biography research questions worksheet

Over 6,200 homeschool resources and growing!

Biography Research for Kids {Facts, Templates & Printables}

Published: September 6, 2022

Contributor: Jeannette Tuionetoa

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

The telling of a person’s life could be one of the most personal literature pieces your children will read while in school. Learn how to teach biography research for kids in an easy way so they can write their very own biography report. 

Biography Research for Kids

To obtain correct information about a particular person (famous person or historical figure), it is important to gather as much information as possible. To ensure the information you find is accurate, the sources you use should be reliable and should be cross-checked with other information.

Biography Facts for Kids

Before tackling biography research for kids, it is important they know what a biography is and what it is not. Here are a few important things to know about biography in literature lessons.

A biography is a story about a particular person’s life, whether it be a famous person, athlete, historical figure, or a specific person.

Biographies of people are written in third person , meaning it is about someone else. In contrast, an autobiography is a person themselves telling their life story.

The Purpose of a Biography

Many times biographies of people are used as historical accounts of an era. Biographies tell basic facts about people, their education, work, and relationships. Yet, they also are personal accounts and portrayals of experiences through events of the time in their life story.

What are the key features of a biography?

There are key features of a biography that make this literary artwork a retelling of a life story. Here are a few key features of biography to get a child’s mind in the flow of gathering information for a biography research project, author study, or important events for biography research.

• date and place of birth and/or death
• where the public figure lived or location of residence
• educational background
• professional experience (i.e. work, artwork, skills, hobbies)
• area of expertise (What was/is this person famous for?)
• major achievements in life (Which of the areas of expertise was he/she best known for?)
• expound on the information, find interesting facts, and include your thoughts.

How to Write a Biography

There are specific ways to keep focused when writing a biography. Explore these steps to help your students write and understand biographies.

Step One: Choose Who to Write About

There are loads of famous, historical, or note-worthy people your young readers can explore for their biography research project .

Parents can task a specific genre study of biographies or specific categories for students to research, or students can choose their own. Here are some interesting biography research topics students will enjoy learning about:

Interesting Biography Figures

• Sports figure
• Someone from American history
• Someone from a specific historical period like ancient civilizations/ ancient times
• Black History Month figure
• Native American figure
• Presidents of the United States (biographies of presidents)
• World War I or World War II figures
• American Revolution figure
• Renaissance figure
• Middle Ages figure
• 20th-century heroes

Historical Figures and Public Figures

• Amelia Earhart
• Elizabeth Carter
• Frida Kahlo
• Harriet Tubman
• Ruby Bridge
• Misty Copeland
• Ellen Ochoa
• Martin Luther King Jr.
• William Shakespeare
• Life Of George Washington
• Frederick Douglass
• Julius Caesar
• Jackie Robinson
• James Boswell
• Wright Brothers

Step Two: Do Your Research

Gathering information for research through primary and secondary sources is crucial. Compiling good research data is important and valuable for building knowledge and clear a path for learning.

Gathering reliable research helps students understand topics, understand issues, increase awareness, and exercise the mind.

Using Primary Sources

When students use primary resources, they gather reliable knowledge that answers research questions, enables critical thinking, and develop well, thought out interpretations from facts.

Primary resources are images, artifacts, and documents that are firsthand testimony and proven evidence on a topic.

Some more examples of primary sources:

• Manuscripts
• Video recordings

Using Secondary Sources

Secondary sources, on the other hand, describe, comment on, evaluate, discuss, or process what would be in a primary source.

Some examples of secondary sources are:

• Biographical texts
• Literature reviews
• Commentaries
• History books
• Bibliographies
• Dictionaries/encyclopedias

Step Three: Create an Outline

The next step in writing a research-rich biography is creating an outline to organize the information and content gathered.

Outlines, although many students might not think they are useful, aid in their writing process. They provide the writers with a structure to follow, making sure no important information is missed.

You can use the Biography Notebooking Journal to make this an easy process! The templates can be used to do a thorough biographical research project . 

Biography Research Outline

A research paper is enhanced with an outline by organizing thoughts, understanding a clear flow is needed for information, and then again, ensuring nothing is forgotten.

Here is a very basic research outline:

INTRODUCTION

• Develop an engaging introduction sentence that captures the reader’s attention.
• Site a quote or anecdote from the person’s life.
• Describe the basic identity of the person with the very basic key elements mentioned above (i.e. name, date of birth/death, location).
• Include a unique observation that you have gathered from the person or why you chose to write about him/her.
• Stick to the theme of your research paper and provide the content you have gathered in your research.
• Describe the information you have gathered in sections or chronologically.
• Discuss your person’s accomplishments and their impact on society or those around them. Maybe also mention, if applicable, how a major event changed their life or the life of others.
• Ensure the pieces of information gathered are connected or interlinked or flow well together.
• Mention the person’s legacy or why they will remain important to remember or acknowledge.
• Add a lesser-known fact about the person, something you found interesting or noteworthy.
• Conclude with a comment or your input of the impact the person will make or will leave on the world or society.

Write a First Draft

Making an outline is crucial for getting an overview of what a research biography paper will be. Look like. If done correctly, it will easily flow into a first draft.

The outline develops what you need as a first draft, and transition words will help the writer make the paragraphs and sections flow into each other smoothly. The below resources will help with both.

How to Write a Paragraph for Kids – Teach your children how to write well, thought-out paragraphs as a foundational writing skill in your homeschool. This post explores ten different steps for writing a paragraph and listing the essential parts of a good paragraph.

Transition Words – Your children will find these writing tools helpful for words and phrases they can use to show smooth storytelling transitions.

Edit and Revise

In the editing and revision page of a research biography unit paper, the writer can enhance effective headings and subheadings for their paragraphs. This is the time to:

• Information aligns with your main point or purpose of the research paper.
• Eliminate parts of the paper that do not add value.
• Tighten up the wording (i.e. if your sentences are understandable or make sense)
• Check for spelling and grammatical errors.
• Get someone to read your paper or write it, then do another read-over the next day – for a fresh perspective.

Write Your Final Paper

It is time. Type or write out the final paper. Make a cover page if needed, evaluate if your sources are cited correctly, and develop your bibliography page, if required.

Citing Your Sources

It is important to cite sources for research biographies and any other assignments students have in school. Determine what citation style is needed and teach children how to cite correctly. This resource will benefit students straight through high school, college, and any written work they may create.

Research and Citation Resources by Owl Purdue – This tool is a perfect resource for conducting research, using the research, determining citation style, and citing written works correctly.

Biographical Websites

To jump-start the minds of young girls and boys when they begin researching biographies, the websites below will assist set the stage for their journey into learning about biographies of people, their hard work, and more.

 Biographies of People in History

Biography – This is one of the most popular internet sites capturing the most interesting stories about massive amounts of people in our world. You will find compelling points of view and true stories about people from our world.

Info Please – This site is a search engine for biographies by category. There are all types of categories to choose from like Arts and Entertainment, Politics and Government, Famous Americans by Race and Ethnicity, and so much more.

Time 100 Most Influential People – Time magazine has brought their Time Most Influential People online. Check out Time’s 100 Most Influential People for 2020 to help students search for biographical information, including pioneers, artists, leaders, titans, icons, and more.

Scientists Biographies

Famous Scientists – Check out this alphabetical list of hundreds of famous scientists who have impacted our world’s history. Even search scientists by categories like Astronomers, Chemists, Biologists, and more.

World of Scientific Biography – Science World presents a whole section on biographies for scientists in various branches of the science field. The biographical data is separated by gender, minority status, historical periods, nationality, and prize winners.

People and Discoveries by PBS – Learn all about people and their discoveries in this databank which includes about 120 entries about 20th century scientists and their life stories.

Artists Biographies

Van Gogh’s Gallery of Artist Biographies – Although this site is about Vincent Van Gogh, it also offers biographical information on other artists like Michelangelo, Gauguin, Caravaggio, and Claude Monet.

If your child enjoys learning about artists, you can find all types of tips for an artist study, like how long a student should be on one artist study, famous artists to study per grade level, and so much more.

Biographies of Poets

All About Poets – You don’t have to be an expert on poetry to help students learn about poets and their artwork. Check out Poets.org to search more than 3,000 biographies on poets of both contemporary and classical styles.

Athlete Biographies

ESPN’s Top Athletes of the Century – Use your child’s love of sports to enhance their learning experience in their English classes. Students will enjoy the biographies of great athletes of the 20th century.

Biographies of Presidents

POTUS History and Data – It is important for students to learn about the Presidents of the United States (POTUS). This site has loads of information to help with a biography research assignment. The POTUS site includes presidential facts, quizzes, and even Presidential firsts. You can even use this unit for an overview of the U.S. Presidents timeline . These  president fact sheets are also super helpful.

Biographies of Nobel Prize Recipients

Nobel Prize Awards – The Nobel Prize is an international award by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. This site is a great way of learning about all the Nobel prize winners and what they were nominated for.

Biographies of Famous People

Who2 Biographies – This biographical resource holds 4,775 biographies of famous people, characters, and even creatures. Search these by categories that include born today, by occupation, cause of death, and more.

Smithsonian’s Spotlight Biography – Searching Smithsonian Education is a fun way to learn about famous and notable American artists, athletes, soldiers, scientists, inventors, social reformers, and others.

To Summarize, a Biography Should Include:

Biographies can be very interesting topics and a fun way to marry various subjects in your homeschool like history, writing, reading, English, research, and more.

Biographical research for kids includes:

• Narrowing down a person to research.
• Putting research skills into practice to gather all the information needed.
• Writing a detailed outline.
• Writing an introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Selecting a good image for the person chosen.

Every person is created for a purpose. Focusing on biography research for kids allows students to take interest in the lives of others. Begin encouraging your student to take an interest and learn about others this school year.

Jeannette Tuionetoa

Jeannette is a wife, mother and homeschooling mom. She has been mightily, saved by grace and is grateful for God’s sovereignty throughout her life’s journey. She has a Bachelor in English Education and her MBA. Jeannette is bi-lingual and currently lives in the Tongan Islands of the South Pacific. She posts daily freebies for homeschoolers!

Related resources

All 37 Dear Canada Books in Order

Printable List of Dr. Seuss Books in Order of Publication

Common Words that Rhyme With You (Printable Games)

150 + Words That End With O for Fun Word Games

5 Letter Words That Start With B (FREE Word Search)

Free Printable Phonics Letter Sound Flashcards for Kids

Biography Research Worksheets

If you’re studying a famous person, these biography research worksheets are a great way to record what your child has learned about the famous person. They can gather all of their pertinent information and record all that they’ve learned. There are also some writing prompt pages in the back with large lines to write.

Do you want your kids to write something about themselves? Use these free About Me Worksheets too!

I’ll be using this for our artist and musician studies this year with my 2nd grader who hates writing so I had to ensure there was adequate spacing for him to write and draw as needed.

We also like to study famous scientists to see what they’ve accomplished and contributed to our present-day technology, my son has a wonderful fascination with space, volcanoes, and technology.

He did ask me if there were cars when I was little, lol, of course, we just didn’t have cell phones. His jaw drops in awe, how could that be? Just tells you how old I am now, my kids think I’m so old.

This post may contain affiliate links meaning I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Read my disclosure policy here.

Who can you study for a biography?

• Former presidents or prime ministers
• Historical figures
• Queens or kings

Things to research for a biography

• place of birth
• place they grew up
• personal life
• significant contributions
• what are they known for
• famous pieces of work
• achievements
• hardships they had to overcome
• motivations
• relationships

Recommended Biography Books

Who will you be studying this year? Introducing your child to educational books is always a great supplement to education and learning. These are just a few of the amazing choices but it just goes to show you that your children can learn about history easily by simply picking up a book!

Biography Research Worksheets Supplies

• Printer ( I have this one )

I have the HP printer 8710 but it’s not available anymore. It’s been running well for years now. Look for another HP Instant Ink-ready printer so that you can use their program to send you ink cartridges whenever your printer gets low on ink.

What’s included in the Biography Research Worksheets?

Your child will love learning and using these worksheets. They’re simple, they break down questions in an easy-to-use format and they are available to be printed and used over and over again.

You can use these printables with any person you’d like to study. My son liked to research famous historical figures.

We’ve done this with scientists, and authors as well.

If your children are stuck with the writing portion, have them draw a picture first so that they can then write about their drawing.

Does your child have a favorite author, sports figure, or historical figure they’d like to learn more about?

Recommended Biography Activity Books

To bring these stories to life outside the worksheet, we highly recommend incorporating engaging biography activity books that combine history with hands-on fun, allowing children to immerse themselves creatively in the lives they’re exploring.

Why read biographies?

Biographies show what hardships or motivations others had to go through to accomplish what it is that they are known for. It can help motivate students in their own lives so that they can see how their work progresses. Things didn’t happen overnight and it was through hard work.

We only hear about famous people and what they did but not how they did it and how much trial and error they had to go through.

They can also see the context in which that work was completed, it was a very different time when the Wright brothers were trying to invent the plane or what artists had to go through to hone their skills before they became famous.

Download the Biography Research Worksheets below

Print out these biography worksheets so they can look for more information about their favorite person. You can do this for any subject.

More Printable Worksheets

Book Report Worksheets

Field Trip Journal

Country Activity Pages

Geography Worksheets by All Kids Network

History Worksheets by Kids Academy

I share educational printables and activities to help homeschoolers make learning science fun and engaging!

What a useful way to help your students know what they need to search out when they look up famous (or not so famous) people. Thank you for sharing your post at the #AnythingGoes Link Party.

This will be very helpful. Thank you!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

A great way to teach about history and content-area topics, biographies highlight famous figures, inventors, scientists, civil rights leaders, sports legends, and heros. Many of these mini-books, plays, and passages feature question/response activities, biography worksheets, teaching guides, lesson ideas, and graphic organizers.

TRY US RISK-FREE FOR 30 DAYS!

ADD TO YOUR FILE CABINET

THIS RESOURCE IS IN PDF FORMAT

Printable Details

• Number of pages:
• Guided Reading Level:
• Common Core:

Biographical Research: Getting Started

• Getting Started
• Reference Shelf
• Finding Books
• Finding Articles
• National, Political
• Literature, Science, Business, Social Science
• Religion, Race, Ethnicity, Gender
• Sports, Entertainment & Arts
• Time Period & Obituaries
• Primary Sources
• Internet Resources
• Citation & Writing Manuals
• Genealogy Books
• Genealogy Research Guide This link opens in a new window

Introduction

Before you start your research, check the correct spelling of the person’s name.

While you research, keep in mind that all sources can contain bias; the best biographical information will be signed by an author and will provide bibliographic citations for source material. Research Questions:

• What do you already know about the person?
• How much information do you want to find about the person?
• What is the person's profession or notoriety?
• How well known is the person?
• Is the person’s nationality, ethnic background, gender, or affiliation significant?
• Is the person living or deceased?  
• What dates are significant for this person?
• Do you want autobiography, memoir, or interviews in addition to biographical sources?

www.biography.com

Q:  How do I attribute biography.com when I use information from biographies on the site for a class project or for publication?

A:  Biography.com includes citation examples in multiple formats at the end of each lengthy biography.  

Subject Guide

Reference & Assessment Librarian

Reference & Instruction Department

Reference & Instruction Department Fordham University Libraries Walsh Library   ♦  Rose Hill Campus  ♦  718-817-3586    Quinn Library   ♦  Lincoln Center Campus  ♦  212-636-6050    Fordham Westchester Library   ♦  Fordham Westchester Campus  ♦  914-367-3061  [email protected]   ♦   text 71-TXTX-1284  ♦  Ask a Librarian (Chat)

• Next: Reference Shelf >>
• Last Updated: Apr 10, 2024 8:43 AM
• URL: https://fordham.libguides.com/Biography

Design Activity Worksheets for Developing Research Questions

Download Paper | Permalink

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Virtual On line

June 22, 2020

June 26, 2021

Preparation for Graduate Research

Graduate Studies

10.18260/1-2--34384

https://peer.asee.org/34384

Paper Authors

Vetria byrd purdue university, west lafayette orcid.org/0000-0002-0733-2062.

visit author page

Dr. Vetria Byrd is an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Graphics Technology in the Polytechnic Institute at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Dr. Byrd is the founder and organizer of the biennial Broadening Participation in Visualization (BPViz) Workshop. Dr. Byrd has given numerous invited talks on visualization and has been featured in HPC Wire online magazine (2014), and numerous workshops nationally and internationally. Dr. Byrd received her graduate and undergraduate degrees at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, in Birmingham, Alabama which include: Ph.D. in Computer and Information Sciences, Master’s degrees in Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. Dr. Byrd’s research interests include: data visualization, data visualization capacity building, high performance visualization, big data, and collaborative visualization. Dr. Byrd’s research utilizes data visualization as a catalyst for communication, as a conduit for collaboration, as a pathway to STEM and as a mechanism for broadening participation and inclusion.

Jorge D. Camba Purdue University, West Lafayette

Jorge D. Camba is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Graphics Technology at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN.

Developing good research questions is a skill that develops over time and is often difficult for students. More often than not, it is up to the student to figure out what to research. Where do I start? What do I look for? Is this a good research question? These are just a few of the questions students ask and should ask in the early stages of their research process. This work describes a progressive plan for developing research questions using a series of four design activity worksheets to guide students through the cognitive and metacognitive process of choosing topics, asking questions, identifying an appropriate problem and locating adequate data sources. The goal of the first worksheet in the series, “Identifying Topics,” is to identify and rank a minimum of three topics of interest. At this point topics are generally either too broad or too narrow. It is unknown which or if any of the topics will be fully developed into a robust research question. In the event students reach an impasse in their efforts to develop their topic into a research question and decide to consider other options, the list of topics generated in this stage can be utilized to minimize time identifying a new topic. Upon completion of this worksheet students will generate, compare and rank topics of interest and identify who the intended audience is for their work. The goal of the second worksheet, “From Topics to Questions,” is to generate questions based on the main topic of interest identified in the previous worksheet so students can transition from a broad topic to a specific question. Upon completing this worksheet, students will articulate what they hope their target audience will understand after reading their work. The goal of the third worksheet, “From Questions to a Problem,” is to transition from a specific question to developing a problem statement. Upon completing this worksheet, students will identify the situation or condition they desire to address, the consequences caused by that condition and why it is important to address the problem. The goal of the fourth worksheet, “From a Problem to Data Sources,” is to help students identify and acquire data for the chosen topic and determine the availability of data and data sources for the developed research question. The worksheets are introduced in a linear manner and completed in order. This progressive path is intended to provide a logical and methodical approach to developing research questions. However, each worksheet can be completed independently. The worksheets can also be used as a pedagogical approach to introducing research methods into the classroom. The design activity worksheets have been used in multiple venues: undergraduate and graduate data visualization courses, workshops and more recently, a graduate seminar designed to help students identify their thesis topics in partial fulfillment of their graduate degree. In this work, we describe the development and characteristics of the worksheets and report some preliminary results of a study designed to assess their perceived impact and usefulness.

APA - LaTeX bibitem

Mla - latex bibitem, endnote - ris.

Byrd, V., & Camba, J. D. (2020, June), Design Activity Worksheets for Developing Research Questions Paper presented at 2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Virtual On line . 10.18260/1-2--34384

ASEE holds the copyright on this document. It may be read by the public free of charge. Authors may archive their work on personal websites or in institutional repositories with the following citation: © 2020 American Society for Engineering Education. Other scholars may excerpt or quote from these materials with the same citation. When excerpting or quoting from Conference Proceedings, authors should, in addition to noting the ASEE copyright, list all the original authors and their institutions and name the host city of the conference. - Last updated April 1, 2015

• My Storyboards

Biography Templates

Customize biography templates.

If you're assigning this to your students, copy the worksheet to your account and save. When creating an assignment, just select it as a template!

What is a Biography?

It is a written account of a person's life, capturing their experiences, achievements, and significant events. It provides an in-depth exploration of an individual's journey, offering insight into their personal and professional aspects. Biographies are typically organized in chronological order, following the sequence of events as they occurred throughout the person's life. This arrangement allows readers to understand the person's growth and development over time, as well as the impact they made in their respective fields. Biographies often include interesting facts about the person, shedding light on their unique qualities, accomplishments, or challenges they faced. These facts provide a deeper understanding of the individual's life and contribute to the overall narrative. Whether it's an extraordinary achievement, a personal struggle, or a notable contribution to society, these interesting facts add depth and intrigue to the writing.

Types of Biography

There are several different types of biographies that provide unique perspectives on individuals' lives. These types include:

• Autobiography: An autobiography is written about the author by the author. It offers a firsthand account of their own life, sharing personal experiences, reflections, and insights. Autobiographies provide an intimate look into the person's thoughts, emotions, and motivations.
• Memoir: Similar to an autobiography, a memoir focuses on specific periods or events in a person's life rather than their entire life story. Memoirs often center around a theme or specific aspect of the person's life, such as their career, relationships, or personal struggles.
• Collective: This a compilation of biographies of multiple individuals, often with a common theme or shared experience. It allows readers to gain insights into the lives of several people and compare their experiences and contributions.
• Biographical Fiction: Biographical fiction combines real-life events and characters with fictional elements. It blends factual information with storytelling techniques to write a compelling narrative based on a real person's life.
• Critical: Critical biographies delve into a person's life from a critical perspective, analyzing their achievements, impact, and cultural significance. They often provide a scholarly examination of the person's contributions and their place in history.
• Popular: Popular biographies are written for a wider audience and focus on individuals who have achieved fame or notoriety. They often emphasize the person's public persona, achievements, and impact on society.

Each type offers a distinct perspective and serves different purposes. Whether it's gaining a personal account through an autobiography or exploring the cultural significance of a person through a critical biography, biographies provide valuable insights into the lives of individuals and their contributions to society.

Enhance Biography Writing with a Biography Graphic Organizer

A graphic organizer is a valuable tool that can greatly enhance the process of writing biographies. It provides a structured format for organizing information and helps students gather and present key details about a person's life in a clear and logical manner. These graphic organizers, such as this creative graphic organizer example , serve as a roadmap for writers, guiding them through the writing process and ensuring that they include all the essential elements.

Using a graphic organizer helps students understand the format and enables them to write more effectively. It provides a visual representation of the various sections and components of a biography, such as the introduction, background information, major events, achievements, and conclusion. This organization helps maintain a coherent and chronological order while presenting the subject's life story.

Our website offers free printable biography worksheets, including biography activity worksheet, that can be easily accessed and downloaded for any project. They provide students with a ready-to-use template to record and organize information about their chosen subject. They can be used for short biographies or more extensive projects.

By using an organizer, kids read and analyze biographies, improving their comprehension skills and gaining a deeper understanding of the subject's life. A biography sheet acts as a framework that prompts students to identify important details, make connections between events, and form a comprehensive understanding of the individual's impact on the world.

Writing biographies can be a challenging task, but with the help of a graphic organizer, students can break down the process into manageable sections. They can focus on gathering relevant information, organizing their thoughts, and presenting their findings in a clear and concise manner.

Empower your class to excel in writing with our biography graphic organizer. Access our free printable biography worksheets and provide your writers with the tools they need to make engaging and informative biographies.

To learn more about the biographies, check out our Introduction to Biographies lesson plans and find activities on family life, biography accomplishments , and so much more . It provides valuable guidance on how to craft an engaging and captivating introduction that hooks readers and sets the stage for the piece.

Example of Biography Materials to Integrate into Your Teaching

When it comes to teaching about real-life stories, biographies are a powerful tool to engage and deepen understanding of different subjects. By exploring the lives of notable individuals, students can discover inspiring examples of resilience, perseverance, and achievement. Here are some examples of biographies that you can incorporate into your teaching:

• The Diary of a Young Girl , by Anne Frank: This iconic diary chronicles the life of Anne Frank, a Jewish girl hiding with her family during the Holocaust. Her poignant and introspective writing offers a firsthand account of the challenges and hopes of those affected by World War II.
• The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin , by Benjamin Franklin: This autobiography shares the life story of Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of America. Franklin's passages provide valuable insights into his scientific discoveries, inventions, and contributions to society.
• Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave , by Frederick Douglass: In this powerful narrative, Frederick Douglass recounts his journey from slavery to freedom. His memoir sheds light on the harsh realities of slavery and the fight for abolition.
• The Diary of a Young Girl , by Malala Yousafzai: This autobiography details the life of Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. Her story inspires readers with her courage, determination, and dedication to advocating for education rights.
• The Story of My Life , by Helen Keller: Helen Keller's autobiography is a remarkable account of her life as a deaf and blind person. She shares her triumphs and struggles, demonstrating the power of perseverance and resilience.

These classic biographies offer valuable insights into the lives of remarkable individuals and can be excellent resources for teaching history, promoting empathy, and inspiring.

Looking for more? Check out our collection of planner worksheets , blank worksheet template , and thesis statement worksheets to enrich your teaching and incorporate biographies into your classroom activities.

Create Engaging Worksheets with Our Biography Maker

Are you looking for an easy and effective way to make engaging handouts? Look no further! Our online biography maker is the perfect tool to help you craft captivating sheets for your class. Whether you need an organizer or a biography generator, our user-friendly platform has got you covered.

With our biography maker, you have the flexibility to customize your worksheet according to your preferences. You can choose from a variety of designs and layouts to make an engaging and visually appealing handout. Our tool allows you to easily add spaces for an answer, ensuring that students have ample room to provide their own responses. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to create professional-looking biographies with our online biography creator.

Don't settle for dull and typical worksheets. Let our biography maker transform your teaching materials into dynamic and interactive resources that captivate your students' interest. Start using our online creator today and experience the power of engaging resources at your fingertips!

How to Make a Biography Worksheet

Choose one of the premade templates.

We have lots of templates to choose from. Take a look at our example for inspiration!

Click on “Copy Template”

Once you do this, you will be directed to the storyboard creator.

Give Your Worksheet a Name!

Be sure to call it something related to the topic so that you can easily find it in the future.

Edit Your Worksheet

This is where you will include directions, specific images, and make any aesthetic changes that you would like. The options are endless!

Click "Save and Exit"

When you are finished, click this button in the lower right hand corner to exit your storyboard.

From here you can print, download as a PDF, attach it to an assignment and use it digitally, and more!

Happy Creating!

Frequently Asked Questions About Biography Worksheets

Can i find free printable biography worksheets.

Absolutely! We offer a wide range of free printable worksheets that you can easily access and download. They provide engaging activities and prompts to help students explore and analyze biographies. They are a valuable resource for enhancing reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. Additionally, you can also take advantage of our 2-week free trial to access even more resources and unlock the full potential of our resources.

Can I customize the biography worksheets created by the online biography creator?

Yes! Our online generator allows you to customize the worksheets to suit your instructional needs. You can add or modify questions, adjust the layout, and include additional prompts or spaces for kids to write their answers. This customization feature ensures that the worksheets align with your specific teaching objectives and provide a personalized learning experience for your class.

Is the biography activity worksheet suitable for different grade levels?

Yes, our worksheets cater to a range of grade levels. Whether you are teaching elementary, middle school, or high school students, you can find worksheets that are appropriate for their level of understanding. They are designed to be adaptable and can be modified to meet the specific needs of your class.

Try 1 Month For

30 Day Money Back Guarantee New Customers Only Full Price After Introductory Offer

Learn more about our Department, School, and District packages

• Thousands of images
• Custom layouts, scenes, characters
• And so much more!!

Create a Storyboard

• Grade Levels
• Search Site
• Language Arts Topics

Biography Worksheets

Related ela standard: w.6.10.

Biographies are detailed written accounts of people's lives. It often will follow in chronological order with the primary goal of showing how the person's upbringing and choices lead to their own personal outcome. Biographies can also be written by the person that is the subject of the writing this is called an autobiography. You don't need to be revolutionary to have a biography written about you, you just need to have a good story. These worksheets will help students explore many different things that a biography touches on.

Biography Worksheets:

Due the Research – A nice fact sheet to help you prepare to write.

Write a Bio Poem – A short poem that describes a person or thing is called a biography (bio) poem. The form of bio poems can vary, but below is a typical example.

Writing a Biography – Select a person that has accomplished something notable that interests you and whom you would like to learn more about. Do research and reflect to answer the following questions about your subject. Then write a short review of the life of a person.

Bio Part 2 – This sheet is continued from the previous worksheet.

Elements Checklist – A biography has the following components, and is typically written in chronological order. What you will be writing should contain all of the following kinds of information and meet all the criteria outlined below.

Character Traits – Thinking about the biography you just read, choose two character traits that best describe the person you have been reading about.

The Bio Poem – In the space below, try writing a bio poem about a historical figure you have studied recently. Follow the format.

Writing a Eulogy – A Eulogy is a speech that is typically given at a funeral or a memorial service that commemorates the life of a person who has died.

Eulogy Paragraph 3 and 4 – Finish off that eulogy you started previously.

Bookmarks – Students should use bookmark to take notes of key information as they read the biography.

Biography Organizer – A graphic organizer specific for this type of work.

Chart What You Learned – Summarize what you learned from the biography you just read to complete the chart below.

Cereal Box Project – Imagine that you have been hired to create a cereal box design commemorating a famous historical figure. Your job has the following milestones. Check off each milestone as you complete it.

Famous People – Think of a famous person that interests you. Answer the questions below about the person. Then begin to compose a story based on that life.

Famous Continued – How did the person feel about the world and their life as a child? As an adult? In their later years?

Even More Famous – What was the first or the defining event or achievement that made this person famous?

Your Thoughts – How do you feel about the person? Why?

Bio Brainstorm – Complete the organizer below in preparation for writing a short biography.

Timelines – In preparation for writing a biography, complete the timeline of important events in the life of your subject.

Summing Up a Life – The titles of biographies are very carefully selected to convey a sense of the subject’s life. Sometimes the title is taken from something the subject said.

What Are Biographies?

A biography is an important component of English literature. It is simply the life of a person that is written by another person or writer. There is a special name for the author of a biography. He or she is called a biographer. On the other hand, the person whose life is being narrated in the work is known as the biographee or subject. A biography is usually written in a narrative form. It proceeds in chronological order. All the events and aspects of the person's life are represented to the reader. Cynthia Ozick is an amazing author of America. She believes that a good biography is like a novel for the readers. It should represent the stages of a person's life in a triumphal or tragic way. It should be with the birth of the subject and then move towards his or her mid-life. If the subject is no more, then the story should end at the death of the protagonist.

Writing A Biography

Many writers try their hand at writing one. If you want to write a piece such as this, it is essential that you conduct proper research on the subject's life. You can find the newspaper clippings, academic publications, and other such resources to get accurate facts. Misrepresenting the subject is one of the major issues that writers make when composing such works. It is important to stay completely unbiased while writing, other wise the work suffers. The key is to be objective in presenting the details of a person's life. This is the reason why many people prefer reading biographies rather than autobiographies. Autobiography is written by the subject himself. Therefore, there are huge chances of bias and misrepresentation in autobiographies. It is also easier to write a biography than an autobiography. Because you can view things much more objectively since you are not at the center of it.

Knowing what to cover is always the toughest thing. People (your audience) are expecting much more of narrative than they could read then by just Googling the person’s name. The best way to discover this is to do background interviews, not only with the subject but also the people that knew him best. It is often helpful to look for people that adored the subject and those that may have not taken a liking to them. This way you can project a much more balanced story. Most of these works start off with basic facts such as where they were born and where they grew up. I find that understanding the family dynamic that they had when growing up is often key to understanding how someone turned out. Some subjects will be very forthcoming with that and others will shy away. If you have the opportunity to interview their parents or old family friends, that can often be key to telling a good story and finding reasons for motivation throughout their life.

Teachers: Upgrade Now

• Print all 25,000+ worksheets
• All grade levels and topics
• Save endless hours of your time...
• Answers to everything too!

Get FREE English Worksheets In Your Email

• How We Are Aligned To The Common Core
• Educator Resources
• Privacy Policy
• Newsletters

© English Worksheets Land . All rights reserved.

Addition (Basic)

Addition (Multi-Digit)

Algebra & Pre-Algebra

Comparing Numbers

Daily Math Review

Division (Basic)

Division (Long Division)

Hundreds Charts

Measurement

Multiplication (Basic)

Multiplication (Multi-Digit)

Order of Operations

Place Value

Probability

Skip Counting

Subtraction

Telling Time

Word Problems (Daily)

More Math Worksheets

Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension Gr. 1

Reading Comprehension Gr. 2

Reading Comprehension Gr. 3

Reading Comprehension Gr. 4

Reading Comprehension Gr. 5

Reading Comprehension Gr. 6

Reading & Writing

Reading Worksheets

Cause & Effect

Fact & Opinion

Fix the Sentences

Graphic Organizers

Synonyms & Antonyms

Writing Prompts

Writing Story Pictures

Writing Worksheets

More ELA Worksheets

Consonant Sounds

Vowel Sounds

Consonant Blends

Consonant Digraphs

Word Families

More Phonics Worksheets

Early Literacy

Build Sentences

Sight Word Units

Sight Words (Individual)

More Early Literacy

Punctuation

Subjects and Predicates

More Grammar Worksheets

Spelling Lists

Spelling Grade 1

Spelling Grade 2

Spelling Grade 3

Spelling Grade 4

Spelling Grade 5

Spelling Grade 6

More Spelling Worksheets

Chapter Books

Charlotte's Web

Magic Tree House #1

Boxcar Children

More Literacy Units

Animal (Vertebrate) Groups

Butterfly Life Cycle

Electricity

Matter (Solid, Liquid, Gas)

Simple Machines

Space - Solar System

More Science Worksheets

Social Studies

Maps (Geography)

Maps (Map Skills)

More Social Studies

Mother's Day

Father's Day

More Holiday Worksheets

Puzzles & Brain Teasers

Brain Teasers

Logic:  Addition Squares

Mystery Graph Pictures

Number Detective

Lost in the USA

More Thinking Puzzles

Teacher Helpers

Teaching Tools

Award Certificates

More Teacher Helpers

Pre-K and Kindergarten

Alphabet (ABCs)

Numbers and Counting

Shapes (Basic)

More Kindergarten

Worksheet Generator

Word Search Generator

Multiple Choice Generator

Fill-in-the-Blanks Generator

More Generator Tools

Full Website Index

Biographies

This page contains the Super Teacher Worksheets collection of biographies. These nonfiction articles include reading comprehension activities for elementary-aged students.

Logged in members can use the Super Teacher Worksheets filing cabinet to save their favorite worksheets.

Quickly access your most used files AND your custom generated worksheets!

Please login to your account or become a member and join our community today to utilize this helpful feature.

Here is the link to our complete collection of reading comprehension stories, articles, and poems for kids.

Color in black-and-white illustrations of some of history's notable people. View our coloring pages here.

Sample Worksheet Images

PDF with answer key:

PDF no answer key:

Biography Research Paper

Description

This is a folder containing PDF and Word files of the following worksheets:

1. Biography Paper Questions: This worksheet can be used as students research a famous person or historical figure. The questions break down the most important things about the person's life and help students organize their thoughts.

2. Biography Paper Outline: This worksheet helps students take the information they gathered during research and develop organized paragraphs.

My students each chose a different historical figure and used books to find the information. If they could not find the answer to a question, we researched the internet together. The papers turned out great! I think breaking down each paragraph really helped their organization skills.

I attached the word files so you can add or delete any questions you'd like.

Keywords: informational writing, nonfiction, graphic organizer, organized writing, organizing writing, expository writing

Questions & Answers

Allgood teacher mama.

• We're hiring
• Help & FAQ
• Privacy policy
• Student privacy
• Terms of service
• Tell us what you think