Autobiography


 * Autobiographies ** can serve many purposes in the classroom. For ESL and ELL students autobiographies can showcase their interests, information about family and culture, and past and future plans. Autobiographies can also be used to teach and/or review specific grammar points as well as English language skills. When you want to think about someone else’s life experiences, you can write a biography by doing a interview. Having children interview one another or someone else can help students with their speaking skills building pronunciation, tone, and expression. The following activities are from [|Learning to Give] an excellent source, that I've used many times before. Learning to Give is unique because it ties in philanthropy and civic responsibility with general lessons. The following activities from Learning to Give I have (will) split into 2 days.

From a previous day, students have taken home a personal timeline and questionnaire for their families to help them fill out about their lives. Students will have the option of the handouts being in their native language so family members can assist them. At school students will use information from the timeline and questionnaire to compile a rough draft of the autobiography. For homework, students will prepare a remembering box which can have photos of themselves, drawings, notes, etc.
 * Activity 1: Writing an Autobiography **

Students will peer edit their rough draft, finish decorating their remembering boxes, and write a short note about their boxes. Majority of the time will be used to brainstorm a list of questions to ask a senior citizen at a Senior/Nursing Home.
 * Activity 2: Interviewing a Senior **

**The visit to the Senior/Nursing Home will come later in the week/month.