Activity Overview
Indigenous people of the Southeast region 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 Southeast 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:
- Pushmataha, (Choctaw) (1764-1824)
- John Ross, (Cherokee name Tsan-Usdi) (1790-1866)
- Osceola (Asi-yahola in Creek) (1804 - 1838)
- Mary Golda Ross (1908-2008)
- Wilma Mankiller (1945-2010)
- John Herrington (1958- )
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 Southeast region. 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 Southeast region 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 Southeast 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:
- Pushmataha, (Choctaw) (1764-1824)
- John Ross, (Cherokee name Tsan-Usdi) (1790-1866)
- Osceola (Asi-yahola in Creek) (1804 - 1838)
- Mary Golda Ross (1908-2008)
- Wilma Mankiller (1945-2010)
- John Herrington (1958- )
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 Southeast region. 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 Southeast Region Biographies
Incorporate primary sources to deepen student research
Enhance your students' understanding by guiding them to locate and use primary sources like letters, interviews, or artifacts in their research. This helps them connect more personally with historical figures and promotes critical thinking skills.
Model how to locate and analyze primary sources with your class
Demonstrate finding trustworthy sources online or in the library, then walk students through analyzing a primary document together. Discuss what makes it authentic and how it reveals details about the person's life.
Guide students to select relevant primary sources for their figure
Encourage students to choose at least one primary source tied to their chosen individual. Offer suggestions like historical photos, newspaper articles, or oral histories to get them started.
Support students in interpreting and citing their sources
Help students summarize what their primary source reveals about their figure, and teach them how to cite it simply on their poster. This builds both research and academic honesty skills.
Frequently Asked Questions about Southeast Region Biographies
What is a Southeast Region Indigenous biography poster activity?
A Southeast Region Indigenous biography poster activity is a classroom project where students research a notable Indigenous person from the Southeast U.S., then create a biography poster to showcase their life, achievements, and cultural impact.
How do I choose a notable Indigenous person from the Southeast region for my poster?
Start by exploring a list of famous Indigenous figures from the Southeast, like Pushmataha, John Ross, Osceola, Mary Golda Ross, Wilma Mankiller, or John Herrington. Select someone whose story interests you or aligns with your assignment guidelines.
What should I include on an Indigenous biography poster for students?
Each poster should feature the person’s name, image, birth and death dates (if applicable), and their key accomplishments. Add words and images to describe their life, and consider using timelines or creative layouts for extra detail.
What are some example Indigenous leaders from the Southeast region for student research?
Examples include Pushmataha (Choctaw), John Ross (Cherokee), Osceola (Creek), Mary Golda Ross, Wilma Mankiller, and John Herrington. These figures represent a range of professions and achievements.
Why is it important for students to research Indigenous people from the Southeast region?
Researching Indigenous people from the Southeast helps students develop empathy, understand diverse perspectives, and appreciate the rich cultural heritage and contributions of Native American leaders, artists, and innovators.
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