poster for Living Wax Museum presentation.
o Displays person’s name clearly
o Includes a picture of person
o Includes a timeline of person’s life
o Includes other interesting facts
 Create an invitation to send to parents inviting them to join us for
the Living Wax Museum.
 Present Living Wax Museum for parents. You will need to dress
up in costume.
5 Paragraph Essay
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
 3-5 sentences about the person they researched
 You can briefly mention whether you like or dislike this person
Paragraph 2 – Early Years
 At least 5 sentences about the person’s childhood, including
family life, date of birth, place of birth, etc.
Paragraph 3 – Overcoming Obstacles
 At least 5 sentences about the obstacles that the person had to
overcome in their lifetime and how they overcame any challenges
they faced
Paragraph 4 – Accomplishments
 At least 3-5 sentences about why this person is important
 Include any awards, recognitions, accomplishments, and why your
person is important
Paragraph 5 – Closing
 3-5 sentences that tie in with the introduction to sum up why this
person is important
 Feeling about the person, such as why you like or do not like this
person, can be included as well
Person I am researching: ___________________________
BIOGRAPHY RESEARCH GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
INFORMATION FOR PARAGRAPH 2:
Born: ______________________
Died: _______________
Birthplace: ___________________________________________
Notes about childhood/family life:
Other Notes about the early years:
INFORMATION FOR PARAGRAPH 3:
What challenges did your person face?
Notes about obstacles and how they overcame the obstacles:
INFORMATION FOR PARAGRAPH 4:
Notes about accomplishments, awards, recognitions, and why your
person is important:
OTHER INTERESTING FACTS:
* You may want to include dates/facts here that you want to include
on your poster for the living wax museum.
BIOGRAPHY OF SOURCES USED
Books:
Book Title: ____________________________________________
Author: ______________________________________________
Book Title: ____________________________________________
Author: ______________________________________________
Book Title: ____________________________________________
Author: ______________________________________________
Encyclopedia Books:
Print Encyclopedia Title: __________________________________
Volume Letter: _______ Volume Number: _______ Date: ______
Pages Used: _________________
On-line Encyclopedia:
On-line Encyclopedia Title: ________________________________
Article Title: __________________________________________
Date you used this site: __________________________________
Internet Website:
Internet Website Title: __________________________________
Internet Address: ______________________________________
Date you used this site: __________________________________
*Let Mrs. Jacques know if you need more than one copy of the
‘Biography of Sources Used’.
LIVING WAX MUSEUM
After completing the five paragraph essay, you will showcase what you
have learned about your famous African American by participating in a living
wax museum. The living wax museum takes inspiration from the wax
museums around the world which features lifelike representations of famous
people.
The criteria for the living wax museum are as follows:
Speech – You will need to prepare a 30-second speech about your person
using information from the essay. You will share the information you have
learned with visitors who come to see the exhibit. You are expected to
speak loud and clearly and to make eye contact with the visitors. Make sure
you rehearse your speech. You are encouraged to memorize your 30-second
speech. However, note cards can be used if needed. You will have a chance
to practice your speech in class by presenting it and your poster to the class.
At this time, you will receive an oral presentation grade.
Display – You will need to prepare a museum display. This can be done using
poster board. On the display, you need to include:
 The person’s name clearly and in big letters so visitors know who you
are.
 A picture of the famous African American.
 A timeline of important events in the person’s life. The timeline should
include the date of birth (and death if they are no longer living), as
well as 3 or 4 other important events in the person’s life.
 Interesting facts about the person can be included, but does not have
to be.
Costume - The day of the living wax museum, you will need to dress up as
your famous African American. Parents will be invited to visit the museum
and learn more about the people the class has researched.
FAMOUS AFRICAN AMERICAN ESSAY LEARNING
PROGRESSION SCALE
Expressing Ideas
Clearly – Paragraph 1
(Introduction)
4 = Exceeds
-Writing is clearly
organized
-Includes a topic and
closing sentence
-Includes at least 3
supporting
sentences with
descriptive details
3 = Meets
-Writing is
organized
-Writing includes a
topic and closing
sentence
-Includes at least 3
supporting details
2 = Progressing
-There is a topic
sentence
-Some sentences
may be off topic
1 = Below
There may be a
central idea but
events are listed
with no supporting
details
4 = Exceeds
-Writing is clearly
organized
-Includes at least 5
sentences (a topic
and concluding
sentence; at least 3
supporting details)
-Includes all
important
information about
childhood, including
family life, date of
birth, date of death,
etc.
3 = Meets
-Writing is organized
-Writing includes a
topic and concluding
sentence
-Includes at least 3
supporting details
-Includes most
information about
early years
2 = Progressing
-Writing has a topic
sentence
-Includes some
details about early
years
1 = Below
-There is a central
idea but missing
many details about
early years
4 = Exceeds
-Writing is clearly
organized
-Includes at least 5
sentences (a topic
and concluding
sentence; at least 3
supporting details)
-Includes all
important details
about challenges
your person has
overcome
3 = Meets
-Writing is organized
-Writing includes a
topic and concluding
sentence
-Includes at least 3
supporting details
-Includes most of
the details
important to the
challenges your
person has
overcome
2 = Progressing
-Writing has a topic
sentence
-Includes some
details about
challenges your
person has
overcome
1 = Below
-There is a central
idea but missing
many details about
challenges your
person has
overcome
Student
Assessment
Expressing Ideas
Clearly – Paragraph
2 (Early Years)
Student
Assessment
Expressing Ideas
Clearly – Paragraph 3
(Overcoming
Obstacles)
Student
Assessment
Expressing Ideas
Clearly – Paragraph 4
(Accomplishments)
4 = Exceeds
-Writing is clearly
organized
-Includes at least 5
sentences (a topic
and concluding
sentence; at least 3
supporting details)
-Includes all
important details
about why your
person is important,
awards,
recognitions, and
accomplishments
3 = Meets
-Writing is organized
-Writing includes a
topic and concluding
sentence
-Includes at least 3
supporting details
-Includes some
details about
awards,
recognitions,
accomplishments,
and why your
person is important
2 = Progressing
-Writing has a topic
sentence
-Includes some 1 or
2 details about
awards,
recognitions,
accomplishments,
and/or why your
person is important
1 = Below
-There is a central
idea but missing
many details about
awards,
recognitions,
accomplishments
and why your
person is important
4 = Exceeds
--Writing is clearly
organized
-Includes a topic and
closing sentence
-Includes at least 3
supporting that
summarize the
person you
researched
sentences with
descriptive details
-Includes feelings
about person
3 = Meets
-Writing is organized
-Writing includes a
topic and closing
sentence
-Includes at least 3
supporting details
summarizing the
person you
researched
-May include feelings
about person
2 = Progressing
-There is a topic
sentence
-Some sentences
may be off topic
1 = Below
-There may be a
central idea but
events are listed
with no supporting
details
4 = Exceeds
~Use correct spelling
and capitalization of
all words
~Use correct
punctuation with no
run-on sentences or
fragments
~ proper indentation
of paragraphs
3 = Meets
~Correct
capitalization of
proper nouns and at
beginning of
sentences
~Correct spelling of
common words
~Correct letter and
end punctuation
~Most paragraphs
are indented
2 = Progressing
~Some errors with
spelling,
capitalization and
ending punctuations
~ may have some
run-on sentences
and fragments
1 = Below
~Each sentence
contains errors with
spelling,
punctuation, and
capitalization
Student
Assessment
Expressing Ideas
Clearly – Paragraph
5 (Closing)
Student
Assessment
Editing Skills
Student
Assessment
LIVING WAX MUSEUM ORAL PRESENTATION
LEARNING PROGRESSION SCALE
4 = Exceeds
3 = Meets
2 = Progressing
1 = Below
Volume is loud enough
to be heard by all
audience members
throughout the
presentation; Speaks
clearly and at a good
pace so audience
members can
understand
Uses voice to help gain
the listener’s interest
throughout the entire
presentation
Volume loud enough to
be heard by audience
members most of the
time; Uses a clear
voice most of the time;
Pace is a little slow or
little fast at times
Volume too soft to be
heard by audience
members; Often
mumbles and cannot be
easily understood;
Speaks too quickly for
a majority of the
audience to understand
Posture
Uses movements or
gestures that enhances
presentation
Eye Contact
Holds attention of
entire audience with
the use of direct eye
contact; Seldom reads
off poster/note cards
Stands up straight and
does not fidget during
while giving oral
presentation
Consistent use of
direct eye contact with
audience but still reads
off poster/note cards
occasionally
Volume loud enough to
be heard by audience
members some of the
time; Difficult at times
to understand what is
being said; Pace is
much too fast or too
slow during
presentation
Uses voice to help gain
the listener’s interest
during the
presentation some of
the time
Stands up straight and
rarely fidgets while
giving oral presentation
Displays minimal eye
contact with audience;
Reads off poster/note
cards during most of
the presentation
Slouches and/or
fidgets during
presentation; Entire
report is read from
poster/note cards
Volume, Clarity,
and Pace
Expression
Uses voice to help gain
the listener’s interest
Presenter does not use
voice to help gain the
listener’s interest
during presentation
Slouches and/or
fidgets while giving
oral presentation.