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will introduce the genre of biography and explain that a biography is a nonfiction account of a person’s life written by another person. I will explain and chart some common characteristics of biographies. (Direct Teaching Example Chart is provided below in Teacher and Student Materials). I will read the beginning of A Picture Book of Anne Frank by David A. Adler and chart significant events from the historical time period and from the main character’s life. (Example is provided below; see Direct Teaching and Guided Practice Example Chart.)

Ask: How did I determine that this text is an example of a biography? Students should respond that you looked at clues from the book (cover, title, synopsis, first few pages, etc.) to determine whether the book was a story about a real person who really existed. Then, you compared the characteristics of the text you were reading to the characteristics of biographies (describing a real person's accomplishments and obstacles they have faced, using direct quotations and photographs when available, written in story form, etc).

will identify, discuss, and chart significant events from the rest of the book. We will discuss how this book represents Anne’s life in chronological order, from birth to death. We will discuss the significant role that Anne Frank plays in history. (See Direct Teaching and Guided Practice Example Chart provided below.)

will answer comprehension questions about Anne Frank’s life, showing that the book is a biography. You will describe some of the obstacles or challenges Anne Frank had to overcome, the people and places that were significant in her life, and how you know this book is a biography. (Student Independent Practice is provided below.)