My Place in History

Language Arts Non-Fiction/Biography Unit: Senior citizens are often untapped resources of knowledge and history in our communities. They are also often isolated from the general community due to senior citizen housing and communities. This unit is designed to provide companionship for the senior citizens while helping the students learn more about point of view and perspective. Students will compare a senior's perspective with the perspective of a historical figure they have read about in a biography. The students will read a biography and interview a senior. They will use their notes to write a biographical article and create artwork about the senior and the senior's place in history. Seniors will then be mailed their biographies and invited to an art gallery where select biographies will be read.