Activity Overview
When choosing someone to research, students often pick someone who they look up to, admire, or want to be like. Perhaps a young soccer player wants to be a professional and chooses Alex Morgan, or a child who is interested in the piano chooses Mozart. Whenever a biography is written, it usually focuses on a theme, or a recurring idea, that centers around the person’s fame and/or importance. Some themes that are commonly seen in biographies are: rising above challenges, always being yourself, never giving up, and resilience in the face of adversity.
For this activity, the student will choose a biographical theme that pertains to the person they are researching and create a spider map showing examples of this theme. Alternatively, the student may choose more than one theme and make a cell representing each.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a 3 cell spider map detailing examples of a biographical theme in your person's life.
Student Instructions:
- Click “Start Assignment”.
- Write the theme in the middle box.
- Complete each heading.
- Create an illustration that represents each heading using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short summary of each heading in the space below the illustration.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify Theme(s) | A theme that pertains to the person is correctly identified. All examples of the theme are accurate and clear. | A theme that pertains to the person is identified. Some examples are accurate, but others are missing or do not make sense. | The theme is not identified or is unclear. The examples are missing or do not make sense. |
| Examples | All examples support the identified themes. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant. | Most examples fit the identified themes. Descriptions say why examples are significant. | Most examples do not fit the identified themes. Descriptions are unclear. |
| Depiction | Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the themes and help with understanding. | Most storyboard cells help to show the themes, but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand. | Storyboard cells do not help in understanding the themes. |
How To Differentiate Theme Lessons
Use a Commonly Read Story to Teach Theme
To help students understand theme, start with a story that everyone knows, such as one you have read together. Lead the class in a discussion of what a reader can learn about life after reading the story. This is the theme.
Offer a List of Common Themes to Those Who Need It
Some students will be able to find the theme of their biography themselves, so they should. If students are struggling, offering them a list of common themes such as "never giving up" or "you can count on your family and friends" is a good way to differentiate instruction.
Point Out Elements of the Biography That Point to the Theme
If students need even more help, you can offer specific moments of the biography that point to one of the themes and help them pull these details out of the story.
Frequently Asked Questions about Finding Themes in Biographies
Can a non-fiction piece such as a biography have a theme?
Although you might think that themes are found only in fiction, there are recurring themes or ideas found in non-fiction such as biographies. Look for the lesson in the story, or what you learn about life after reading about someone else's life.
What are some typical themes found in biographies?
There are several recurring or typical themes found in biographies. Many biographies show people struggling to be themselves and find their own voices, people rising above challenges, people living through difficulties, and people finding success after a lot of hard work.
How can you figure out what the theme of a biography is?
Finding the theme of a biography can be a very personal experience. Use clues from the story to see what you learn about life after reading the story. Themes are universal and can be applied to many people.
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