Budding Biographers

We are always looking for authentic opportunities to integrate learning across the content areas in engaging ways. In fourth grade much of our interdisciplinary studies have been focused on  Vermont history and geography concepts. Over the past several weeks we have learned about mapping skills, studied the history of how Vermont became a state through role play and showed our understanding by storyboarding/cartooning. We also integrated writing into our units of study by creating a personalized google map of Vermont attractions and through writing opinion pieces and a personal poem about the beautiful state that we call home.

Our culminating project is a biography project on a famous Vermonter. Each student has chosen a Vermont figure whom they are curious about. Over the past week they have learned about the elements of the biography genre and how biographers use multiple sources to research their person of interest. Next week they will use their notes to draft, edit, revise and publish an informational writing piece about their person. Then they will present this information at our very own Mosaic Vermont History Museum. The “museum” will be open on the morning of Thursday, January 21 from 8:00-8:45.  Each classroom will be transformed into a museum room full of third and fourth grade “exhibits”. Come and let our hardworking students teach you more about your state!  

Next week we will be working on the visual literacy part of the project, where students will be creating a poster to display information. They will also brainstorm one or two props that would be appropriate to represent their person at their exhibit. This does not mean that they should be running out and buying materials. For example, if I was going to do a report on Ben Cohen of Ben and Jerry’s, I might have an ice cream scoop at my exhibit and don a tie-dye t-shirt. We are not looking for a full costume by any means!

The students have been working hard and have impressed us with the time management and teamwork in this project. We are looking forward to sharing their hard work with you all on the 21st.