Biography Project

The Basics

Name:

Birthday:

Home:

Place of Birth:

Part 1: Learning From Our Pasts

A family is composed of people who live together and/or function as a unit.  Who is in your family?  Do you have (step/half) siblings?  Cousins?  Where is your family from?  What language do you speak at home? Answer in a short paragraph (5-7 sentences).

Part 2: Who I Am Today

What does it mean to be a friend?  Who are your friends, and why?  Do you have friends who are older or younger than you?  Do you have family members who are also friends?  What do you like to do with your friends?  Who lives in your home?  Who gathers for holidays, and where?  Do you have friends in your neighborhood?  Optional: where do you live?  Answer in a short paragraph (5-7 sentences).

Part 3: Preparing for the Future

Section A: What do you like to do?  What are your hobbies?  What are your favorite books, movies, and bands/musicians?  Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?  Section B: What would you like to be doing in five years?  In ten years?  In fifteen?  In twenty?  Answer all the questions in two paragraphs (write Section A in one paragraph and Section B in another) or a list.  If you choose to write a list, use complete sentences.  

Click "Read More" below to view a sample project.

The Basics

Name: Ms. Snyder

Birthday: September 11

Home: Louisville, KY

Place of Birth: Milwaukee, WI

Part 1: Learning From Our Pasts

My mom, dad, and sister made up my family when I was thirteen.  My family is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  My great-grandparents, however, were not born in the United States.  They were born in Europe.  Both of my grandmas grew up speaking German, which is why I call my mom's mom Oma, the German word for grandmother.  In my house, though, we spoke English with a midwestern accent. We moved to Louisville when I was nine, moved back to Wisconsin when I was eleven, and then moved back to Louisville again when I was twelve.  My family got bigger when I met my husband, because his mom, dad, siblings, and grandparents are like family to me, too.

Part 2: Who I Am Today

To me, a friend is someone I like to spend time with, someone who cares about me, and someone who will laugh and cry with me.  Some of my friends are like family--they even come to my parents' house for holidays!  Some of my other friends are in another state, like my cousin Jamie in Wisconsin or my other cousin Roberta in Illinois.  My husband, Cory, and our dog, Jack, live in my apartment today.  We are our own little family!

Part 3: Preparing for the Future

(paragraph sample)

My favorite thing to do is read books.  I also spend time making craft projects, writing in my journal or to my friends, and playing with my dog.  My favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird.  I don't have a favorite movie, but I love the Harry Potter movies.  Over the Rhine is my favorite band, because their music is very calm and their lyrics are like poetry.  As for a career, when I was younger, I knew I wanted to be a teacher.  Now that I'm an adult, I get to be one!  

(list sample)

In five years: I want to still be a teacher.

In ten years: I want to still be a teacher, and maybe have some children of my own.

In fifteen years: I hope to still be a teacher, and perhaps learn that some of my own students want to become teachers!

In twenty years:  I hope that some of my own students will be teachers and love books as much as I do!  

Adapted from "Writing an Autobiography" by Susan Blair for Scholastic.com