What's the "BIG IDEA?" - Biographies

Today in our Biography Unit students began to think about the purpose of biographies – what’s the “BIG IDEA” in each biography. Good readers can determine the “BIG IDEA” in a book. Thinking about the “BIG IDEA” helps readers understand the book and be able to build a conversation about the book. In Biographies, the “BIG IDEA” is usually what we learn from an important person. It may be something they did to make the world a better place (a significant contribution), it may be something they did that changed the way people think about behaving, it may be something they did that changed the way people think and behave, it may be something they did that gives beauty and pleasure to others.

Today we reviewed each of the biographies we have read aloud so far in our unit. We reflected on each person and together we came up with their “BIG IDEA”. Below is a list of the important people we have learned about and their “BIG IDEA”.

Louis Braille (inventor) – Gave blind people a fast way to learn to read so they could learn more by reading.

Rosa Parks (leader) – One person and one small act can make a big difference!'

Lance Armstrong (athlete) – Inspired many that you can overcome difficulties and succeed. (We also discussed illegal drugs)

Roberto Clemente (athlete) – Showed us the importance of helping others.

Below is a picture of our “BIG IDEA” anchor chart.

 

Below are the books that we have read to date: