A Living Biography and Biography Bottle Buddy
Texas History Project 4th six weeks
Your child, _____________________, will research _______________________________.
This project will count as THREE social studies grades and TWO reading
grades. It will be due on February 11, 2016.
Part 1: The Research (4.21 ABCDE ; 4.22 ABCDE)
Students will research their chosen famous Texan by completely filling in his/her
research sheet. The more thorough the research, the better the report will be.
We will work on this some in class, but anything not completed in class will need
to be finished at home.
Research will include the following:
* Date of birth (place of birth) * Date of death (place of death if known)
* How did this person influence Texas History
* Five interesting facts about the person
Part 2: Written Report and Acrostic Poem (4.22 ABCDE)
Written Report: Students will take the information from their research sheet
and write a biography told from the point of view of the person they
researched. For example, if your student researched Sam Houston, then his/her
report should be written as if Sam Houston wrote it himself.
EX: I am Sam Houston. I was born in….
All parts of the research should be included in the written report in a logical
manner that flows as if it is a conversation. The information needs to be in the
student’s own words, not directly from a resource. The exception is if they
choose to share a famous quote (make sure the audience knows it’s a quote).
We will work on this report some in class, however, anything unfinished in class
and final neat copies will need to be completed at home.
Acrostic Poem (4.21 BC ; 4.22 BC): Students will take what they learn about
his/her person and create an acrostic poem that accurately describes the
person’s personality and/or physical traits. Separate instructions are attached
for this part. Help your child with this part, but make sure they are doing the
thinking for this. This part of the project will be completed at home.
Part 3: The Living Biography
Students are encouraged to dress as his/her research subject on the day of the
oral report, Friday, February 12th. Dressing as his/her research subject will
increase the creativity part of his/her grade. Students will read his/her written
report at this time. This presentation needs to be organized, thorough, and
well-practiced. Students will also present his/her bottle buddy at this time.
Part 4: Bottle Buddies
Bottle buddies are made from 2 liter bottles,
emptied and cleaned. (Sand in the bottom will
help them to stand.) They are then decorated
to look like your chosen Texas history person.
A Styrofoam ball should be used for the head
and other art supplies should be used to dress
the person. Some suggested items might
include felt, paint, yarn for hair, cloth material,
construction paper, etc.
JUST BE CREATIVE!! Since our social studies
time is limited, this part of the project will be
done completely at home. Google ‘biography bottle buddies’ for more examples.
I appreciate all of your help!! I know your child will learn so much about how
Texas became its own country and then a state and even more about the people
who made it all possible through this project.
** Hint ** Be sure to look at the attached grading rubric to see how each part
of the project will be graded.
As always, if you have any questions feel free to email me at
cartert@whitehouseisd.org or call 903-839-5580 to leave a message.
Tracey Carter
Reading / Social Studies
Important People in Texas Project (4.3 B-C)
Texans:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
William B. Travis
James Bowie
David ‘Davy’ Crocket
George Childress
Sidney Sherman
Edward Burleson
Tejanos:
7. Juan Antonio Padilla
8. Martin De Leon
9. Juan N. Seguin
10. Placido Benavides
11. Jose Francisco Ruiz
Mexicans:
12. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
13. Vicente Filisola
14. Mier y Teran
15. Mier Teran
Non Combatants:
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
Susanna Dickinson
Enrique Esparza
Jane Long
Sarah Dodson
Joanna Troutman
Greenbury Logan
Texas Leaders:
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
Jose Antonio Navarro
Sam Houston
Mirabeau Lamar
Anson Jones
Stephen F. Austin
Moses Austin
Acrostic Poem Directions
Take what you have learned about your important Texan and create an
acrostic poem (you are only required to do the poem using the person’s
last name). Use words and sentences that accurately describe the
person’s personality and / or physical traits. Look at the example below:
Mother of three children, Travis, Allyson, and Rachael.
Reader of children’s literature.
Saved by God’s amazing Grace.
Cares deeply for her students.
Actively seeks new ideas to help her students.
Runs to be healthy.
Thankful for all that she has in life.
Eager to learn new technology to use in the classroom.
Respectful to others around her.
Do this first on notebook paper. Make it the best it can be then make a
neat decorated copy on a piece of construction paper. Make sure the
words or sentences that you use describe your person from history
accurately.
** Hint ** Look at the grading rubric to see how all parts of the project
will be graded.
A Living Biography and Biography Bottle Buddy
Texas History Project 5th six weeks
Grading Rubric
Written
Report
(One Grade)
Acrostic
(One Grade)
Oral
Presentation
(One Grade)
Bottle Buddy
(One Grade)
4= (95-100)
3=(80-94)
2=(70-79)
1=(below 70)
All of 3 plus is
creative in telling
the story of the
person researched.
0-1 grammar or
spelling mistake.
Report sounds like
the student voice. It
is written from the
point of view of the
person researched.
Answers all
questions. 2-3
grammar or spelling
mistakes.
Report is somewhat
well written. An
attempt was made
to write from
correct pt. of view.
Answers most
research questions.
4-5 grammar or
spelling mistakes.
Report is not well
written. Is not
written from
correct pt. of view.
Answers few if any
of research
questions. 6 or more
grammar or spelling
mistakes.
Acrostic is
completed using
sentence format. 3-4
spelling and
convention
mistakes. Organized
well with accurate
details and attempt
at a creative design.
Acrostic is
completed, but
information is not
shared in sentence
format. Limited
details, design, and
organization.
Incomplete,
inaccurate or not
done at all.
Presentation is well
rehearsed, and it is
organized in a
chronological
format. Costume is
appropriate.
Presentation is not
well rehearsed and is
not logical and
organized
Presentation is
unorganized, and
shows lack of
preparation.
Bottle buddy is
created with
neatness, creativity,
and accuracy,
Bottom of bottle
has sand or weights
to keep from
tipping.
Bottle buddy is
created, but with
limited effort
(neatness, creativity,
accuracy). Bottom
does not have sand
or weights.
Bottle buddy is not
complete. Sloppy
work and no
attention to details.
Bottle buddy falls
apart.
Acrostic is
completed using
sentence format. 0-2
spelling and
convention
mistakes. Organized
well with accurate
details and attempt
at a creative design.
All of #3 plus
presents in a
creative manner to
portray themselves
as being the Texan
studied. Costume is
appropriate and
obvious effort has
been made to look
the part.
All of #3 plus
obvious attention to
detail.