Activity Overview
Researching real people helps students to gain a more concrete and compassionate understanding of the culture, lives and diverse perspectives of people who were enslaved in America and people who worked to end slavery. Giving students the perspective of those who lived during a time period helps them go beyond simply memorizing dates and names to acquire a more substantial, empathetic and realistic view of the period. In this activity, students will create a biography poster about a notable enslaved person or someone who worked to end slavery.
Teachers can assign students specific people or give students a choice. Teachers may wish to provide resources such as books or the online encyclopedia Britannica for students to read about their person. These posters can be printed out, laminated, and hung around the room as a visual reminder of notable people from the time of American Slavery. 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!
Suggested Important People
- Crispus Attucks (1723-1770)
- Elizabeth Freeman (1742–1829)
- Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797)
- Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784)
- Richard Allen (1760-1831)
- Ona Judge (1773-1848)
- Mary Prince (1788‐1833)
- John Rankin (1793 – 1886)
- Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)
- John Brown (1800-1859)
- Maria W. Stewart (1803–1879)
- William Lloyd Garrison (1805 – 1879)
- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
- Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)
- Henry “Box” Brown (1815-1897)
- Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)
- Harriet Tubman (1820(?) - 1913)
- Sarah Parker Remond (1824–1894)
- Ellen Craft (1826–1891)
- Robert Smalls (1839-1915)
- Susie King Taylor (1848-1912)
- Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)
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 relates to the period of Slavery in America such as an enslaved person or an abolitionist. Create a biography poster that highlights important events in their life and accomplishments.
Student Instructions:
- Choose a person.
- Using school resources, conduct some research and learn more about your chosen person.
- 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, 3-5 important events and/or accomplishments.
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
Researching real people helps students to gain a more concrete and compassionate understanding of the culture, lives and diverse perspectives of people who were enslaved in America and people who worked to end slavery. Giving students the perspective of those who lived during a time period helps them go beyond simply memorizing dates and names to acquire a more substantial, empathetic and realistic view of the period. In this activity, students will create a biography poster about a notable enslaved person or someone who worked to end slavery.
Teachers can assign students specific people or give students a choice. Teachers may wish to provide resources such as books or the online encyclopedia Britannica for students to read about their person. These posters can be printed out, laminated, and hung around the room as a visual reminder of notable people from the time of American Slavery. 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!
Suggested Important People
- Crispus Attucks (1723-1770)
- Elizabeth Freeman (1742–1829)
- Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797)
- Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784)
- Richard Allen (1760-1831)
- Ona Judge (1773-1848)
- Mary Prince (1788‐1833)
- John Rankin (1793 – 1886)
- Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)
- John Brown (1800-1859)
- Maria W. Stewart (1803–1879)
- William Lloyd Garrison (1805 – 1879)
- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
- Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)
- Henry “Box” Brown (1815-1897)
- Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)
- Harriet Tubman (1820(?) - 1913)
- Sarah Parker Remond (1824–1894)
- Ellen Craft (1826–1891)
- Robert Smalls (1839-1915)
- Susie King Taylor (1848-1912)
- Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)
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 relates to the period of Slavery in America such as an enslaved person or an abolitionist. Create a biography poster that highlights important events in their life and accomplishments.
Student Instructions:
- Choose a person.
- Using school resources, conduct some research and learn more about your chosen person.
- 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, 3-5 important events and/or accomplishments.
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 Slavery in America Biography Poster
Incorporate primary sources into biography poster projects for deeper understanding
Enhance your students' research skills and promote critical thinking by guiding them to use primary sources—like letters, photographs, or historical documents—when creating their biography posters. This approach helps students analyze authentic materials and connect more personally with the people they're studying.
Model how to find age-appropriate primary sources online
Show students how to locate reliable, grade-level primary sources on trusted websites such as the Library of Congress, National Archives, or museum digital collections. Demonstrate simple search strategies, and discuss how to evaluate the credibility and relevance of sources.
Guide students to select one or two impactful primary sources
Encourage students to choose sources that illustrate key moments or achievements in their subject’s life. Discuss why these sources are meaningful and how they add depth to the biography poster.
Help students analyze and summarize their chosen sources
Work together to break down the information in each primary source. Prompt students to answer questions like: Who created this? What does it tell us? Why is it important? Then, help them write a brief summary or caption in their own words for the poster.
Display, discuss, and celebrate posters with primary sources
Facilitate a gallery walk or class presentation where students explain how their chosen primary sources deepen understanding of their historical figure. Celebrate their research skills and thoughtful connections!
Frequently Asked Questions about Slavery in America Biography Poster
What is a slavery in America biography poster activity for students?
A slavery in America biography poster activity is a classroom project where students research a notable enslaved person or abolitionist, then create a poster that highlights their life, achievements, and impact. This helps students build empathy and a deeper understanding of history.
How do I guide students to research people from the era of slavery in America?
Encourage students to use trusted resources like books or online encyclopedias (e.g., Britannica) to gather facts about their chosen person. Provide a list of suggested individuals and help students identify key life events and accomplishments to include on their posters.
What should be included on a biography poster about an enslaved person or abolitionist?
Each poster should feature the person's name, image, birth/death dates, and 3-5 key events or accomplishments. Adding descriptive words and images can make the poster more engaging and informative.
Why is it important for students to research real people from the time of American slavery?
Researching real people helps students gain a more empathetic and realistic understanding of history. It moves learning beyond memorization to exploring diverse perspectives and the lived experiences of individuals.
Can students present their biography posters to the class?
Yes, students can present their posters to classmates, which reinforces research, writing, and public speaking skills while sharing knowledge about important historical figures.
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Slavery in America
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