When I Grow Up ... Help Inspire Students with Biographies
My students need picture book biographies to learn about famous people - including chefs, scientists, and writers - in an engaging way.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Moore's classroom raised $273
This project is fully funded
My Students
After picking through our dated biography section to find materials for third graders to use this year, I want to have updated, fun, friendly-looking books available next year.
As the librarian at a K-6 elementary school, I feel like I have 350 kids of my own: 350 inquisitive, excited, goofy, creative, lovable kids who LOVE to read.
We're a Title 1 community; nearly 70% of the students qualify for free/reduced lunch, and 10% receive ESL services. Many students cannot get to the public library, so their biweekly checkouts at the school library are their main access to books - both for pleasure reading and classroom projects.
My Project
One of these projects is the Grade 3 biography presentation; kids read about a famous person, write a report, and deliver the information to their fellow students while dressed as that person.
In addition, Grade 6 students complete a career exploration project in Guidance. Having short, concise biographies on hand will give them additional resources.
All students, however, would be able to check out these books. Author Chris Raschka has stated how biographies affected him as a student:
"Of my first school library, I remember the shelf with the biographies best - I loved them. It didn't matter who the subject was. President, scientist, musician, artist, football quarterback, I read them all. Perhaps I liked them so well because I discovered that there was another way for me to have a real experience all on my own."
As well as supporting Grade 3 and 6 curriculum, these biographies will entertain and inspire a school full of kids.
Most of the books start out describing the famous person's childhood, and show how their interests then led to them becoming internationally-recognized experts in their field. They will remind my kids that it's possible to use their talents to change the world and help them discover new heroes and heroines.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Moore and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
