Biography Book Report: Black History Month

In order to explore the genre of biography in written work, the Biography Book Report will be
assigned for Black History Month. To promote awareness of prominent black men and women during
Black History Month, we will focus our book reports on some of these people. Here is a list you may
choose from for your biography subject.

Barack Obama first black president of the US

Maya Angelou- author/poet
Carol Moseley Braun congresswoman
George Washington Carver agricultural scientist
Frederick Douglass abolitionist (fought against slavery)
Duke Ellington composer/musician
Billie Holiday jazz singer
B.B. King singer/songwriter/guitarist of the Blues
Thurgood Marshall first black US Supreme Court Justice
Clarence Thomas US Supreme Court Justice
Colin Powell first black US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice first black female US Secretary of State
Jackie Robinson first black baseball player in the major leagues
Harriet Tubman the Underground Railroad
Charles Henry Turner scientist who proved that insects could hear
Booker T. Washington founded Tuskegee Institute in Alabama
Sarah Breedlove Walker (Madame C.J. Walker) inventor
Oprah Winfrey TV host/magazine editor/girls school founder
Sam Lacey- sports reporter
Charles Drew- created the first blood bank
Bass Reeves- lawman
Bessie Coleman- black aviator
Joe Lewis- boxer
Doris Miller- cook during Pearl Harbor
Langston Hughes- writer/poet
Lewis Lattimore- inventor
Satchel Paige- baseball pitcher

Your project will have 3 parts: a written report including a book report cover, a

cereal box character, and an oral report. Use the attached graphic organizer and
questionnaire to help you organize your report. Use the requirements that follow to complete your
report and visual. Check off each requirement after you have completed it.

Part One: Written Report

Book Report Cover
Create an interesting book cover for your Biography Book Report. This may be hand drawn or
computer generated, provided it is your original work.

Include your name, the title of the book, and the author in an imaginative way.
Include a creative illustration that shows something important about the book.

Book Report Contents: Your report should follow the format below:
First paragraph (introduction) should include:

The title of the book, author of the book, tell the audience whom you are writing about, when
and where your person lived, and a brief description of what he/she did to make a difference in
the word.

Middle paragraph should include:

Identify at least three character traits this person possessed and explain how it contributed to
his/her success.
Were there any obstacles he/she had to overcome? Name any weaknesses, failures, or
disappointments the subject had.
Who were (if any) the important people in this persons life. Did the subject have a hero or role
model who set an example?
Facts (details) about how this person contributed to his/her field or specialty.
What is the achievement(s) for which he/she is best known?

Last paragraph (conclusion) should include:

Restate what this person did and what lesson can be learned from him/her.
The part of this persons life you admire the most, and why.
Something that surprise you the most about this person.

Part Two: Cereal Box Character

Use a cereal box and decorate the box using construction paper, fabric, paint, etc. The box

should represent your persons body. Use your imagination of what the person would wear at
the time.
Draw or print out your persons face and attach it to the top of the box. You may decorate your
persons face with yarn, paint, construction paper, etc.
Draw or print out your persons arms, hands, legs, and feet. Attach them to the box. Make
sure the arms and hands are attached to the side of the box. The legs and feet should be
attached to the bottom of the box. You may decorate the arms, hands, legs, and feet with yarn,
paint, construction paper, etc.

Part Three: Oral Report

Prepare a 3-5 minute oral report on your subject.

You may use note cards during the presentation to help you remember your report.
You may not read straight from your report.
Be prepared to answer questions from the audience.

All work must be neat and visually appealing! Students must complete the book report
on their own. Book report may be hand written or typed on a computer. If you type
your report, you must bring a printed copy. Be creative and have fun!
Due Date: Feb. 3, 2015
Important Note: You will get -10% deducted for each day late. No projects or reports
will be accepted after Feb. 6, 2015.
Use the attached rubric as a guideline.