Biographies

My class has been working on biographies in small group reading.  Through biographies, we are working on:
*Main Idea & Supporting Details
*Sequencing (trying to keep track of dates, as well as see how dates are connected)
*Recording discussion questions/topics on post-it notes (in group, we are working on adding higher-level thoughts to a group discussion).  I often use this Bounce Card to add to discussions (I found this idea in a book).
*7 Habits of Effective People (my school is a Leader in Me School, so students are looking at how the person lived the 7 Habits). 

I did this small group a little different- I presented on all 5 people and let students choose the leader they were interested in (I had to find books that were somewhat close in range).  From there, I placed students into groups and had them create a "Know Already-vs-Wonder" T-Chart on their leader. 

Throughout the reading of the biography, students completed a Biography Graphic Organizer.  Each time we met, we shared our post-it notes for discussion and updated the graphic organizer. 

At the end of the story, students went through their graphic organizer and highlighted the most important events, as well as beliefs, of their leader.  Then, students created timelines.  I gave each student a Timeline Directions Sheet.  If you wanted to incorporate technology, students could use Prezi instead to build their timeline (www.prezi.com). 

Then, later this week, we will share our timelines in small groups.  I will add pictures in of the timelines as we finish them up.