Part One:
Book Information: Freedman, R., & Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana (1987). Lincoln: A photobiography. New York, N.Y: Clarion Books.
Genre: Biography, Informational Text - Common Core Exemplars
Grade Level: Grades 3-6
Part Two:
Response to Book: My predictions and response to the book, Thoughts about craft
Before reading the book, I flipped through the pages and looked at some of the pictures. The book was full of wonderful pictures of Abraham Lincoln that takes the reader through his life. I was very interested to read on!
This informational book is a biography of Abraham Lincoln's life. It is presented to fit younger children and is filled with interesting photos that go along with the text. The author begins with telling about Lincoln's childhood days and follows to tell about his career as a country lawyer and his marriage to Mary Todd. The biography is then focused on Lincoln's presidential years, explaining the many complex issues that Lincoln encountered as he led the nation through the Civil War. It is very educational and the author presents the information to keep the reader interested the entire time. It is an easy read which is great for younger children. I love how he used many realistic pictures which were very helpful and gave a visual to the biography. Many of the pictures consist of black and white historical photographs and reproduced nineteenth century art which is an extra enjoyment when reading and is what makes the book so appealing for children.
Part Three:
Before reading the book, I flipped through the pages and looked at some of the pictures. The book was full of wonderful pictures of Abraham Lincoln that takes the reader through his life. I was very interested to read on!
This informational book is a biography of Abraham Lincoln's life. It is presented to fit younger children and is filled with interesting photos that go along with the text. The author begins with telling about Lincoln's childhood days and follows to tell about his career as a country lawyer and his marriage to Mary Todd. The biography is then focused on Lincoln's presidential years, explaining the many complex issues that Lincoln encountered as he led the nation through the Civil War. It is very educational and the author presents the information to keep the reader interested the entire time. It is an easy read which is great for younger children. I love how he used many realistic pictures which were very helpful and gave a visual to the biography. Many of the pictures consist of black and white historical photographs and reproduced nineteenth century art which is an extra enjoyment when reading and is what makes the book so appealing for children.
Part Three:
Critique
I really enjoyed this book and is one that I plan to use in my classroom when I become a teacher. It is a great informational text that presents the life of Abraham Lincoln. It explains what Lincoln went through during his lifetime and focuses on the struggles in his Presidency and what he had to do to overcome them. It is a very realistic and accurate biography that would be great for students who like to read nonfiction texts. It would also be great to show students when teaching them about the Presidents, the Civil War, or introducing how to write a report!
Part Four:
Lesson Sketch
Grade: 4th
Standards
Reading Comprehension:
2.1 Identify structural patterns found in informational text (e.g., compare and contrast, cause and effect, sequential or chronological order, proposition and support) to strengthen comprehension.
Writing Strategies:
1.1 Select a focus, an organizational structure, and a point of view based upon purpose, audience, length, and format requirements.
1.2 Create multiple-paragraph compositions:
a. Provide an introductory paragraph.
b. Establish and support a central idea with a topic sentence at or near the beginning of
the first paragraph.
c. Include supporting paragraphs with simple facts, details, and explanations.
d. Conclude with a paragraph that summarizes the points.
e. Use correct indention.
1.5 Quote or paraphrase information sources, citing them appropriately.
1.6 Locate information in reference texts by using organizational features (e.g., prefaces,
appendixes).
1.7 Use various reference materials (e.g., dictionary, thesaurus, card catalog, encyclopedia,
online information) as an aid to writing.
1.9 Demonstrate basic keyboarding skills and familiarity with computer terminology
Writing Applications:
2.3 Write information reports:
a. Frame a central question about an issue or situation.
b. Include facts and details for focus.
c. Draw from more than one source of information (e.g., speakers, books, newspapers,
other media sources).
Reading Comprehension:
2.1 Identify structural patterns found in informational text (e.g., compare and contrast, cause and effect, sequential or chronological order, proposition and support) to strengthen comprehension.
Writing Strategies:
1.1 Select a focus, an organizational structure, and a point of view based upon purpose, audience, length, and format requirements.
1.2 Create multiple-paragraph compositions:
a. Provide an introductory paragraph.
b. Establish and support a central idea with a topic sentence at or near the beginning of
the first paragraph.
c. Include supporting paragraphs with simple facts, details, and explanations.
d. Conclude with a paragraph that summarizes the points.
e. Use correct indention.
1.5 Quote or paraphrase information sources, citing them appropriately.
1.6 Locate information in reference texts by using organizational features (e.g., prefaces,
appendixes).
1.7 Use various reference materials (e.g., dictionary, thesaurus, card catalog, encyclopedia,
online information) as an aid to writing.
1.9 Demonstrate basic keyboarding skills and familiarity with computer terminology
Writing Applications:
2.3 Write information reports:
a. Frame a central question about an issue or situation.
b. Include facts and details for focus.
c. Draw from more than one source of information (e.g., speakers, books, newspapers,
other media sources).
Lesson Outline
I would use this book when doing Black History Month and President's Day Book Reports. To start off the lesson, I would read this book to the class. We would analyze the book and make note of how the author wrote the biography and key points that he included. After reading the book, as a class we will work together to make a list of people who have made a difference in history. I will tell the class that they will all be doing a research report on someone on the list. Students will be able to collaborate and research with partners, but everyone will write their own report. This is a great way to teach the students how to research, take notes, and write a short report on the life and accomplishments of someone who has made a positive difference in the world. Students will choose a topic of interest and will be given time to do research in the library and on the internet, learning how to research and take notes with classmates. They will then write the report which consists of five paragraphs: the Introduction, Childhood, How did they make a difference?, Character Traits, and the Closing. Students will then put it all together in a fun package, creating their person out of construction paper. Below are a few examples. More information on the lesson plan can be found here: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top-teaching/2013/02/black-history-month-and-presidents-day-biography-reports
I would use this book when doing Black History Month and President's Day Book Reports. To start off the lesson, I would read this book to the class. We would analyze the book and make note of how the author wrote the biography and key points that he included. After reading the book, as a class we will work together to make a list of people who have made a difference in history. I will tell the class that they will all be doing a research report on someone on the list. Students will be able to collaborate and research with partners, but everyone will write their own report. This is a great way to teach the students how to research, take notes, and write a short report on the life and accomplishments of someone who has made a positive difference in the world. Students will choose a topic of interest and will be given time to do research in the library and on the internet, learning how to research and take notes with classmates. They will then write the report which consists of five paragraphs: the Introduction, Childhood, How did they make a difference?, Character Traits, and the Closing. Students will then put it all together in a fun package, creating their person out of construction paper. Below are a few examples. More information on the lesson plan can be found here: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top-teaching/2013/02/black-history-month-and-presidents-day-biography-reports
Discussion Questions
- What did you learn while creating your report?
- Who are some important people in history that have made a difference?
- What did you learn about Abraham Lincoln from the book we read?
- Did the book help you to get an idea of how to create your biography?
Links to Outside Resources
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top-teaching/2013/02/black-history-month-and-presidents-day-biography-reports (lesson plan)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln:_A_Photobiography (background information)
http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=4025&a=1 (lesson plans)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln:_A_Photobiography (background information)
http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=4025&a=1 (lesson plans)
