Unit 2

How Can Someone Make a Difference?

Lesson 2

Reader's Notebook

Biographies

Introduction to Biographies


You will be reading selections in this section called Biographies. A biography is a true account of a person's life told by another person.

Make a list of what you think biographies include in your Reader's Notebook: Biography Ideas.  This is not for marks.

Did you include the following on your list?

  • Relate the life of a real person
  • Use facts from reliable sources
  • Tell why the facts you are using are important; for example, relate the facts to important historical events or people
  • Tell the story for an audience
Smallpox had not been present in the Americas before European arrival. Europeans, exposed as children, developed immunity that protected them as adults. First Nation North Americans, without this immunity, died in great numbers. 
 In 1807 Edward Jenner sent his book on vaccination to the Haudenosaunee Five Nations. At their council in November 1807, representatives sent their thanks and a wampum belt to Jenner saying, “We shall not fail to teach our children to speak the name of Jenner and to thank the Great Spirit for the bestowing upon him so much wisdom and so much benevolence . . . we beseech the Great Spirit to take care of you in this world, and in the land of spirits.”

At the end of this unit, you will be asked to write a biography of someone who made a difference. This will be an individual from history so that you may fully appreciate the effect of the person’s actions on later generations.

View images on page 8 of Literacy in Action. The images there show places you can find biographies.




Document: Reader's Notebook: Biography Ideas
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  1. Download the document Reader's Notebook: Biography Ideas.
  2. IMPORTANT NOTE: When the download screen opens:
      • Click the "Open with" button.
      • Select "Adobe Reader".
      • Click "OK".
      • You will then be able to view the document Reader's Notebook: Biography Ideas.
      • Can't view the file? View Skill Builder: Saving Dynamic PDFs.

Websites and BrainPOP Log-In

Click each coloured tab to view information about the Websites and BrainPOP Video for this activity.

Websites

Websites

One of the images on page 8 of Literacy in Action shows the Dictionary of Canadian Biography. You can also research other sites, such as Ducksters.
Log-In

BrainPOP Log-In

Click this link for BrainPOP.

( Log-in: User: 0099, Password: students, click English, then Writing, then Biography.)

Watch the movie The Mysteries of Life as Tim and Moby describe what a biography is all about. Then go to the FYI section and read biographies of interesting, well-known people or view biopics - movies made about the lives of famous people.

After viewing The Mysteries of Life, add more ideas to your list in your Reader's Notebook: Biography Ideas and jot down some biographies or biopics you may be interested in reading or viewing.

Save

How to save a file:

  1. Have the file open and select Save As from the File menu.
  2. Name your Reader's Notebook: Biography Ideas file in this format: jsmith_biographyideas and save the file to your Documents folder.