Activity Objective

The goal of All About Me Autobiography: Writing from Personal Experience is to help students understand the structure of an autobiography by creating a personal, written summary about themselves.

What You Need

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Session 1:
- Choose an autobiographical book
- Gather chart paper and markers
- Photocopy graphic organizers for each student

Task Time:

2, 45-minute sessions

Session 1:
- Teacher reads an autobiography aloud
- Students brainstorm topics for writing
- Students plan autobiographies using a graphic organizer

Session 2:
- Students write autobiographies

Materials Required:

Teacher:
- Read-aloud autobiographical book
- Chart paper
- Markers

Student:
- Graphic Organizer worksheet

What You Do

Teacher Role:

Direct instruction:
- during the read aloud and lesson review

Facilitator:
- during the class discussion and brainstorming session

Consultant:
- during independent student writing

Student Grouping:

Whole class:
- during the read-aloud, class discussion, brainstorming session, and lesson review

Individual:
- during the independent writing activity

Assessment Ideas:

- Use checklists to assess the use of the conventions of language, such as grammar, spelling, and punctuation

- Record anecdotal notes about students' work, for example their use of interesting vocabulary, descriptive language, and relevant information 

- Use a rubric to assess whether or not important components of the autobiography are included 

Quick Tips

Activity Extensions:

- Have students write an acrostic name poem using information from the autobiography

- Invite students to research and write the autobiography of an object 
a. For example, My Life As a...basketball, submarine, camera, helicopter

- Introduce the concept of writing a biography about an author being studied in class

Additional Comments:

- The graphic organizer provided is just one possibility. You may wish to create your own graphic organizer or develop a particular set of headings or questions that best suit your teaching goals.

- Students can be encouraged to interview a family member to gather additional information to include in the autobiography.

- Students may use a bag of their favorite items from home to stimulate ideas for writing.

- Feature the autobiography of the 'Student of the Week' on a bulletin board with accompanying photographs and illustrations.

- Include the student's autobiography in a folder of published writing.

- Display a collection of 'All About Me' themed-storybooks in the classroom.

Other Adaptations/Modifications:

- Simplify instructions and repeat, as necessary