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The Best biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs to get 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students interested and reading

Best Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs for Upper Elementary

Best biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs to get 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students interested and engaged

3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students don't often automatically grab biographies and autobiographies off the classroom library shelf.  But the inspiring biographies below will have your upper elementary students begging for more!

Written by guest blogger Cindy Koopmans

In my classroom I’ve often found that biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs are a bit of a hard sell.  Besides selecting only the best nonfiction books for my classroom shelves to begin with, this is how I’ve made it work...

Tips for Encouraging Students to Read Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs

When students are looking for a new book to read, I go to the shelves and hand pick a stack of books for them to peruse.  I’ll start the process by asking them what they’ve read lately and what they liked about those books.  This strategy works because it is built on choice and trust.  I’m enthusiastic about books and I never force a book on a kid.  They get to choose what to read.

autobiography 5th grade

And when that happens, the conversation I have with one of my lovies goes something like this: “Mrs. K.  This really happened?  This story is like, for real?” 

Me, “Yup.”   

This is the truth:  no matter who we are or how old we are, we are always looking for someone to light the way forward on this dark road called life.  

Even the most jaded of students have the propensity to be inspired by the stories of people who have survived and thrived.  

And that’s why it is so critical to give our students the gift of great nonfiction and allow them a glimpse into other people’s worlds.  When we see how other people navigate the not insubstantial bumps in their personal roads it gives us hope.  

So here you will find a nicely balanced list of great nonfiction books that are tried and true winners for upper elementary students.  There is great variety in this role call.  I’ve included books written about or by creatives, trailblazers, and a few so-called “ordinary” people, who when called upon by fate, did not back down.  They met the challenges they faced head on and triumphed.  

These people found themselves in extraordinarily difficult and, in some cases, harrowing life situations.  The stories are unique, multi-faceted and...well...true!  

As an added bonus, you can trust that these nonfiction books are incredibly well-written.  

Sometimes, just to hook some of my more reluctant student readers, I take a minute out of our precious instructional time.  I’m not doing anything too fancy, I simply introduce a new book and read the first page or two enthusiastically.

If I’m with a particularly apathetic class I’ve been known to climb up on a chair and use lots of over the top hand gestures.  Hey! Whatever it takes, right?  

Anyway, I’m never sorry about taking the time because there is absolutely nothing more exciting than hearing numerous kids blurt out an enthusiastic, “I want to read that one!” 

What just happened here? A waiting list?  Awesome.

These are good books.  Many of these books are showing the wear and tear of being well-loved in my fifth grade classroom.  Others have gotten a thorough vetting before they made this list and are now on an Amazon wish list until I get two nickels to rub together.  You and your students will find them to be deeply satisfying reads.  Get ready for a cupcake shop moment, because you are not going to know which one to pick! 

12 Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Students

Anne frank: the diary of a young girl by anne frank, b.m. mooyaart (translator), eleanor roosevelt (introduction).

It is July 6, 1942, the setting is Amsterdam, and Anne Frank has just received a diary for her birthday.  The rest is history. 

Every year I have at least one student who loves Laurie Halse Anderson's historical fiction books.  If you have students like that in your class, then Anne Frank will absolutely blow their minds.  Introduce them to this classic read, then share the link to the full length movie.   

Some books introduced to students are gifts that they will remember the rest of their lives.  Be that teacher that gives that gift.  Here I just want to say thank you to Mrs. Barclay.  I still have my original copy.

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Unbroken: An Olympian's Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive  by Laura Hillenbrand

This book begins with an excruciating description of three men who are floating on a raft in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  Suffice it to say that sharks are predominant in the narrative of the first chapter.  Fifth grade boys?  Gotcha.  Add to the sharks stuff the fact that the main character, Louis Zabarelli, is a former Olympian and you just set the hook.

This recommendation of the young adult adaptation of Louis Zabarelli’s story, but that shouldn’t be a cause for hesitation.  This book graces the shelf of my classroom library, but it isn’t on the shelf very often.  That and it’s worn condition testifies that Louis Zabarelli’s story does hold appeal for upper elementary aged students.  I’ve included the movie trailer for you in case you want more evidence.

Unbroken

Hidden Figures  by Margot Lee Shetterly

autobiography 5th grade

This is another worn book in my classroom library.  In fact, I have three copies because it has been that popular. 

You can find some extra resources here if you’re that smart teacher that seeks to intertwine some science lessons into your literature.  If you haven’t seen the movie that was released a few years ago, you can watch the trailer here.

Hidden Figures

Save time and stress this school year with these   Nonfiction Reading Response Activities that can be used over and over throughout the school year with ANY nonfiction text.   

3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will respond through reading, writing, poetry, speaking, listening, drawing, interviewing, and more.    This is a must have   for any upper elementary teacher that does not want to have to constantly recreate the wheel.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind  by William Kamkwamba

autobiography 5th grade

You may want to watch the movie on Netflix, but don’t tell your students it is there until after they read the book.  (And you could use some of these questions and activity ideas for comparing movies to books.)   Another recommendation from my classroom shelves.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

I Am Malala  by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick

Look up the word inspiring in the dictionary and you may find Malala Yousafzai’s picture there.  Malala Yousafzai is internationally famous because she and her family stood up to the Taliban’s edict that girls were not allowed to receive an education.  Malala’s father taught her not to back down from what she believed in, even though she knew she was in danger, Malala continued to attend school.  As a result, Malala almost lost her life when she was shot riding the bus home from school. 

Here’s a short video about how Malala, the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17, continues her mission to make a difference in the lives of young women around the world.

A biography of Malala also made this list of books about overcoming obstacles.

I Am Malala

Ugly  by Robert Hoge

Do we have a choice in what we allow to define us?  Robert Hoge’s memoir answers this question with a resounding, “Yes!” 

Bullied and misunderstood because of a facial tumor and other disabilities he was born with, Robert Hoge teaches us how to live wholeheartedly and fearlessly despite how we might be judged and treated by the world.  This is the very best kind of story, honestly and simply told by the person who lived through it all. 

Robert was born with disfigurements that made him a baby only a mother could love, except his own mother didn’t want him and still, he made it.  I know I have students who need to hear his story and I’m sure you do too.

Ugly

Mountains Beyond Mountains  by Tracey Kidder

I was beyond excited when I learned that Tracey Kidder’s book about Dr. Paul Farmer and his work with Partners in Health had been adapted for young readers. 

Tracey Kidder shadows Dr. Paul Farmer whose mission is to provide quality healthcare to the most economically disadvantaged people in the world’s most impoverished populations.  Dr. Farmer’s father exemplified altruism and expected his children to participate in his passion. 

Even though the family didn’t have money, Dr. Farmer made a decision to attend college and pursue medicine.  It was a high school guidance counselor that helped him take the first steps. 

This is a book that I challenge students to read, because it’s...well...challenging!  But a student who  choses to tackle it has not been disappointed.  

Mountains Beyond Mountains

My Thirteenth Winter  by Samantha Abel

Samantha Abel was a straight A student with a secret.  She couldn’t remember her locker combination or tell time.  The disconnect caused her to suffer from anxiety attacks.  In her thirteenth winter, Samantha found the strength and the courage to confront her problems.  Consequently, Samantha learned that she had a learning disability called dyscalculia.   Once the disability is discovered and addressed, Samantha’s life begins to change. 

autobiography 5th grade

As teachers know, learning disabilities are a discrepancy between intelligence and academic struggle.  It is in that often agonizing struggle that a learning disability is  forced to the surface.  We know what they are, but we don’t really know what causes them. 

My Thirteenth Winter: A Memoir

A Long Walk to Water  by Linda Sue Park

autobiography 5th grade

Linda Sue Park lays out the story in two distinct sections, intermingling fiction and nonfiction.  The book tells the story from the point of view of a young girl, Nya, as she walks all day long to procure water for her family’s needs:  hence the title.  But it is Salva’s point of view story that is truly central to the book.  Salva is one of the “Lost Boys” of Sudan who is walking to escape the violence and constant threat of being conscripted into the Sudanese army.  Spoiler...the two stories come together at the end of the book. 

I spend a lot of time convincing those kiddos who read ahead not to give away the ending and wreck the book for their classmates.  This link will take you to a short video about Salva.

A Long Walk to Water

Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland is the first African-American principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre history.  Adapted for young readers, the adult version of this book made the New York Times best-seller list.  This is another excellent autobiography I’ve had to purchase in multiples because it is in demand with my girls. 

Misty Copeland’s grit and determination, added to her passion, led her to a successful career in dance.  It all began so simply. 

She writes,  “My family didn't have very much money, so ballet wasn't even on my radar; I just found it randomly when I was 13 at a Boys & Girls Club. We were practicing on a basketball court in gym clothes with some old socks on. Even though it terrified me at first, I found that I really liked it.”  Find something you love and pursue it with all your heart.  Yes.

Check out these other inspirational biographies of African-Americans.

Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina

Lion: A Long Way Home  by Saroo Brierley

An incredible true story that just proves the point that life is often stranger than anything anyone could make up in a million years. 

autobiography 5th grade

His book chronicles his struggle to remember where he came from and to reconnect with his family, which he does when he is 25 years old.  You can watch a trailer for the Hollywood Version here.

Lion: A Long Way Home

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman

autobiography 5th grade

Vincent’s younger brother Theo is the pragmatist in the relationship, but still an art lover—he works as an art dealer, which on the face of it could be immensely helpful for Vincent.  But Vincent’s artistic style, that of the Impressionist school, is simply not in fashion and Theo can’t change that fact. 

Despite their personality differences and all the drama Vincent brings to the relationship these brothers remain loyal to the core.  This is a beautiful and touching story of brotherly love and devotion. 

You’ll find it special as a direct result of Deborah Heilgman’s efforts to get the details right: she carefully gleaned information from more than 600 letters Vincent wrote to his brother Theo over his lifetime. 

Deborah Heiligman is the award winning author of Charles and Emma and many other books for children and young adults.

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers

Find more book suggestions for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students here.  

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Education Standards

Utah core english language arts (2011).

Learning Domain: Writing

Standard: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

Standard: With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of two pages in a single sitting.

Autobiography Rubric

Autobiography Rubric

5th grade autobiography unit.

5th grade Autobiography Unit

This is a lesson plan can be used to add technology to your classroom. Students will creae an Narrative autobiography in both a media form and a 5 paragraph essay. 

Students will be writing an autobiography in an in person lesson that requires them to learn and understand steps of an autobiography, publish a written copy, and publish a form of technology to go along with their lesson that will be presented to the class. Students can use pages, iMovie, or Garageband to create their technology piece.

Background for Teachers

To teach this lesson you will need an understanding of the 5th grade writing process as well as what needs to be taught to teach autobiography writing. You will also need a basic understanding of how to use pages, iMovie, and Garageband.

Step 1 - Goals and Outcomes

Step 1: Goals and Outcomes

Students will be able to write a 5 paragraph autobiography and present their life story to the class using a form of media/technology. 

Writing Standard 3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.

Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.

Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to manage the sequence of events.

Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.

Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or event

Writing Standard 6

With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of two pages in a single sitting.

Step 2 - Planning Instruction

Prior to beginning their autobiographies tell students that an autobiography tells the story of someone’s life written by that person. To get ideas flowing about their own life students can create an ABC list of things about themselves. Ex. A is for apples which is my favorite fruit. U is for Utah because that is where I live. Students could create this using words or pictures.

Step 3 - Instruction

Students will fill out a graphic organizer to plan their autobiographies. They should start with a brainstorm where they can reflect on who they are and what they want to include in their autobiography. Remind students they will be telling their life story in narrative form. When they tell the story it will flow in order from their first part of life, growing up, their family, to their next part of life like school, and friends, etc. 

Things they can brainstorm: 

Family Members

Favorite Family Memory

Hopes and Dreams for the Future

Interesting Facts about themselves

Schools attended and teachers

Current Hobbies and Talents

Favorite School Memories

Favorite things like; food, sport, school subject, candy, TV show, movie, book, restaurant, music, super hero. Etc…

Remind students a narrative should include:

Beginning: This is where you will introduce yourself. Remember you are to tell the story of your life, so go in chronological order. Tell events in the order they happened. 

Middle: Each body paragraph will progress to different major events in your life. Start with your family, school and friends, and end with what makes you unique. Remember to keep this in a narrative story-like format, of your life.

End: This is the conclusion of your autobiography. Here you wrap up your thoughts and leave lasting impressions with your reader. 

Their 5 paragraph graphic organizer should include:

Introduction: Introduce my name, age and where I was born. Include one or two interesting facts about myself.

First, 

This paragraph will be about my family. Dad and Mom, brothers and sisters. Tell a story about a favorite family memory. 

Next, 

This is about school and friends. 

Then, 

What makes me unique? Interesting story about something that has happened to me, 

In conclusion,

Where am I currently in life? What am I doing daily? Activities, jobs, sports…

*Once their graphic organizers are complete they will type a final copy.

Last: 

Students can use ipads, computers, or class ipods to take pictures of the things they want to use in their digital presentation. They may also bring pictures from home that they may want to use. Baby pictures, family events, etc. 

Students can then choose if they want to create a flyer in pages of their life, an imovie with pictures and descriptions of their life, or a podcast recorded reading of them telling their life story in Garageband. 

Step 4 - Assessments

Attached is a Rubric for the students 5 paragraph autobiography as well as the Rubric for their media presentation. Part of their assessment will also be presenting to the class. This is attached to the media presentation rubric.

Media Presentation Rubric for Autobiography

Version History

Telling a Story About Me: Young Children Write Autobiographies

Telling a Story About Me: Young Children Write Autobiographies

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Developing ideas collaboratively, planning writing projects before executing them, and learning to compose sentences related to a specific topic are important skills for students to master. This lesson plan teaches these skills while drawing from the lives of first and second grade students who will write and publish autobiographies based on personal photographs. The lesson begins with the students working at home with their families to select and record relevant information about photos. Students then work in small groups and independently to create their autobiographies.

From Theory to Practice

  • Autobiographical writing gives teachers a way to engage students and their families in literacy learning, creating a willingness to participate in literacy activities.
  • Expanding students' knowledge of their community and themselves deepens their understanding of the reading and writing process.
When students write narratives about their own lives it helps them develop personal, social, and cultural connections.
Exploring their own life stories can provide a sense of direction and purpose for students that other forms of writing do not.

Common Core Standards

This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.

State Standards

This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.

NCTE/IRA National Standards for the English Language Arts

  • 4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
  • 5. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
  • 6. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.
  • 7. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
  • 8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
  • 11. Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities.
  • 12. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Materials and Technology

  • Photographs from home
  • Writing and drawing tools
  • Tape or glue for affixing photos
  • Binding materials
  • You Have to Write by Janet S. Wong (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2002)
  • Chart paper and a marker
  • Transparencies and a projector
  • Assessment Guide
  • Note to families
  • An Autobiography: Information About My Photos
  • An Autobiography: Ideas for My Story
  • An Autobiography: Planning My Story
  • Autobiography page
  • Cover sheet
  • Dedication page

Preparation

Student objectives.

Students will

  • Engage their families in the learning process by working at home to select photographs that represent aspects of their lives
  • Formulate ideas for an autobiography by working collaboratively and independently
  • Practice their writing skills by composing sentences in the first person using themselves as subject matter and revising the composed sentences into a story
  • Participate in a literacy community by reading their stories aloud in small groups
  • Invite families to school to share the published autobiographies of the students.
  • Further develop students' autobiographical writing skills by using the Stapleless Book or the online ReadWriteThink Printing Press to have them write more about their lives.

Student Assessment / Reflections

Throughout this lesson, you may use the Assessment Guide to document observations of students in each of the five areas found in the lesson objectives: family participation, collaborative work, independent work, writing sentences, and reading aloud. There is also space to record other notes and observations. Some questions to ask when using the Assessment Guide include:

  • Family Participation–How much did the family participate in this project? Did they send in appropriate photographs and complete the work that needed to be done at home? Was the work done when requested?
  • Collaborative Work–How did the student collaborate with his or her peers? Did he or she make appropriate suggestions? How did he or she accept suggestions about his or her own work?
  • Independent Work–How did the student work independently during the project? Did he or she follow directions? How well did he or she stay on task when working independently?
  • Writing Sentences–How did the student do at composing and writing sentences for the autobiography? Are the sentences on topic with the photographs? Are the sentences grammatically correct? What resources did he or she use to spell and write words (asking a peer, asking a teacher, the word wall, the dictionary, or using phonetic spelling)?
  • Reading Aloud–How did the student do when reading the autobiography aloud? Could he or she read it independently or was assistance needed? How was the fluency of reading aloud?

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Fifth Grade Autobiography Summary

Everything you need to understand or teach Fifth Grade Autobiography .

  • Fifth Grade Autobiography Summary & Study Guide

Fifth Grade Autobiography Overview

“Fifth Grade Autobiography” is a four-stanza free-verse poem by American poet Rita Dove. The poem uses a school assignment to explore the speaker’s childhood, touching on themes of family dynamics, memory, and loss. This poem originally appeared in Dove’s 1989 collection Grace Notes. 

Fifth Grade Autobiography Study Guide

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The Curriculum Corner 4-5-6

Biography Graphic Organizers

autobiography 5th grade

Use this collection of biography graphic organizers to help your fourth and fifth grade students explore biographies during reading workshop.

These biography graphic organizers will be a helpful tool for you as you are planning your biography unit of study.

This is another free resource for teachers and homeschool families from The Curriculum Corner.

Use this collection of biography graphic organizers to help your fourth and fifth grade students explore biographies during reading workshop.

Planning for a study of biographies

As you plan for your unit of study, your first action should be gathering high interest biographies for your students to explore.

These mentor texts should be good, clear examples of biographies. Include your favorites and be sure to include books that will interest your students as well.  It’s also a good idea to gather a stack of informational text books that fall under that category of narrative nonfiction.  Throughout the unit, you might want to refer to these as nonexamples of biographies.

There are many informational text picture books that are written at a fourth to sixth grade level. This means that you should be able to find some shorter texts that will still challenge your readers. This can be helpful when you want students to explore multiple biographies.

As you work to gather your books, ask students who they would be most interested in learning about. Try to find books that match their requests to keep them engaged in the unit.

If you have a student interested in a subject but are unable to find a book to share, you can turn this into a follow up project. Have the student write their own biography about the subject. You can add this to your classroom librarym .

Graphic Organiz32ers for Biographies

About these biography graphic organizers

This collection contains a variety of biography graphic organizers. You can choose to use the ones that fit your students best.

As always, I encourage you to model these organizers as you introduce them. This will help students to fully understand the expectations.

Lesson 1  Expository or Narrative Nonfiction?

Begin by helping students understand that there is a different between expository nonfiction and narrative nonfiction. Biographies fall under the category of narrative nonfiction and tell a story. Narrative nonfiction may also tell about an event. Expository nonfiction provides an explanation or directions.

This first lesson is designed to help students develop an understanding of the difference between a biography (which is narrative nonfiction) and expository nonfiction.  

Share the stack of mentor texts along with the nonexamples of biographies (which should be expository nonfiction.)

Allow students time to look through these books and “notice” differences.  Encourage them to make notes on post-its and mark the spots in the text.

These differences will help students begin to develop an understanding of the differences. When students have completed their noticings, pull them together as a class and give them time to share what they found.  

Create an anchor chart for students to refer to that is titled “Noticings” and contains the student observations.   Observations for biographies might include: tells a story, tells about a person’s life, includes dates, has bold words, has a table of contents, includes a glossary, has an index.  

Observations for expository nonfiction might include: gives directions, tells all about an object or animal, explains something, includes dates, has bold words, has a table of contents, includes a glossary, has an index.

Noticings Exit Ticket  To check student understanding, have students complete this exit ticket.  Students find a biography and an example of expository nonfiction. They then include their choices and reasoning on their exit ticket.

Lesson 2 Biography Story Map

A biography can be similar to a fiction book which tells a story.  

It includes a main character, setting, time and often problems.

Have students choose a biography to read and complete this story map.  

You might choose to model this lesson by reading aloud a biography one day and completing the story map together.

The next day, students will use their silent reading time to read a different biography they are interested in and then complete the story map.

Lesson 3 Character Traits

Just like when reading fiction, students reading biographies should be trying to determine the character traits of the subject of the biography.  

It is important for students to understand that character traits are different from what the person looks like. These resources can be used to help students develop an understanding of the difference: Character Traits . 

We suggest using a biography that can be shared during class in order to model the differences for students.  Once students have developed an understanding, they can complete their own graphic organizer after reading a just right book during silent reading time.

Lesson 4 Influences

Every person has others who influence his or her life.  

These people have positive and negative effects on the character in a book.  

For this lesson, focus on how other people in the biography have had an impact on the person.  

Students will identify what influence the person had and if the influence was positive, negative or both.  

It will be necessary for you to model this with the class in order for students to understand the expectations.  

Once a model has been completed with the class, you can have students complete their own graphic organizer during independent reading time.

Lesson 5 Taking Notes While Reading

When reading a biography, it is sometimes important for the reader to take notes so that they remember the important facts.  

This organizer can be used for a tool that helps students record the facts in the book.

Lesson 6 Reflections

An important part of reading is thinking about what is being read.  

Use these cards to encourage students to think about the person they are reading about.  

You can print the page on cardstock and then laminate for durability.

Or, you can print on regular paper and have students choose a question. They can record their response on the back like an exit ticket.

Lesson 7 Asking and Answering Questions

Readers ask and answer questions in their heads as they read to help them create meaning.  

This graphic organizer gives students practice with this skill while asking them to record their thoughts.  

You may choose to have students answer their own questions or to trade with a peer who is reading the same book.

Lesson 8 Cause & Effect

This is a concept which will take a great deal of modeling.  

Students must understand that events in a person’s life lead to outcomes.  

As you read a biography, work with the class to find important events in a person’s life and the impact those events had on the person.  

As part of this work, help students identify where the answers are.  

When students practice this skill independently, you might choose to have them use a post-it note to mark the evidence found in the text.

Lesson 9 Life Lessons

Sometimes reading a biography might teach us lessons we can apply to our own lives.  

Encourage students to look at the book they are reading and determine what they can learn from their character.  

These lessons might be positive or negative.

You can download this set of biography graphic organizers here:

Reading Download

CCSS Standards Addressed:

Preparing Your Reading Workshop - The Curriculum Corner 123

Thursday 20th of June 2019

[…] Biographies Collection for 4th and 5th Grades […]

Biography Unit of Study for Reading - The Curriculum Corner 123

Monday 27th of May 2019

[…] you need additional resources for enrichment or differentiation you might want to check out the Biographies –  Resources from our 456 […]

Monday 14th of April 2014

This is a fabulous post! I hope you don't mind, I'm going to link to this page on Wednesday when I share about biographies on my blog, too! :) :)

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Fifth Grade Autobiography

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17 pages • 34 minutes read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Poem Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Further Reading & Resources

Discussion Questions

Form and Meter

“Fifth Grade Autobiography” is written in free verse , meaning the poem contains no prescribed form or meter . As in most free verse poems, there is no observable rhyme scheme in the poem. The poet’s choice to focus on the language and the visual details of the poem, rather than on the regulation of line length, is also characteristic of free verse. As a result, line lengths vary throughout the poem, from nine syllables to the poem’s briefest line, Line 16’s four syllables.

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  1. Autobiography Writing Topics For Grade 5

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  2. 5th Grade Autobiography Project by The Crabtree Corner

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  3. Autobiography of a Fifth Grader: A Memory Book Project

    autobiography 5th grade

  4. Autobiography Writing Topics For Grade 5

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  5. Fifth Grade Autobiography by Rita Dove.edited.docx

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  1. Fifth Grade Autobiography by Rita Dove

    Fifth Grade Autobiography. By Rita Dove. I was four in this photograph fishing. with my grandparents at a lake in Michigan. My brother squats in poison ivy. His Davy Crockett cap. sits squared on his head so the raccoon tail. flounces down the back of his sailor suit. My grandfather sits to the far right.

  2. Fifth Grade Autobiography Summary and Study Guide

    Former poet laureate Rita Dove's "Fifth Grade Autobiography" is a lyrical recollection of a memory from early childhood. The presence of a family photograph inspires the memory, and the imagined school assignment of the title frames the poem as an autobiography of the speaker. The poem first appeared in Dove's fourth collection, 1989 ...

  3. PDF 5th Grade Autobiography Project

    5th Grade Autobiography Project. It is time to begin your first project in 5th grade Language Arts - Your Autobiography! An autobiography is a book about YOUR LIFE and it is written by YOU. You are the expert at your life because you know more about yourself than anyone else does. This project is a treasure that you will want to keep for a ...

  4. Best Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs for Upper Elementary

    12 Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Students. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, B.M. Mooyaart (Translator), Eleanor Roosevelt (Introduction) It is July 6, 1942, the setting is Amsterdam, and Anne Frank has just received a diary for her birthday. The rest is history.

  5. 5th Grade Biography Books

    avg rating 4.28 — 3,498 ratings — published 2007. Books shelved as 5th-grade-biography: The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid by Jeanette Winter, Will You Sign Here, John Hanco...

  6. 5th grade Autobiography Unit

    Step 1 - Goals and Outcomes. Step 1: Goals and Outcomes. Students will be able to write a 5 paragraph autobiography and present their life story to the class using a form of media/technology. Writing Standard 3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event ...

  7. 5th Grade Autobiography Books

    avg rating 3.64 — 2,194 ratings — published 1997. Books shelved as 5th-grade-autobiography: Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Almost True Stories of Growing up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka, Guts: The True Stories ...

  8. Fifth Grade Autobiography by Rita Dove

    Fifth Grade Autobiography by Rita Dove | CommonLit. Spend less than $4,000 / yearfor assessments, data tracking, and more with CommonLit. Get a quote for your school. Dismiss Announcement. Text. Paired Texts. Related Media. Teacher Guide. Parent Guide.

  9. PDF CommonLit

    Fifth Grade Autobiography. By Rita Dove 1989. Rita Dove is a contemporary American writer. She is the second African American poet to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. As you read, identify what details the speaker focuses on from their past. [1] I was four in this photograph fishing with my grandparents at a lake in Michigan.

  10. Fifth Grade Autobiography Further Reading & Resources

    This poem first appeared in the journal Callaloo.The poem treats the themes of family and memory from an adult perspective. While Dove's "Fifth Grade Autobiography" is also in adult language and from a mature perspective, "Family Reunion" goes one step further, adding the highly educated point of view of the adult speaker, as in the lines: "It's all here, / the beautiful geometry ...

  11. Autobiographies for Kids (32 books)

    Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson by. Katherine G. Johnson. 4.35 avg rating — 1,426 ratings. ... Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes. People Who Voted On This List (29) Elizabeth 5460 books 281 friends Redfox5 2700 books 224 friends Emma 37 books 41 friends

  12. Fifth Grade Autobiography Themes

    The Passage of Time. "Fifth Grade Autobiography" is the speaker's reflection on both a picture taken when they were four as well as a representation of a slightly older version of the speaker as a fifth grader. As a result, the poem begins with a meditation on the passing of time summed up in the final lines of the poem: "He smelled of ...

  13. Telling a Story About Me: Young Children Write Autobiographies

    Talk about what they usually see on the cover of a book-the title, the author's name, and a photograph or illustration. You might bring in some autobiographies or biographies to use as examples. You can also show them the cover you have created for your own autobiography. 5. Distribute a cover sheet to each student. Have them create covers ...

  14. Biography & Autobiography

    Doris Miller Poster and Information Cards Pack for 3rd-5th Grade. 5.0 (2 reviews) Hillary Clinton Biography. Martin Luther King Jr. PowerPoint for 3rd-5th Grade. 4.8 (40 reviews) The Wright Brothers Poster. 4.0 (2 reviews) Joan of Arc Printable Book. Cesar Chavez Biographical PowerPoint & Google Slides.

  15. Fifth Grade Autobiography

    Fifth Grade Autobiography Overview "Fifth Grade Autobiography" is a four-stanza free-verse poem by American poet Rita Dove. The poem uses a school assignment to explore the speaker's childhood, touching on themes of family dynamics, memory, and loss. This poem originally appeared in Dove's 1989 collection Grace Notes.

  16. Biography Graphic Organizers

    Use this collection of biography graphic organizers to help your fourth and fifth grade students explore biographies during reading workshop. These biography graphic organizers will be a helpful tool for you as you are planning your biography unit of study. This is another free resource for teachers and homeschool families from The Curriculum ...

  17. Fifth Grade Autobiography Symbols & Motifs

    for only $0.70/week. Subscribe. By Rita Dove. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "Fifth Grade Autobiography" by Rita Dove. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

  18. Autobiography of a Fifth Grader: A Memory Book Project

    This autobiography template and graphic organizer is a fun resource to use throughout the school year or as an end of the year memory book project. I use this autobiography as a final writing assignment with my fifth grade students. I bind the pages together and laminate the cover and the back page to give to students at the end of the year.

  19. Biography & Autobiography

    Shop autobiographies and biographies for kids that explore the lives of American heroes, historical figures, and iconic change makers. Shop Summer Learning. The Teacher Store Parent; ... Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 Subject, Genre, Theme. Subjects & Themes Character & Values Diversity

  20. Biographies for kids: Inventors, World Leaders, Women, Civil Rights

    Learn the life story and biography of influencial people: US Presidents, World Leaders, Inventors, Women, Artists, Civil Rights heroes. History Biography Geography Science Games. Search Ducksters: Biographies. Biographies by Date Biographies Alphabetical. Pick the person or subject below to view biography or list of biographies: ...

  21. Fifth Grade Autobiography Poem Analysis

    Analysis: "Fifth Grade Autobiography". "Fifth Grade Autobiography," as the title indicates, represents the speaker's childhood recollection of an event that occurred when they were young. The speaker's youthful naivete is evident in Stanza One, where they note how "My brother squats in poison ivy" (Line 3), drawing attention to ...

  22. Fifth Grade Autobiography Literary Devices

    "Fifth Grade Autobiography" is written in free verse, meaning the poem contains no prescribed form or meter.As in most free verse poems, there is no observable rhyme scheme in the poem. The poet's choice to focus on the language and the visual details of the poem, rather than on the regulation of line length, is also characteristic of free verse.

  23. 5th Grade Biography Shelf

    168 of the Most Recent Celebrity Book Club Picks. Read ». More articles…. 5th Grade Biography genre: new releases and popular books, including The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid by Jeanette Winter,...