Activity Overview
Students can learn a lot about how we uncover the mysteries of the past as well as the different careers available by studying social scientists and those that have made contributions to our understanding of history. There are many different archeologists, paleoanthropologists, and scientists to research. In this activity, students will create a biography poster highlighting the accomplishments of someone in the study of Early Humans.
These posters can be printed out, laminated and hung around the room as a visual reminder of these notable people and their accomplishments.
Students can also present their posters to their classmates, sharing their knowledge about their person. Thus combining research, writing and public speaking skills into one powerful assignment.Find more biography poster templates to add to this assignment if desired!
Example of Scientists to Research
- Mary Leakey
- Louis Leakey
- Charles Darwin
- Donald Johnson
- Howard Carter
- Hiram Bingham
- Diann Fossey
- John Wesley Gilbert
- Dr. Alexandra Jones
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Research a famous scientist that has helped us understand more about the past. Create a poster that includes their important accomplishments.
Student Instructions:
- Choose a famous person.
- Using school resources, conduct research on a famous person or event and take notes using a graphic organizer.
- On the poster, include your person’s name and dates of birth, death and major accomplishments in sequence.
- Add appropriate scenes, characters and items to illustrate your poster.
Requirements: Person’s image, name, dates of birth/death, 1-3 major accomplishments, 1-6 illustrations.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The description includes at least five important facts about the famous or historic figure. | The description includes less than five important facts or it includes information that is not pertinent to the famous or historic figure. | The description is incomplete and does not contain important information about the famous or historic figure. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items that are appropriate to the famous or historic figure. They enhance the poster by symbolizing or illustrating important facts about the figure. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items are mostly accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items is too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
Activity Overview
Students can learn a lot about how we uncover the mysteries of the past as well as the different careers available by studying social scientists and those that have made contributions to our understanding of history. There are many different archeologists, paleoanthropologists, and scientists to research. In this activity, students will create a biography poster highlighting the accomplishments of someone in the study of Early Humans.
These posters can be printed out, laminated and hung around the room as a visual reminder of these notable people and their accomplishments.
Students can also present their posters to their classmates, sharing their knowledge about their person. Thus combining research, writing and public speaking skills into one powerful assignment.Find more biography poster templates to add to this assignment if desired!
Example of Scientists to Research
- Mary Leakey
- Louis Leakey
- Charles Darwin
- Donald Johnson
- Howard Carter
- Hiram Bingham
- Diann Fossey
- John Wesley Gilbert
- Dr. Alexandra Jones
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Research a famous scientist that has helped us understand more about the past. Create a poster that includes their important accomplishments.
Student Instructions:
- Choose a famous person.
- Using school resources, conduct research on a famous person or event and take notes using a graphic organizer.
- On the poster, include your person’s name and dates of birth, death and major accomplishments in sequence.
- Add appropriate scenes, characters and items to illustrate your poster.
Requirements: Person’s image, name, dates of birth/death, 1-3 major accomplishments, 1-6 illustrations.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The description includes at least five important facts about the famous or historic figure. | The description includes less than five important facts or it includes information that is not pertinent to the famous or historic figure. | The description is incomplete and does not contain important information about the famous or historic figure. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items that are appropriate to the famous or historic figure. They enhance the poster by symbolizing or illustrating important facts about the figure. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items are mostly accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items is too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
How Tos about Early Human Biography Posters
Plan a Class Gallery Walk for Biography Posters
Set up a gallery walk by displaying student posters around the room and organizing a rotation schedule so each student can view and reflect on their peers' work. This encourages active engagement and deeper learning from classmates' research.
Prepare student reflection sheets
Give each student a simple reflection sheet with prompts like 'One new thing I learned,' 'A scientist I want to know more about,' and 'What surprised me.' This guides students to focus on key takeaways and thoughtful observations.
Assign students to small groups for discussion
Divide the class into small groups to discuss their favorite discoveries from the posters and compare the impacts of different scientists. Small group discussions help students process information collaboratively and build communication skills.
Facilitate a whole-class share-out
Invite groups to share highlights from their discussions with the whole class, spotlighting different scientists and unique findings. This celebrates student effort and broadens everyone’s understanding.
Wrap up with a quick exit ticket
Ask students to complete a brief exit ticket summarizing what they enjoyed most and one question they still have about early human scientists. Exit tickets provide you with instant feedback and help identify interests for future lessons.
Frequently Asked Questions about Early Human Biography Posters
What is an early human biography poster activity?
An early human biography poster activity is a classroom assignment where students research a notable scientist or figure who contributed to our understanding of early humans, then create a poster highlighting their life, achievements, and impact. This project combines research, writing, and presentation skills.
How do I choose a scientist for an early humans biography poster?
Choose a scientist by looking for individuals who made significant discoveries about early humans, like Mary Leakey or Charles Darwin. Review class lists or teacher suggestions, then pick someone whose contributions interest you and have enough available research material.
What should be included on a biography poster for early human scientists?
Include the person's name, image, dates of birth and death, and 1–3 major accomplishments. Add illustrations and scenes related to their discoveries, and organize information clearly to make the poster engaging and informative.
What are some examples of scientists to research for an early humans poster?
Examples include Mary Leakey, Louis Leakey, Charles Darwin, Donald Johnson, Howard Carter, Hiram Bingham, Diann Fossey, John Wesley Gilbert, and Dr. Alexandra Jones.
What skills do students develop by creating early human biography posters?
Students build research, writing, and public speaking skills, as well as creativity and critical thinking, by gathering information, designing posters, and sharing their findings with classmates.
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