Teaching
Strategies
Biographies
The Snapshot Approach
by Myra Zarnowksi
from
Learning About Biographies:
A Reading and Writing Approach
for Children
Available from National
Council for the Social Studies
Step 1
Reading/Listening
for
Social Studies Information
Step 2
Critical Thinking/
Social
Studies Information
Step 3
Illustrating/Art principles
Step 4
The Writing Process
Step 5
Sharing/Oral Communication
of Social Studies Information
The Snapshot Approach
Summary
1. Learn
about the subject
-
Read about the subject, first teacher then students
-
Write group responses to reading
-
What is important about this person?
-
How do you feel about this person?
-
Students write journal responses based on their reading
2. Brainstorming
and Selecting Materials
-
In groups students brainstorm life events
-
Students select the most important topics
3. Preparing
Snapshots
-
Each group member chooses an event to write about
-
Snapshot includes a drawing and written description
-
Draw an event in the person's life, add as much detail as
possible.
-
Write about your picture--fact and interpretation
-
Writing process is followed
4. Arranging
the Material and Discovering a Design
-
Group puts snapshots together in chronological order
-
Group prepares a summary statement
-
Are there similar events in the character's life?
-
In general, how would you describe the character's life?
(Forming generalizations)
Drawing Pictures
Biographies
Guidesheet
Step 1 Theme
- Decide on the theme for your picture.
- Write down three things you want to include in your picture--these
three things should tell about your person.
Step 2 Main object
-
Select the most important object for picture.
-
Draw the object in the center and bottom of the picture.
Step 3 Perspective
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Add details to the right, left, and top.
-
Fill in the page.
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These details should be smaller in size to show perspective.
Step 4 Color
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The color of the main object is bright.
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The color of objects in distance are dull.