Student Biographies

We love to write and learn more about each other!  My kiddos were learning about biographies recently and I just had to share how they turned out.  Each student was assigned a partner to interview.  Before interviewing, I typed up a list of questions that my students were to ask their partners.  These questions can be found HERE at my TpT store!  The photo below shows what this questionnaire looks like.






When they finished each other’s interview, they were encouraged to ask additional questions and write them on the back of their questionnaire.  These are always the best questions from the interview!  Once they finish the interview,  I take the questionnaire answers home and underline any of the words that aren’t “dictionary spelled”.  


On day 2 of this activity my students work in their dictionaries to look up the underlined words to correct their spelling.  Again, I take them home and help with any additional corrections.  


On day 3 my students are ready to make their final copy.  This year I chose to have them write their final copy onto handwriting paper.  Of course, before they start their final copy, I show them a good example of what their sentences should look like as well as a poor example.  (Both of these examples are written by me.)  We talk about what makes them good and poor examples.  This type of mini-lesson really is effective with my students as they carry these ideas taught from the mini-lesson into their own writings.  


Day 4…we are ready for our illustrations!  Keep in mind, all of this is modeled for my students prior to them doing the project.  First, they use a pencil to draw their partner.  I encourage them to use their entire 8 1/2 x 11 paper.  Once it has been drawn, they use watercolor paint to paint their picture.  

On day 5 (after their watercolor paintings have dried), the kids trace over their pencils marks with a permanent marker and then cut out their paintings.  They are then glued to a piece of construction paper.  Their biography writings are taped with packaging tape to the bottom of the construction paper.  We hung them in the hallway for other teachers and students to read.  They were a success and my kids get excited when they see other students reading their work.