Grade 4 – ELA: Keypal Biography

Overview

Students explore the concept of biography and identify the key components common to biographies. Students apply knowledge of the biography to write their keypal’s biography and present it to them by email.

Activate

Using a prepared Anticipation Guide to activate prior knowledge and generate interest, students view a variety of biographies on selected websites and/or entries in encyclopaedia CD-ROMs. [Plan and Question, Gather and Make Sense] Students complete the Anticipation Guide, list three things they learned and one question they have [Plan and Question].

Teacher Tip:
This learning experience can be set up within the realm of a curricular topic appropriate for grade 4. Students would then use their connection to a far away person to learn something specific about where they live.
Read the Background Information on Biographies and Autobiographies for information about characteristics of biographies and personality traits.

Support File:
Background Information on Biographies and Autobiographies

Suggestions for Assessment:
Self-Assessment: Students list three things they have learned and one question they have after viewing the website or CD-ROM.
Work Sample: Look for gaps and misconceptions in students' lists and completed Anticipation Guide.

Acquire

Students discuss the concept of "biography". Using concept-mapping software students generate their own graphic organizer, which they use to brainstorm, note and organize  the characteristics of a biography. [Plan and Question, Gather and Make Sense] Students read a short biography or biographical sketch and record specific characteristics (personality traits, accomplishments, events, etc…) in the organizer using a different coloured font.

Suggestions for Assessment:
Work Sample: Assess students' concept maps for misconceptions about personality traits.

Students generate and compose biographical questions, which they email to keypals based on criteria established by the class. [Plan and Question, Produce to Show Understanding] Using their list of questions, students analyze whether answers received are sufficient and whether they need to email for clarification or more information [Gather and Make Sense]. Review safety guidelines with students for when they use email [Ethics and Responsibility].

Teacher Tips:
Consider setting up keypals with a neighbourhood school.
Read Grade3 ELA: Composing Friendly Email Letters for suggestions about setting up an email exchange.

Suggestions for Assessment:
Work Sample: Review emails before sending, ensuring that students have asked questions appropriate for a biography and that they apply safety guidelines. [Ethics and Responsibility]

Apply

Using a suitable application of their choice, students compose biographies of their keypal, using information obtained from keypals. [Produce to Show Understanding] With a partner, using the Five-Step Revising and Editing Checklist, they revise and edit them before sending them. [Collaborate, Produce to Show Understanding]

Suggestions for Assessment:
Peer-Assessment: Before sending, students exchange their email messages with a classroom partner for revising and editing. They use the Five-Step Revising and Editing Checklist.

Students email draft biographies to their keypals to request feedback and revisions [Collaborate]. Students enhance the written biographies, adding sketched-and-scanned drawings or those created using painting or drawing tools and share them with their keypals. [Produce to Show Understanding]

Suggestions for Assessment:
Work Sample: Read the student's final biography. Look for attention to spelling and grammar.
Conversation: Discuss with students the use of email to learn about writing a biography [Reflect].