Activity Overview
Indigenous people of the Eastern Woodlands are famous leaders, artists, athletes, activists, and 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 an indigenous person from the Eastern Woodlands region and then create a biography poster highlighting their life and 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:
- Tecumseh (1768-1813)
- Jim Thorpe (1887-1953)
- Francis “Peggy” Pegahmagabow (1891-1952)
- Joseph Bruchac (1942- )
- Waneek Horn-Miller (1975-)
- Wab Kinew (1981- )
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 Eastern Woodlands. 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 Eastern Woodlands are famous leaders, artists, athletes, activists, and 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 an indigenous person from the Eastern Woodlands region and then create a biography poster highlighting their life and 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:
- Tecumseh (1768-1813)
- Jim Thorpe (1887-1953)
- Francis “Peggy” Pegahmagabow (1891-1952)
- Joseph Bruchac (1942- )
- Waneek Horn-Miller (1975-)
- Wab Kinew (1981- )
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 Eastern Woodlands. 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 Indigenous Peoples of the Eastern Woodlands Biography
How to guide students in finding reliable sources about Indigenous leaders
Direct students to trusted digital and print resources. Explain why it's important to use sources such as reputable websites, books from the school library, and educational databases when learning about Indigenous leaders.
Model how to evaluate information for accuracy and respect
Show students how to check if information is factually correct and culturally appropriate. Discuss cross-checking facts between sources and being mindful to avoid stereotypes or biased language.
Help students organize their research with graphic organizers
Provide simple templates like fact charts or timelines. This helps students record key dates, accomplishments, and personal details in an organized way for their biography poster.
Encourage students to include direct quotes or stories
Suggest finding and adding quotes or short stories from or about the Indigenous person. This brings authenticity and voice to their poster, making it more engaging and meaningful.
Frequently Asked Questions about Indigenous Peoples of the Eastern Woodlands Biography
What is a biography poster project for Indigenous Peoples of the Eastern Woodlands?
A biography poster project for Indigenous Peoples of the Eastern Woodlands is an activity where students research a notable Indigenous figure from the region and create a poster that highlights their life, heritage, and key accomplishments using images, timelines, and descriptive text.
How do I choose a person to research from the Eastern Woodlands tribes?
To choose a person to research, look for Indigenous leaders, artists, athletes, or activists from the Eastern Woodlands. You can use class-provided lists, library books, or trusted online resources to find a figure who interests you.
What should be included on an Eastern Woodlands biography poster?
Your poster should have the person’s name, dates of birth and death (if applicable), a picture or character representation, and a summary of their major accomplishments. Adding a timeline and relevant images makes your poster more engaging.
Are there templates available for Indigenous Peoples biography posters?
Yes, there are biography poster templates available that make it easy to organize information and customize your project. You can use a template or start from scratch to design your layout.
Why is it important to study real Indigenous people from the Eastern Woodlands in elementary school?
Studying real Indigenous people helps students gain a more concrete and compassionate understanding of Native American culture, history, and perspectives, making learning more meaningful and respectful.
More Storyboard That Activities
Indigenous Peoples of the Eastern Woodlands
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
