U A GE

NG TS
R

LA
RER

A
PL O
EX NIOR
do research to learn moreJUabout one of these
people. Who has the story you would like to
write?

c tivity
A

Make a List
In this activity, you will make a list of possible
subjects for your biography.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Make a list of possible subjects for your
biography.
2. Choose someone who is interesting to you.

You nee
d to
Subjects for My Biography do rese
• Uncle John, a war hero arch to
write a
• My neighbor Jack, the dr good
ummer in biograp
his college band hy.
• Grandma Sally, a great co
ok
• My friend Annabel, who live
s in China

To get a
copy of t
www.cher his activit
rylakepub y, visit
lishing.co 7
m/activit
ie s.
 R

L
RER

A
PLO
EX NIOR
JU
To get a
copy of t
www.cher his activit
rylakepub y, visit
lishing.co
m/activit
ie s.

c tivity
A

Prepare to Interview
Your Subject
In this activity, you will prepare the questions for
your interview.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Write the title “What I Know” at the top of the
page.
2. Below the title, write facts you already know
about your subject’s life.
3. On a second page, write the title “What I Want
to Know.”
4. Below the title, write what you want to learn
from the interview.
5. On a third sheet of paper, write your ideas for
questions to ask your subject. Your notes about
what you want to learn can help you think of
questions.
6. Leave space under each question to write down
the person’s answers.

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 You c
ould
peop also
le wh inter
o view
the s know
ubje
biogr ct of
aphy your
My friend, Annabel tell y . They
ou m can
What I Know: pers ore a
on’s bout
life. this
• 10 years old
• 5 people in her family
• Lived in the United States
and China
• Likes to travel
• Enjoys scuba diving and ev
erything about the ocean
What I Want to Know:
• What does Annabel like mo
st about living in China?
• What does she miss the
most about the United States
• Where are her favorite pla ?
ces to travel?
• What does she want to be
when she grows up?
Questions:
• Where and when were yo
u born?
• Can you tell me a little ab
out your family?
• What do you miss about
the United States?
• What is your favorite thing
about living in China?
• Where are some of your
favorite places to travel?
• What do you want to be
when you grow up?
• Where do you want to live
when you grow up?

11
 , visit
h is activity s.
e t a c o py o f t
g .c o m / activitie
To g blishin
.c h e r r ylakepu
www
c tivity
A

Interview Your Subject

In this activity, you will interview the subject of
your biography.

Instructions:
1. Turn on the recorder if you are using one. Don’t
forget to turn it off after the interview.
2. Ask the questions on your list. Give the speaker
time to answer each one.
3. Listen carefully. Take notes on what you want
to remember about each answer. Your notes do
not have to be full sentences, but they should be
clear so you can understand them later.
4. Look at the speaker as you ask your questions.
5. After the interview, thank the person for taking
time to talk with you.

Always
use go
manne od
Q. Where were you born? rs and
polite be
A. Massachusetts, in the Un during
ited States interv an
iew.
Q. Tell me a little about your
family.
A. • 5 people: mom, dad, yo
unger brother and sister
• 4 grandparents and gr
eat grandpa (age 95)
Q. What do you miss about
the United States?
A. The food! Strawberries fro
m local farms
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 tivity
Ac

Create a Draft
In this activity, you will write a draft of your
biography.

Instructions:
1. Choose the information you want to use from
your research.
2. Write an opening statement to grab the reader’s
attention. For example, use an interesting
quotation from your subject.
3. Put the information in chronological order.
4. Divide the information into two or three
categories. Each category will form a paragraph
in the body of the biography.
5. Write a closing comment that includes a
summary of your subject’s life.
6. Add any quotations to your report. Be sure to
use quotation marks.

o put
Remember t
rks
quotation ma
erson’s
around the p
.
exact words

To get a
copy of t
www.cher his activit
rylakepub y, visit
lishing.co
m/activit
ie s.

16
 c tivity
A

Write the Final Copy

In this activity you will write the final copy of your
biography.

Instructions:
1. Write the final copy of your biography on a
blank sheet of paper or type it on a computer.
2. Add photographs or drawings of your subject so
your readers can see the person throughout his
or her life.

a m i l y photo
F
are a
albums o
r e a t place t
g
i c t u r es for
find p raphy.
r b i o g
you

To get a copy of
this activity, visit
www.cherrylakepu
blishing.com/activ
it ies.

18
 NG TS
R

LA
ER

A
LO R
EXP NIOR
JU
STOP!
DON’T WRIT
IN THE BO E
OK!

tivity
Ac

Final Changes
Check everything one more time.
YES NO Do I have a title and opening that will
grab the reader’s attention?
YES NO Do I help the reader get to know the
biography’s subject?
YES NO Do I use words that explain the
chronology of events?
YES NO Do I include details that help give the
reader a clearer picture of the person?
YES NO Is the information organized into
categories with headings?
YES NO Do I have an illustration or photograph
of the subject?
YES NO Do I include a quotation from the
person?
YES NO Do I include a summary in my ending?
YES NO Do I use correct grammar and spelling?

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 Share your biography with your subject and
with others. Let others learn about this unique life!

Adventurous Annabel
Introduction ,
th is ad vent ur ou s. Ev en though she is only 10 years old
Annabel Ro ad ults. She has had quite
e pla ce s than m an y
she has been to mor
a life!
l wa s bo rn in M as sa ch us etts, America. Annabel was
Annabe n she
fir st ch ild , gr an dc hil d, an d niece in her family. Whe
the
to meet her.
was born, everyone wanted

Family and Home Life

5 pe op le in he r fa m ily inc luding her mom and dad;
Annabel has 4
ot he r, An dr ew ; an d lit tle sister, Alexandria. She has
younger br
d a gr ea t- gr an dp a wh o is 95 years old. Annabel
grandparents an en she moved to China.
ica un til sh e wa s 7, an d th
lived in Amer of
ea ks En gli sh at ho m e an d Mandarin at school. One
She sp when her family’s couch
m em or ies of Ch ina wa s
Annabel’s first
ed on th e ba ck of tw o bi cycles. “There are bikes
was deliver l lik es living in China but
,” sh e sa id . An na be
everywhere in China
es Am er ica , to o. Sh e sa id, “I really loved eating
m iss
farm in America.”
strawberries from a local

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 Favorite Activities
Annabel loves to tr
avel with her family
She has been to 15 .
countries on 5
continents. One of
her favorite trips
was to Cambodia.
She loved watching
ancient temple nam the sunrise on the
ed Angkor Wat. S
China and ridden el he has held panda
ephants in Thailand s in
a wild kookaburra . In A ustralia she rescue
bird. “You have to d
You never know wh be brave when you
at amazing things travel.
my camera everyw will happen. I try to
here.” bring

When She Grows

Annabel wants to b Up
e a marine biologis
wants this career t when she grows
because she likes up. She
be a scientist. She the ocean, and she
has been scuba div wants to
“Scuba diving was in g on e time. She said,
scary and fun, but
can learn a lot abou I want to get bette
t the ocean.” She r so I
the world. “Every co would like to live a
untry has somethin ll over
g interesting.”
annabel’s further
I think my friend A adventures
nnabel has had a ve
has many exciting ry interesting life a
adventures ahead nd
many of them! of her. I plan to jo
in her on

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