Biography report/Wax Museum

This is a two part assignment. Part One is the biography book report, (due the week of Feb. 27) and Part Two is the Wax Museum (Tues, March 11).  Please keep that in mind as you read through this.  

PART ONE: Our next book commercial will actually be a book report on a biography of your child's choosing. The purpose is not to "sell" the book, but to teach us what has been learned. A biography worksheet will be due by Feb 18.

The reports will be presented the week of Feb. 27-Mar. 3 

A biography book will need to be chosen by Feb. 3. The biography chosen may be about any human in history who is at least 60 years old or has died. We have numerous biographies in our classroom and in the library. 

Your child will also need to complete the biography worksheet and prepare a **display board** representing his/her biography subject. (Scroll down to bottm to see examples of the display board.) Notecards will be created to help us include all the information while we are presenting the report. 

**Biography poster board guidelines: Each board needs to include the name of the character chosen in large letters and any other information that your child feels is interesting. The board can include anything—words, pictures, maps, diagrams, etc. that represent your child’s person of history. The board must be able to stand by itself and your child must be able to carry it on his/her own. We will be using the display boards for both the classroom report and the museum.

The following will be the grading rubric for the biography book report given in the classroom beginning Feb. 27-- Click here for a downloadable rubric

• You introduced your person.

• You told why you chose that person for your report.

• You told when and where the person was born.

• If your person has died, you told the date of death. If your person is alive, you told how old he/she is now.

• You told at least five things that happened in the person’s life in chronological order.

• You told two reasons why he/she is an important person.

• You told what we can learn from your person today.

• You used your notecards well.

• You filled out the attached worksheet including five interesting things about your person.

• You created a display board to be used at the wax museum that introduces your person to an audience. You will tell about your board during your report.

• You spoke loudly and clearly.

• You told your opinion of the book.

• Your report was was longer than one minute and shorter than two minutes.

Here is an example of what the notecards should look like -- We will begin making them in class. They may need more time at home to complete them.

Due dates for report: Feb. 27 - Mar. 3

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART TWO: On Wednesday, March 8, we will present the World Famous Third Grade Biography Wax Museum. This event has become something Salem students look forward to, and one of the first events new third graders ask about at the beginning of the year. We will be inviting everyone in the Salem community to join us in the gym, where we will “become” our biography character. A costume and the display board will be required for us to teach all who are able to attend about our historical figure. 

In review:

Biography worksheet due--Tuesday, Feb. 18-download here: biography worksheet

Things needed on the day of the in-class report, beginning Feb. 27: 1) the book, 2) notecards, 3) **Biography poster board** (See example below)

Things needed for the wax museum--Wed, March 8: 1) costume, 2) **biography poster board

**Biography poster board guidelines: Each board needs to include the name of the character chosen in large letters and any other information that your child feels is interesting. The board can include anything—words, pictures, maps, diagrams, etc. that represent your child’s person of history. The board must be able to stand by itself and your child must be able to carry it on his/her own.

A little more about the museum on Wed, March 8: Your child will need to have a costume and his/her presentation board from the presented in-class report. Your child will wear the costume to school, but bring his/her uniform to change into after the museum. By 9:00 we will be set up in the gym and begin hosting visitors. Each third grader will have practiced reciting his/her facts and, as small groups walk by, will tell their audience who they are. Groups may ask questions but an “I don’t know” answer is acceptable. The museum will be open for classes, family, friends, etc. until 11:00. Please plan to join us and bring anyone who might enjoy seeing history come to life. Bring your camera too!

If you have any questions or need help choosing a character, let your teacher know.