KS 2 Package Biographies of Famous People

Biographies of Famous People

Unit Framework

Key Stage 2: Primary Six

Learning Outcomes: /

Understanding and inferring information in a range of simple texts using and integrating a small range of reading strategies as appropriate(Learning Progression Framework (LPF) Reading-

Level 4)

Organising, presenting and exchanging simple information on familiar topics quite clearly to facilitate communication (Learning Progression Framework (LPF) Speaking-Level 4)
Linking ideas quite coherently in a short text, or showing an awareness of overall organisation of ideas (Learning Progression Framework (LPF) Writing-Level 4)
Using a small range of language forms and functions to show an awareness of style and features of some text types(Learning Progression Framework (LPF) Writing-Level 4)

Suggested Teaching Level / P6
Text / Information Text
Theme / Biographies of Famous People
No. of Lessons / 7lessons(35 – 40 minutes per lesson)
Lessons1 and 2: Reading Biographies / Step 1: Show the Guess Who game (PPT 1)
-Click the links. Look at the photos and read the names of famous people.
-Read each riddle and guess who these famous people are. Print photos of the famous people for students’ reference.
Step 2: Introduce the term “biography”, referto the riddles and identify what the main topics are in a biography (e.g. education, family, career and achievements). Then, briefly explain the meanings.
Step 3: Display thebiography about Yao Mingon the screen andread aloud (Resource 1). (Right click on the smiley face and select “open hyperlink”).Ask the following questions after reading aloud the biography:
-What are the main headings in this biography? Introduction,Education, Family, Career and Achievements.
-What information is found under each heading? Prompt learners to elicit facts from each heading.
Step 4: Give each learnera different biographye.g. Batman (boys) and
Catwoman (girls)(Resource 2Set A/B).
In (boy/girl) pairs,learners find two interesting facts under
eachheading in their biography. Learners share these facts
witheachother.
Step 5: Consolidate the lesson by revisiting the Headings: Introduction,
Family, Education, Career and Achievements by asking learners
toshare with the class the interesting facts in each biography.
Lesson 3:Identifying Headings(Vocabulary Practice) / Step 1: Show ‘Headings and Self-marking Activity’ (PPT 2)
-Read aloud the first biography (Justin Bieber) and demonstrate how to identify each sentence under the following headings: Introduction, Education, Family, Career and Achievements.
-Continue the activity to scaffold learners further by explaining that they will complete a second biography (Jacky Chan or J. K. Rowling)
Step 2: Give learnersdifferentiated biographies of Jacky Chanand
J.K. Rowling. Learners individuallycomplete the activity
(Resource3 SetA/B).
(Remark: Set 3A for the average learners, Set 3B for above average learners.)
-When learners have completed the activity, use (PPT2) to show the answers while the learnersself-mark their work.
Step 3: Consolidate the lesson by asking what interesting facts they learnt aboutJustin Bieber,Jacky Chan and J.K. Rowling.
Lesson 4 and 5: Research (eLearning Activity - online research in computer room) / Pre-lesson preparation: Teacher workswith the IT teacherand uploads(PPT3) onto the school’s shared drive for learners to access in the computer room.
Step 1: Introduce the lesson by explaining to learners that they will go to the computer roomto research one of the following famous people: Andy Lau, Lady Gaga, Joey Yung or Eason Chan(PPT 3).
Step 2: In the classroom, first display the biography fact sheet (Resource 4-A3 size Set A) and demonstratehow to access (PPT 3). Click Andy Lau’s biography on PPT 3 and write the information on the fact sheet.
-Find interesting facts together with the class to add into the biography fact sheet.
(Resource 5-A3 Set A-Teacher’sanswer sheet)
Reminder: Save completed(Resource 5-A3 Set A-Teacher’sanswer sheet)for lessons 6 and 7.
Step 3: Give learners the differentiated biographyfact sheets
(Resource 4Set A/B) and take learners to the computer room
tocomplete abiography of their choice.
Step 4: Monitor learners and collect the completedbiographyfactsheets(Resource 4 Set A/B). The biography fact sheets will be used in the nextlesson.
Reminder: Teacher asks learners to get photosfrom magazines or newspapersof the famous person they researched.
Lesson 6 and 7: Writing and Presentations / Pre-lesson preparation: Teacher returns learners’ differentiated biography fact sheets (Resource 4 SetA/B)to be used for writing the biography.
Step 1: Explain to learners how to write a biography by using the information fromtheirbiography fact sheet
(Resource 4SetA/B).
Step 2: Do shared writing with the class and guide learners to writeAndy Lau’sbiography by prompting them to think of appropriate sentence starters undereach heading.
Step 3:Give learners the biography writingsheets(Resource 6).
Learners write their biography using the information from the
biographyfact sheet(Resource 4 Set A/B).
Step 4: Learners read and share theirbiographiesin pairs.
Step 5: To consolidate the lesson, asklearners to present their biographies to the class.
Assessment Criteria for Teachers: / Teacher could use (Resource 7)for formative assessment. This document could be used on a continuous basis to tick the appropriate columns as learners demonstrate the ability to achieve the following specific outcomes on the Learning Progression Framework:
Reading skill: Identify main ideas and some supporting details explicitlystated in the text.
Reading skill: Locate details which support the main ideas from differentparts of a text.
Speaking skill: Give simple presentations on topics of personal choicemainly based on information from prepared scripts.
Writing skill: Structure the text using a paragraph including a brief introduction and/or concluding statement.
Writing skill: Show an awareness of using some stylisticfeatures to support the text type, e.g. biography.
Extended activities for promoting languageacross the curriculum (LAC): / The following activities could be conducted in the English lessons to cater for Multiple Intelligences.
Visual Arts (to cater for the needs ofVisual Spatial andKinesthetic Learners)
-Construct a collageof famous people in a specific profession (e.g. singers, actors, athletes, musicians, artists) to their biographies(Resource 8).
OR
-Construct a couture collage. Learners sketch an artist of their choice and use different materials (embellishments) to add layers on to the sketch
(Resource 9).
-Learners write a few interesting facts about the person(s)on the collage.
-Learners work in pairs to talk about their collage.
General Studies (to cater for the needs of Verbal LinguisticLearners)
-Learners select a book of a famous author, a model of a singer, a portrait by a famous artist,etc.
-Learnerswrite a few interesting facts about it.
-Provide learners the opportunity to do an individual mini presentation in front of the class(Resource 10).
Computer Studies /Music (to cater forthe needs of Musical Rhythmical Learners)
-Learners work in pairs or groups to designa PowerPoint presentation, find related music and/or videosand give a presentation on the famous person in their biography.