Biography / Autobiography

Biography is the fact-based story of a person’s life written by a third party. An autobiography is the fact-based story of a person’s life which is written by that person.

The Plains of Nebraska - Reading Skill Building Activity

The Plains of Nebraska

Robert Louis Stevens was a Scottish author, famous for his novels Kidnapped and Treasure Island. In 1879 he took a trip across the U.S. In this passage he talks about crossing the plains of Nebraska on the train. —————————— It had thundered on the Friday night, but the sun rose…

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Jackie Robinson:  The Man Who Changed Baseball Forever - Reading Comprehension Exercise

Jackie Robinson: The Man Who Changed Baseball Forever

Jack “Jackie” Roosevelt Robinson was the first African American to play in major league baseball. Through his dedication, resilience, and patience, he paved the way for other African American baseball players to play in the “majors” and helped move America towards racial equality. The United States during the 1920’s was…

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Helen Speaks - Reading Comprehension Activity

Helen Speaks

Helen Keller was born in 1880. She was a healthy and happy child until she became seriously ill before her second birthday. While she did get well, she lost both her hearing and her sight after the illness. Opportunities for those with a disability were few in the 19th century.…

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Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson, Environmentalist

Rachel Carson ran home from school. “Mom! Mom!” Mom stood on the front porch. “What’s wrong, Rachel?” “They’re digging up the meadow. There are trucks and men all over.” Rachel paused to catch her breath. “Our beautiful meadow. It’s being destroyed.” Mom gave Rachel a hug. “Yes, honey. It’s called…

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Madam C.J. Walker: Self-Made Millionaire and Philanthropist - Reading Activity

Madam C.J. Walker: Self-Made Millionaire and Philanthropist

Madam C.J. Walker was born on December 23, 1867 near Delta, Louisiana. Her birth name was Sarah Breedlove. Her parents were slaves on the cotton plantation where she was born. Her parents were emancipated, which means freed, in 1863 after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation…

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African American Inventors: George Washington Carver - Reading Comprehension PDF

African American Inventors: George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver was born in Missouri between 1861 and 1864. He was born into slavery. It was not until the end of the Civil War in 1865 that George became free. As he grew up, George loved to learn and read. Black children were not allowed to go to…

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Young Frederick Douglass - Reading Comprehension Activity

Young Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass (c. 1818-1895) was born into slavery in Maryland. As an adult, he escaped into freedom. He became a writer, orator and advocate for the abolition of slavery. In 1845, 16 years before the start of the Civil War, Douglass published his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick…

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African American Inventors: Lewis Latimer - Reading Skill Building Activity

African American Inventors: Lewis Latimer

Lewis Howard Latimer was born in 1848 in Chelsea, Massachusetts. His parents had escaped slavery in Virginia, and they were determined that their children would be born into freedom. In 1863 when he was just 15, Lewis joined the U.S. Navy to fight in the Civil War. After the war…

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Dr. Dian Fossey: Renowned Primatologist and Conservationist - Reading Skill Building Activity

Dr. Dian Fossey: Renowned Primatologist and Conservationist

Dr. Dian Fossey, founder of the Karisoke Research Center in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda, initiated groundbreaking studies of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. She was considered one of the world’s foremost primatologists and animal conservationists. Along with primatologists Jane Goodall and Birutė Galdikas, she was known as one…

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African American Inventors: Patricia Bath - Reading Activity

African American Inventors: Patricia Bath

Dr. Patricia Bath was the first black woman medical doctor to receive a patent in the United States. She now holds four patents for her inventions, which are related to preventing and restoring sight in patients. Born in 1942, she was raised in the Harlem area of New York City.…

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