Defining Autobiography
Teaching students how to write an autobiography can seem like a daunting task, but there are a few guidelines that can help with this project. One of the best places to start a lesson plan for biographies and autobiographies is to define the differences between the two. When broken down, auto means self, bio refers to life, and graphy is the process of recording or writing information.
Once the students have an understanding of the terminology, the next step is not actually to do any writing, but instead to read. Teachers can lead the way with brainstorming lists of people of interest, including but not limited to presidents, athletes, actors, authors, business owners, scientists, or explorers. Online sites such as Incredible People are good resources for students of all ages. Students can then head to the library and locate biographies on these people. Each student should read at least one biography, even if it is just a short one.
Studying Autobiographies
From the list of people chosen, the next step in this lesson plan is to search for autobiographies. This step can be more challenging, but is important in the process. Teachers can discuss why there are more biographies than autobiographies, and students can make inferences as to why people may or may not choose to write them.
Once the students have read an example of both a biography and an autobiography, a visual aid can be used to compare and contrast. Teachers can create Venn diagrams and have students share their opinions on the differences and similarities between the two.
Writing an Autobiography
After all of this background information has been disseminated, it is time to focus on the autobiography. A basic autobiography will have the following components:
- an introduction that includes details such as birth date and location
- family relationships and genealogical background
- significant cultural and geographical information
- highlights of one’s life
Young students could be encouraged to make short lists about their lives, in chronological order. Even the youngest students can be asked to include their birthdays and places of birth, family details, descriptions of their homes, and 3 favorite things to do. For homeschool families or those schools where continuous programs are available, students could add chapters each year as they progress through grades. Students could even place their autobiographies in time capsules to be opened at later dates.
The key to an effective lesson plan for writing autobiographies, especially for students, is to highlight what students feel makes them special. Framing this personal information around the details of lives such as geographical and social notes, makes bland statistics come alive. Teachers can reinforce that absolutely no one has the personal knowledge needed for an autobiography other than the person writing it. Autobiographies are opportunities to leave lasting legacies, even from the smallest voices.
Chris Oldenburg - The homeschooling mother of four children, I am also a freelance technical writer. After more than 10 years of homeschooling I enjoy the ...
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