Lesson Plan: The Extraordinary Life of Mark Twain (According
to Susy) by Barbara Kerley
Teacher: Core teacher
Subject Area: English, History, and Social Studies
Grade: Sixth
California State Standard:
Historical and Social Sciences Analysis Skills
Research, Evidence, and Point of View
1. Students frame questions that can be answered by
historical study and research.
2. Students distinguish fact from opinion in historical
narratives and stories.
3. Students distinguish relevant from irrelevant
information, essential from incidental information, and verifiable from
unverifiable information in historical narratives and stories.
4. Students assess the credibility of primary and secondary
sources and draw sound conclusions from them.
5. Students detect the different historical points of view
on historical events and determine the context in which the historical
statements were made (the questions asked, sources used, author’s
perspectives).
Name of lesson: Writing an Extraordinary Biography
Overview: Students learn how to write a biography
Objectives:
Students learn observation skills and the process of
personal interviews
Students learn various ways of gathering information for the
biography (interviews and through published sources)
Students learn to write a biography
Students make mini-biography books
Students assess the credibility of sources and satisfy the
California State Standards
Description:
Students write a biography on a meaningful person in their
life or a historical role model.
Time needed for lesson:
50-60 minutes (additional time to conduct the interview and to
do the homework assignment)
Procedure:
Lesson one
Teacher reads: The
Extraordinary Life of Mark Twain (According to Susy) by Barbara Kerley.
Discussion is centered on Mark Twain. Compare this book with other nonfiction
biographical sources about Mark Twain (old newspaper articles or other
biographies) and a few of Mark Twain’s famous quotes. Have the students discuss
Mark Twain’s and Susy as a source.
Lesson two
Teach the students how to gather information from
observation (physical appearance, personality traits, habits and routines,
likes and dislikes) and additional information (conducting interviews and
through reading books, articles, and letters) for their biography. Encourage students
take notes so that details won’t be forgotten.
Lesson three
Students conduct their own interviews while using the “Writing
An Extraordinary Biography” as a guide (offer print out).
Lesson four
Students make mini-biography books like the inset book found
in The Extraordinary Mark Twain
(According to Susy).
Closure: Students present their biographies and discuss why
their choose their biographical sources.
Materials:
A person to interview
Materials to take notes
The Extraordinary Mark
Twain (According to Susy) by Barbara Kerley
“Writing An Extraordinary Biography” handout
Student Evaluation:
Did student participate in discussion?
Can the student identify factual from fictitious sources.
Did student complete a biography?
Extension of lesson:
Students put the lesson into action by interviewing a person
of their choice.
Kerley, Barbara, & Fotheringham, Edwin. (2010). The
Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy). New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN:
978-0-545-125086.
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