Lessons & Units :: Genre Studies: Biography 1st Grade Unit

Lesson 3: Significant Contribution

Lesson Plan

A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin | 730L

A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin
Learning Goal
Explain that biographies are written about people who have made a significant contribution to society.
Identify and describe the significant contribution(s) made by a subject of a biography.
Duration
Approximately 50 minutes
Necessary Materials
Provided: Unit Example Chart, Independent Practice Worksheet
Not Provided: A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin by David A. Adler, chart paper, markers

  • Teacher Modeling

    will teach students that biographies are often written about people who have made a contribution to society. This means that they have done something to make the world different or better for others. I will add this to my Characteristics of Biographies Chart (Example Chart is provided in Unit Teacher and Student Materials). To identify a person’s contribution to society in a biography, I will identify very important actions that the person did that made a difference in the world. I will model identifying the contributions made by Sacagawea in A Picture Book of Sacagawea by David A. Adler (from Lesson 2). I will write the title and record an example of Sacagawea’s contributions on my chart.

  • Think Check

    Ask: "How did I identify the contributions made by Sacagawea?" Students should answer that you identified her actions and what happened because of her actions. You determined which actions made a positive impact on others or changed the world in a good way.

  • Guided Practice

    will read A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin by David A. Adler and work together to identify and discuss 1-2 contribution(s) made by Benjamin Franklin. We will identify his actions that made a difference in the world. For example, we will note that he invented electricity, which we now use in our homes. We will reflect on how this biography tells us about Benjamin Franklin’s contributions and add the title and examples to our chart.

  • Independent Practice

    will identify another contribution made by Benjamin Franklin in the biography. You will explain how you know that this is a biography. (Independent Practice Worksheet is provided.)

Build Student Vocabulary inventing

Tier 2 Word: inventing
Contextualize the word as it is used in the story After Benjamin Franklin retired from publishing, “he spent his time in public service, inventing, and experimenting.”
Explain the meaning student-friendly definition) Inventing means making or creating something new that no one has made or created before. After he retired, Benjamin Franklin spent his time creating new things for the world. He was an inventor. An inventor is someone who spends time inventing, or creating new things.
Students repeat the word Say the word inventing with me: inventing.
Teacher gives examples of the word in other contexts I invented a new ice cream sundae that has sour gummy bears on top. The inventor created a new travel machine that will transport me from my room to school in no time at all.
Students provide examples Can you imagine inventing something? If you could invent anything, what would it be? Start by saying, “If I could invent anything, I would invent ____________.”
Students repeat the word again. What word are we talking about? inventing
Additional Vocabulary Words clever, printer

Build Student Background Knowledge

Pause on page 7 while reading A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin and explain to students that Benjamin Franklin worked at one of the first newspaper printers in America. Share an example of a newspaper with your students. Explain that a newspaper is a paper that tells you what happens every day. Say,"Inside a newspaper, you can find news about your town, your country, and your world. You can read funny comics, and read about movies and sports." Tell students that newspapers are still printed on paper and delivered to homes or sold on street corners, but many people also read their news on the computer today.

Texts & Materials

Standards Alignment

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User Comments

great lesson for my students working on Gandhi

Submitted by TracyTrsix_2470380 on 12/3/16