Name: ___________________________________ Date: ___________________
Living Biography Presentation Guidelines
California History Tea Party
For your next reading assignment, you will be researching a person important to
California history and will become that individual. After taking notes in the first person, you
will memorize answers to interview questions from the perspective of the person you are
researching. In addition, you will dress up as the person you are researching and attend a tea
party where you will meet and interview many people who are important to the state of
California. Please see the attached list of people to choose from. You may also choose to
portray someone who is not on the list, but be sure to check with me to get my approval on this
individual. This project will be done partially at school, but mostly at home. Here are the steps
that will be taken to prepare you for your Living Biography presentation:
1.
Person Selection
Select at least 5 people you would be willing to research by ​Friday, February 17th​.
2.
Research
First, research your person. You will need to read excerpts from biographies or reference
books to find out as much as you can about your person. You should also use other resources
such as the Internet or on-line encyclopedias. You will find at least TWO sources of information
and will bring these sources to class.
Your sources are due on or before: ​Monday, February 27th
Source #1: ____________________________________________________________________
Source #2: ____________________________________________________________________
Additional Sources: ____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3.
Note-taking and Outlining
Make an outline from your notes using note cards. Be as detailed as you can in the
outline since these notes will eventually be used to write your script.
Your research notes are due on or before: ​Wednesday, March 15th
4.
Prepare a Costume
You will come in costume. Choose your clothes, props, and accessories carefully. You
should not be spending an excessive amount of money to prepare your costume! Be creative by
using props and borrowing items from friends. Be as authentic as possible, but please see me if
you need additional help in this area.
5.
Oral Presentation at the Tea Party
You will introduce yourself to the group by telling us your location and lifespan. You
will then share your accomplishments. You must memorize this portion of your research for the
tea party! After introductions have been made, you will circulate around the room and interview
other people important to California’s history. Therefore, you should be prepared to answer the
research questions from your research. You may only refer to ONE LARGE NOTE CARD
during the tea party if needed. ​All students will prepare one large note card​. Make your
presentation interesting and exciting to watch. Be an actor when answering interview questions.
Rehearse, rehearse, and rehearse. Project your voice and speak with expression. Practice
portions of it until you can say it without reading it at all. Remember, at the tea party you may
use only ONE LARGE NOTE CARD as a reference.
Your note card is due on or before: ​Tuesday, March 21st ​(will be returned)
6.
Biopoem
In class, you will write a biopoem about your subject. Your final draft must be typed or
written in ink. Please be sure to think of an appropriate title and be sure that your name is on it
(For example: Benjamin Franklin: Portrayed by Bobby Smith).
Our California History Tea Party will be held on: ​Friday, March 24th
Below you will find a list of some people who played a role in the history of
California. This is only a suggested list. You may choose someone else if you
clear it with me first. Remember, girls don’t have to portray women and boys
don’t have to portray men. Be creative!
Men
Women
John Sutter - businessman
Jedediah Smith - explorer
Ansel Adams - photographer
John Muir - naturalist
Junipero Serra - priest
Jack London - writer
Levi Strauss - merchant
William Mulholland - engineer
Mariana Vallejo - California general
Leland Stanford - railroad tycoon
Joaquin Murietta - California bandito
Luther Burbank - scientist
William Randolph Hearst - publisher
James Marshall - mill worker
Cesar Chavez - activist
Walt Disney - animator
Howard Hughes - inventor
Steve Jobs - Apple computers
Edwin Hubble - scientist
John Paul Getty - philanthropist
Ronald Reagan - US President
Richard Nixon - US President
Earl Warren - US Supreme Court
Tom Bradley - mayor of Los Angeles
Jerry Brown - Governor of California
John Steinbeck - author
Chick Hearn - sports commentator
Henry Kaiser - business leader
Jack Kerouac - author
Ng Poon Chew - newspaper publisher
Diane Feinstein - senator
Barbara Boxer - senator
Rose Bird - US Supreme Court
Julia Morgan - architect
Sally Ride - astronaut
Julia Child - chef
Venus Williams - athlete
Serena Williams - athlete
Michelle Kwan - ice skater
Kristi Yamaguichi - ice skater
Amelia Earhart - aviatrix
Yvonne Braithwaite Burke - Congress
Charlotte Perkins Gilman - child labor
Condoleeza Rice - Secretary of State
Dame Shirley - business woman
Dorothea Lange - photographer
Biddy Mason - nurse and philanthropist
Maya Angelou - poet
Dolores Huerta - activist
Jackie Joyner-Kersee - athlete
Maxine Hong Kingston - author
Nancy Lopez - golfer
Gloria Molina - California State Assembly
Ellen Ochoa - astronaut
Patty Reed - Donner Party survivor
Shirley Temple - actress, ambassador
Yvonne Braithwaite-Burke - California State Assembly
March Fong Eu - California State Assembly
Helen Hunt Jackson - journalist
Caroline Severance - activist
Yoshiko Uchida - writer
* The person you choose must have played an influential role in California’s history.
Outline Information for Living Biography
Use this outline to help you at the Living Biography Tea Party. ​You will be
evaluated as you introduce yourself and share your accomplishments before
the tea party begins​. The questions listed will be asked and answered by you as
you meet others at the tea party. ​You will also be evaluated on how you
participate in the tea party during the tea party.​ Include detailed information in
your answers that will make your character come alive. Be creative!
Your Name:______________ Person’s Full Name: ________________________
Location/Lifespan and Early Years
When did you live?
Where did you live?
Who were the members of your family?
What education did you receive?
What experiences influenced your life?
Personality/Appearance
How would you describe your character?
What did you look like?
Problems/Challenges and Motivation and Influences
What problems did you encounter in your life?
How did you deal with and/or overcome these problems?
Why did you choose to do the things you did?
What people or events helped you to choose what to do?
Accomplishments
What important things did you do in your life?
How do these contributions affect California? the world?
Name: ___________________________________ Date: ___________________
Living Biography Evaluation
Name of Person Important to California History: __________________________
Criteria
Poem is written ​in your own words​ and
includes information on:
● Location/Lifespan
● Early Years
● Personality/Appearance
● Problems/Challenges
● Motivation/Influences
● Individual’s accomplishments to
California’s history
Each line is neatly typed or written in ink with
evidence of revision and editing.
Turned in on time
Oral presentation was well prepared and
organized (only one note card was used as a
reference)
Props and costume reflect effort and creativity
to appearance of individual
Appropriate posture; clear and audible voice
with expression; eye contact with audience
TOTAL
Points
Possible
Points
Earned
60
5
5
10
10
10
100
Comments:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
February 2017
Dear Parents,
Your son or daughter will complete his or her “Living Biography” presentation at a
California History Tea Party. The first step involves your child researching the life
of an individual who was important to the history of the California. Then there
will be a poem written from the perspective of that person ​that will be completed
in class​. Guidelines for this presentation have been handed out and discussed in
class.
Students have been asked to dress up as the individual they are representing.
Please do not incur any significant expense in this endeavor​. Furthermore, your
child must memorize answers to interview questions, although one large note-card
will be allowed. You may want to help your child rehearse before the tea party.
Please fill out the tear-off below to let me know that you have received this
information. In addition, feel free to attend this presentation. We’ll have lots of
tea and we’d love to have you!
Sincerely,
The Upstairs ⅘ Teachers
-----------------------------------------------------------------Living Biography
California History Tea Party
Student’s Name: __________________
Parent’s Name: _________________
Our California History Tea Party will be on: ​March 24th, 10:15-11:00
_____ I hope to attend the California History Tea Party!
_____ I will not be able to attend the California History Tea Party.
Parent Signature: _____________________________________