Second Graders Read Biographies of Black Leaders from an Array of Fields

Second grade students have become immersed in reading biographies of Black leaders who have made contributions to their field and to the world. Students have built on their knowledge of the genre of biography from their hero study in first grade.  They began by reading a biography in small groups. After discussing and writing about the character traits that contributed to an individual making a difference in the world and learning about the important events in their life, second graders each selected a biography about a Black leader. Second graders were matched with a partner and had the opportunity to  preview an array of biographies. The biographies were a balance of people still alive and those that lived in the past. Partners chose two biographies they would be interested in reading and then teachers helped make the final selection. 

As students read the biography, they looked for character traits that enabled their person to meet their goals. They wrote the traits on sticky notes and placed them in their book. Charts of character traits were on the tables to allow students to enhance their vocabulary as they selected traits. Students will display their knowledge of the person they read about by making a poster that will include a picture, character traits and a paragraph about the contributions of their person. They will share their knowledge during Black History Month.