Date: May 1994
Grade Level(s): 4, 5, 6
Subject(s):
Students' oral reports on biographies are enhanced by the use of a "personality bag". Students select objects that reflect the attributes of the personality in their book. This encourages the use of critical thinking skills and enhances memory.
Intermediate students are enthusiastic about this project. Areas of social studies, science and reading are most adaptable.
Goal:
Students must find the major attributes of the personality in a biography and then apply it to an object for presentation.
Objectives:
Besides the benefits of defining attributes and enhancing memory this activity also encourages creativity in a sometimes factual area. Speaking presentations seem to become more natural for the student with this activity. Critical thinking skills are challenged at all ability levels for they must create this bag of objects.
Materials:
No resources are needed however I always provide the student with a book report format to ensure that they share factual information such as title, author, copyright, publisher, number of pages, early life, family, education, career and recommendations about the book.
Procedure:
Students find objects around their house, cut pictures from magazines and sometimes even draw picture to illustrate the main attributes of the life of the person in their book or report. The bags are as varied as the students in the class as this activity can be done by any ability level student. Some of the more creative students may even say their person may have skateboarded if they lived today because they were daring or physically fit, etc. At 5th grade, president reports not only seem more interesting but the presidents take on a more real context to the students. The class has better recall of presidents when discussing eras or issues.
Tying it All Together:
Although I have students take notes during book reports this visual activity does more to increase memory and student involvement. Students enjoy this activity.