Hero Reports

In 2nd grade we learn about many past American heroes that helped shape our
country into what it is today. Our projects will be based on the guiding question . . . How
have heroes made a difference in our lives? We are reading biographies about famous
heroes in our RtI classes, as well as in our homeroom class. This week we are asking the
kids to partake in a special homework assignment in place of sight words, math facts and
math homework.
The homework assignment consists of filling out the attached sheet on a hero.
A hero is someone who has impacted your life in a positive way. So, a hero could be a
famous person in history (i.e. Abraham Lincoln, Dr. Seuss), a famous person still living (i.e.
firefighter, police officer, teacher), or even just an influential person in your family (i.e.
grandfather, mom, dad). If the person is not in the family, using a book, encyclopedia and/or
the Internet would be great resources for completing the form. If it is a family member,
an interview is a great strategy to get the information on that hero.
After filling out the form, the students will create a presentation. This can be in the
form of a PowerPoint, video, song, poem, or scrapbook. These are just some suggestions.
Be as creative as possible. The presentation should be no less than 3 minutes and no more
than 5. Please make sure your child has practiced because they will be presenting in
front of their classmates. We will be using a rubric to score them on their presentation
skills (i.e. eye contact, projection, etc) as well as the content. Please see the attached
rubric.
We will be sending you a link to sign your child up for a presentation day. There will
be several days to choose from, so choose the ones that work best for you and your
family.
Please email your childs teacher if you have any questions. We look forward to
hearing about your childs hero!

Mrs. Chaky, Mrs. Cotton, Miss Dorman, Mrs. Ehlert, Mrs. Ehlers (Cohen) and Mrs. Yau (Hu)

Prese ntation Ide as

All presentations are required to include the information from the hero form and
should be 3 5 minutes. The provided information and pictures are examples of possible
presentations. Students can also come up with their own presentation format as long as
it is approved by their teacher. Students are encouraged to dress up as their hero when
giving the presentation. Remember to have your child practice giving the presentation!

Format:
Criteria:

PowerPoint
Pictures with
captions
Include all
information from
form (1 title slide, 1
slide for
introduction, etc).
Can email to the
teacher or bring in
a USB

Poster
Include all
information from
form
Pictures with
captions

Song/Poem

Video

Photo
Scrapbook

Write a song or a
poem

Interview of
your hero

Documenting
your heros life
using pictures

Include all
information from
form

Include all
information from
form

Neat presentation Include pictures

that go with the
Colorful
information
Neat presentation

Can be very similar

to the photo
scrapbooks

Dress up as
your hero and
share
information as
though you are
the character
Bring video on
an USB

If you were to do something

like this poster, find a way to
include more pictures that
relate to the information about
your hero.

Include all
information from
form
(page 1 could
include title of
hero, page two
could include
where they
were born,
interesting
details, etc.)

Oral Presentation Rubric

One of the requirements in second grade is that the students will plan and deliver an oral presentation with
appropriate facts, descriptive details and speaking audibly in coherent sentences. This is the rubric that w ill be
Grade
used to grade each students oral presentation.
Students Name: __________________________________ # ___
4- Advanced

3-Proficient

2-strategic

1-Intensive

WOW!

Very Good!

Almost there but

needs some work.

Not meeting
second grade
standards

Voice

Spoke loud and clear

Not too fast
Easily understand
Fun and interesting to
listen to.

Words are clear

May be a little fast or too
soft but still was easy to
understand

Some parts clear,

but not the entire
time
Too fast, too slow
OR too soft

Cant understand
Mumbled or way to
fast
Quiet and unable
to be heard

Information

Lots of details
Good vocabulary
Organized in logical
sequence
Mostly memorized
Easily explained why
the person is a hero

Some details
Not quite long enough
nd
2 grade vocabulary
Organized/ clear
Easily explained why the
person was a hero

Not enough details

A little
disorganized
Seemed confused
about the
information
Somewhat was able
to explain why the
person is their hero

Hardly any details

Forgot what to say
Incomplete
sentences
Information did
not explain why
the person chosen
is a hero

Body

Stood up straight
Looked at the audience
most of the time
Pointed to visuals

Stood up straight
A little fidgety
Looked a little at the
audience
Pointed to visuals

Slumped or turned
away from audience
Looked mostly at
paper
Pointed to visuals
only once

Moves too much

Paper in front of
face
Giggled or was
easily distracted
Did not use visuals

Visuals

Creative and helped

support information
Colorful
Organized
Neat wr iting
Had more than 4
different types of
visuals
Had labels or captions
when using pictures

Could be neater or better

organized
Had at least 3 types of
visuals
Could be more colorful
Had labels or captions
when using pictures

A little messy but

legible
Not colorful
Looked rushed
Not organized
Had at least 2 types
of visuals

Only one type of

visual
Very messy
No color
V isuals did not
relate to the
presentation
Had 1 or no visuals

Comments:__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

Name:

#
To- Do Check lis t

Use this checklist to help organize and complete assignments. Check

off and fill in the information as you complete each task.

Pick a hero and sign up f or a prese ntation time by M arch 24, 2015
My hero is __________________________
My presentation day is ___________________________
Choose format of presentation
Type of Project I have chosen: _____________________________

Complete Hero Graphic O rganizer and turn in on you r presentation day

Presentations will begin Monday, April 20, 2015

Practice present ation
Remember to use the presentation rubric and to practice as many times as
you need to in order to present your best work.

Name: ______________________________ # ____

Graphic Organizer for Presentation

Important Dates
Born: ______________

All About
_____________________________________________

Where: ____________

What qualities does the person have

that make him/her your hero?
Write an example to prove this.
1. ___________________________________

Important
Dates
Died:
_____________

Ex)___________________________________

Born:_____________
_____________________
Where:

______________________________________

(Remember your hero can still be alive.)

________________________________________
Interesting facts about my hero:
2. ___________________________________

!_________________________
!
!_________________________

Ex)___________________________________

!_________________________

_____________________________________

!_________________________

_____________________________________

!_________________________

Why is this person your hero?

_________________________
_________________________

What lesson has this person taught you?

________________________________________
________________________________________

_________________________
_________________________

Word Bank
Courageous
Kind
Brave
Strong
Determined
Motivated
Unstoppable
Perseverance
Unselfish
Compassionate
Inspirational

Hero Project
Graphic Organizer for Presentation
All About
ELLEN DORMAN

Important Dates
Born: January 15, 1932
Died: She is still alive

What qualities does the person

have that make him/her your hero?
Write an example to prove this.

Where: Poland
Where: New Jersey

1. Inspirational
Ex) Even though people hurt her, she never
wanted to fight back. She continues to teach
and inspire people unaware of the Holocaust.

Interesting Information about my Hero:

She speaks Yiddish, Polish and English
She has two sons (My dad and my Uncle Howie)
She sewed clothes for a living
She was an only child
She met my grandpa when she was 11

2. Motivated
Ex) She speaks and talks about her experience
with young and old groups to make others aware

Why is this person your hero?

What lessons has this person taught you?
(Remember your hero can still be alive)
She has taught me to not give up and to
persevere through any struggles in my life.

Ellen Dorman is not only my grandma,

but is a true hero. She survived one
of man kinds most horrific events in
history. She continues to speak out
to people about the Holocaust in
order to make sure something this
horrible never happens again. She
inspires me to be a better person.

3. Perseverance
Ex) She never gave up even when others around
her did.
Word Bank
Courageous
Kind
Brave
Strong
Determined
Motivated
Does not give up
Unselfish
Compassionate
Unstoppable
Inspirational