Year 7-8 English Lesson Plan: Structure of a Biography

Curriculum Area:

- English
- Level: Year 7-8
- Specific Learning Objective: Understand the structure of a biography

Lesson Duration:

- 40 minutes

Class Details:

- Number of Students: 33

Lesson Plan:

1. Introduction (5 minutes)
- Greet the students and provide an overview of the lesson.
- Define what a biography is and its purpose.
- Discuss the importance of understanding the structure of a biography.

2. Discussion on Biographies (10 minutes)
- Show examples of biographies of famous New Zealanders to engage students.
- Discuss the key elements typically found in a biography, such as personal information, significant life events, contributions, and legacy.
- Explain the chronological order commonly used in biographies.

3. Analyzing Structure (10 minutes)
- Divide students into small groups for an activity.
- Provide each group with a printed biography of a well-known New Zealander.
- Instruct them to identify and label the different sections of the biography, such as introduction, early life, achievements, and conclusion.
- Encourage discussion on why each section is essential in telling the individual's story.

4. Interactive Activity (10 minutes)
- Conduct a class discussion based on the groups' findings.
- Ask students to share the different structures they identified in the biographies.
- Clarify any misconceptions and reinforce the importance of a well-organized biography.

5. Closure (5 minutes)
- Summarize the key points discussed during the lesson.
- Encourage students to think about how they can apply the structure of a biography in their own writing.
- Assign homework for students to research and write a short biography of a famous New Zealander following the identified structure.

Additional Resources:

- For teachers: TKI New Zealand Curriculum Updates
- Sample biographies of New Zealanders can be found on Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

By following this detailed lesson plan, Year 7-8 students in New Zealand will gain a thorough understanding of the structure of a biography, aligning with the English curriculum standards for their level.