Writing a Biography

by Teill Dean
(Tampa, Florida)

A First Grade Writing Unit

Day 1:

Read a biography and talk about the perspective it is written in. The author is an “expert” in the subject he is writing about. How does an author become an “expert” about a person?


Day 2:

Read another biography. Talk about how this author became an “expert” about another person. Discuss what newspaper reporters do and how they interview someone to get a story to write about. Brainstorm and write 10 interview questions to ask someone in your class.

Day 3:

Read another biography. Have the students wrote 5 more interview questions on their own. Talk about some of the questions they students have written.

Day 4:

Interview Day! Have the students get into groups and hold interviews. Remember to write down the answers.

Days 5 and 6:

Write a biography about the person you interviewed.

Day 7:

Share the biographies!