Activity Overview
Indigenous people of the Northwest Coast are famous artists, historians, activists, among many other professions. Researching real people helps students to get a more concrete and compassionate understanding of the culture, lives, and perspectives of Native Americans. In this activity, students will research a person and then create a biography poster highlighting their accomplishments.
Using one of the templates or starting from scratch on the poster layout, students will build up a profile of their chosen figure. Depending on requirements or complexity, students can add timelines to their posters. However, the wide variety of characters, scenes, and items makes it very easy for students to customize their project to fit any guidelines.
Find more biography poster templates to add to this assignment if desired!
Some examples of people to research:
- Catherine Herrold Troeh
- Freda Diesing
- Doug Cranmer
- Bill Reid (William Ronald Reid Jr.)
- Matika Wilbur
- Elizabeth Peratrovich
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 or notable person that is of Indigenous heritage from the Northwest Coast. Create a Biography Poster that highlights their major accomplishments.
Student Instructions:
- Choose a person.
- Using school resources, conduct some research and learn more about how it came to pass.
- On the poster, include your person’s name and dates of birth (and death if applicable). Choose a character that resembles your person. Add words and images to describe your person’s accomplishments.
Requirements: Person’s image, name, dates of birth/death, accomplishment.
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
Indigenous people of the Northwest Coast are famous artists, historians, activists, among many other professions. Researching real people helps students to get a more concrete and compassionate understanding of the culture, lives, and perspectives of Native Americans. In this activity, students will research a person and then create a biography poster highlighting their accomplishments.
Using one of the templates or starting from scratch on the poster layout, students will build up a profile of their chosen figure. Depending on requirements or complexity, students can add timelines to their posters. However, the wide variety of characters, scenes, and items makes it very easy for students to customize their project to fit any guidelines.
Find more biography poster templates to add to this assignment if desired!
Some examples of people to research:
- Catherine Herrold Troeh
- Freda Diesing
- Doug Cranmer
- Bill Reid (William Ronald Reid Jr.)
- Matika Wilbur
- Elizabeth Peratrovich
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 or notable person that is of Indigenous heritage from the Northwest Coast. Create a Biography Poster that highlights their major accomplishments.
Student Instructions:
- Choose a person.
- Using school resources, conduct some research and learn more about how it came to pass.
- On the poster, include your person’s name and dates of birth (and death if applicable). Choose a character that resembles your person. Add words and images to describe your person’s accomplishments.
Requirements: Person’s image, name, dates of birth/death, accomplishment.
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 Biographies of First Nations of the Northwest Coast
How to Facilitate a Peer Review Session for Biography Posters
Encourage collaborative learning by having students review each other's posters. Peer feedback helps students refine their work and gain new perspectives.
Set clear peer review guidelines
Provide students with specific questions or a checklist to guide their feedback, such as clarity of information, use of visuals, and accuracy. Clear expectations help students give constructive comments.
Model effective feedback
Demonstrate how to offer positive, specific, and respectful feedback using a sample poster. Modeling builds student confidence and sets a supportive tone.
Organize structured peer review groups
Assign students to small groups or pairs for reviewing, ensuring everyone participates. Rotate roles or posters to maximize engagement and fairness.
Guide students in reflecting on feedback
Have students summarize what they learned from peer comments and identify one improvement to make. Reflection deepens understanding and encourages revision.
Frequently Asked Questions about Biographies of First Nations of the Northwest Coast
What is a Northwest Coast First Nations biography poster activity?
A Northwest Coast First Nations biography poster activity is a student project where learners research a notable Indigenous person from the Northwest Coast and create a poster highlighting their life, heritage, and key achievements using text and images.
How can students research Indigenous figures for a biography poster?
Students can research Indigenous figures by using school library resources, trusted websites, and books about Northwest Coast First Nations. They should look for biographical details, accomplishments, and cultural significance to include in their posters.
What should be included on a First Nations biography poster for students?
A First Nations biography poster should feature the person's name, image, dates of birth and death (if applicable), and a summary of their main accomplishments. Students can also add timelines, descriptive words, and creative visuals.
Who are some notable Northwest Coast Indigenous people students can research?
Notable Northwest Coast Indigenous people include Catherine Herrold Troeh, Freda Diesing, Doug Cranmer, Bill Reid, Matika Wilbur, and Elizabeth Peratrovich. Each has made significant contributions to art, activism, or cultural preservation.
What are some tips to make biography posters engaging for grade 5-6 students?
To make biography posters engaging, encourage students to use colorful templates, add creative drawings or photos, and highlight unique accomplishments. Including timelines and quotes can also boost interest and learning.
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