Wax Museum Biography Project

Attached you will find information on our upcoming Grade 4 Biography Wax Museum
Project. This information and timeline will be reviewed in class, but it is important for you to
review it at home as well, keeping in mind due dates since much of this project will be
completed at home.
There are many books available in our classrooms as well as at the Media Center and
local public libraries. Please select a person that interests you and has made an important
contribution to history. Try to avoid selecting current sports figures and popular singers and
actors/actresses. For example, Jackie Robinson would be an acceptable sports figure, but
David Ortiz would not.
All selections must be approved by your childs teacher on or before
Friday, May 2, 2014.
Parents/students, if you have any questions, please contact your childs teacher as soon
as possible. Our Biography Wax Museum has been a fun and educational experience in the
past and we know that this year will be no exception! You and your family are invited to
attend on Thursday, June 5, 2014 from 9:15-9:55AM in the SSS gym and cafeteria.
Please review the packet with your child, then sign and return the bottom
portion of this form as soon as possible. Thank you for your assistance.

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Wax Museum Biography Project

We have carefully reviewed the informational packet on the Wax

Museum Biography Project and are aware of the expectations and
deadlines.
Student Name: _________________ Date: ________
Student Signature: _____________________________________
Parent Signature: ______________________________________
(Please sign and return to class ASAP)

Name: __________________________
Date: ___________________________

Biography Project
Fact Organizer
As you read your famous historical person biography book, use this organizer
to gather information you will need to present your life. After you complete this sheet, you
will then prepare/write your speech in first person.
Introduction
Name of person you are reading about: _______________________________________
Early Life/Family
Date/Place of birth (if known): _____________________________________________
Family Information (For example: Who was in their family? What did their family do?
Where/How did they live?):
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Education (Did they attend school? What were their favorite subjects?) if known:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Career
Job(s) as an adult: _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Spouse and children (if any): _______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Why is this person important in history? (Include accomplishments and awards):

_____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
This person is most famous for.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
What were some challenges this person faced during their lifetime? (Race, Gender, Family etc.)
____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Additional interesting facts and information about this person:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Conclusion
Date/Place of death (if known and appropriate/if alive where they live):
_____________________________________________________________________
What is something people could learn from your life?

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Name: _____________________________

Biography Speech Outline

Use your Biography Fact Organizer to help you write a draft (in sentence form) of your
speech. Remember to write your essay in FIRST PERSON (I, my, me, mine, etc). Your speech
should be about 1-2 minutes long and include details so people will learn all about you!
Introduction:
Introduce yourself and explain why someone would want to learn about your life:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Main Idea #1: Early Life:

Tell about your early life and family and how they influenced your career choices (if they did
or someone else who may have influenced you):
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Main Idea #2: Importance in history:

Why are you an important person in history?
What did you do that people should know about?
What contribution did you make?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Main Idea #3: Interesting Facts:
Share other interesting facts or information that leaves your audience wanting to hear more
or ask questions.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Conclusion:
Wrap up your speech with where and how your person died? What can people learn from
your life?
_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Biography Project Timeline

Follow these steps to learn about a famous historical person who you will
become at the 4th Grade Museum!
Step 1: Select a person to study choose a famous historical person to read a
biography about. Your book/historical person need to be chosen and approved
by your teacher by May 2nd. Think about how you might present your speech at
the museum:
You can dress up in character and become your historical person
You can wear your regular clothes and give your speech
You can tape record your speech at home and play it at the museum. With
this choice, you must also include a poster, collage, or puppet of your
person.
Step 2: Read your biography and take notes on the Biography Project Fact
Organizer. Work should be completed at home. Book must be read and notes
completed by May 19th.
Step 3: First Draft of speech should be completed using the Biography
Speech Outline. You will be writing this speech in FIRST PERSON. Draft due:
May 23rd. We will be editing and revising during school hours on May 27 than
May 28th.
Step 4: Final Speech will be written/typed on index cards. Practice reading
your speech out loud to family members/friends/classmates or in front of a
mirror. Index cards due on May 30th.
Step 5: Final oral practice at school and final home preparations.

Step 6: Museum Presentations where your famous person will be brought to

life for the Spring Street School Community!
Date: June 5th from 9:15-9:55AM

Name: ______________________________ Date: _____________ #: _____

Historical Person Represented: _______________________________________

4- Advanced
Determines
Important Parts in
Text
(Project
Accuracy)

N/A

Oral Presentation

Changes volume to
suit purpose and
audience; good
expression,
consistent eye
contact with
audience, steady
pace, and clear
pronunciation
N/A

Effort

3 Proficient

2- Progressing

1 - Warning

All important
information
included in speech
from fact sheet;
audience has a
clear picture of
person portrayed
Consistent volume,
pace and eye
contact with
audience; few
mistakes relative
to length of
speech

Most information
from fact sheet is
included but may
be missing up to 2
important points
about person
portrayed
Inconsistent
volume, pace, little
eye contact, and
several mistakes

Much information
from fact sheet is
missing or
inaccurate;
audience is unclear
of person
portrayed
Barely audible
volume, no eye
contact, and
inadequate volume
with many
mistakes

All due dates met

and work produced
shows strong
effort and quality

Most due dates

met and produced
work is somewhat
neat and shows
some effort

Due dates not

adhered to and
produced work is
messy and shows
little or no effort

*highest level for

taping speech

Comments: ____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________