Strategy #4: Biographical Research

This strategy once again is suggested by Angela Watson.

Watson asserts that biographical projects are a great way to teach students research skills as well as synthesizing skills (to create a product from their research). She feels that by allowing the student to choose a person that interests them they will be more excited to conduct the research (Watson, 2015).

A biographical research project can be conducted in any way that you feel will be best suit the needs of your students. Of course you could have them write a standard biographical essay about them, or you could allow the student to take a more creative approach like writing a poem about the person, or dressing up as the person and giving an oral report about them to the class (Watson, 2015). This is a great way to teach your kids research skills, writing skills, oral presentation skills, reading skills, note taking skills, citation skills, as well as develop an interest in learning about various people in history.

I personally have done a few of these biographical research projects on people such as Jacqueline Cochran, Jacqueline Kennedy (can you sense a pattern), Joe DiMaggio, and Teddy Roosevelt. I can honestly tell you all that I did my research on Jacqueline Cochran in 3rd grade and 12 years later I still remember it so fondly. I make a large paper doll of Jacqueline, dressed up like her (she was a pilot) and got to tell my class about her. I have similar fond memories about the other people I researched as well because of the creativity my teachers allowed me with my projects. I made a Joe DiMaggio out a soda bottle, baseball, and a picture of his face (this was also accompanied by an essay), and I made a clay model of Teddy Roosevelt (as well as an essay), but the creative aspects of these projects made me excited to do them and made them still memorable even a decade later.

Allow your students creativity in these projects and they won't even notice the research, reading, writing, oral, computer skills they are building with it. It has the ability to be a great, fun learning opportunity for all.