Our newest collection of assignments is perfect when you’re looking for quick, accessible, and highly engaging prompts for elementary, middle, and high school students. Each assignment features a short YouTube video about the life of a historical figure with a prompt directing students to write a short biography summarizing their background and historical impact. Each assignment allows students to demonstrate comprehension, gather information from a source, and practice writing about important historical figures.
The historical figures featured in this collection represent a diverse group of individuals who’ve made significant contributions to American history. Individuals in the assignments include:
- Benjamin Franklin
- Amelia Earhart
- George Washington
- Clara Barton
- Madame C.J. Walker
- Andrew Carnegie
- Ruby Bridges
- Thomas Edison
- Harriet Tubman
- Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Abigail Adams
- Abraham Lincoln
- Sacajawea
- Anne Hutchison
- César Chávez
- Dr. Martin Luther King
- George Washington Carver
- Rosa Parks
- Sitting Bull
- Caesar Augustus
- Hatshepsut
- Genghis Khan
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Emily Dickinson
- Theodore Roosevelt
- Maria Tallchief
- Edgar Allen Poe
- Frida Kahlo
- Nelson Mandela
- Ida B. Wells
- John Maynard Keynes
- Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
- Booker T. Washington
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton
- Crazy Horse
- The Navajo Code Talkers
- Grace Lee Boggs
- Malala Yousefzai
Every assignment includes an attached rubric that is concise and student-friendly to best support students as they write. Because every assignment is completely customizable, you can always replace or edit the rubric (such as using a state-specific rubric, or using a custom district rubric). You can also use any of these assignments as a template to feature any youtube video you’d like your students to watch and respond to. Simply copy the assignment to save it, then edit the prompt.
Are you new to Writable or curious to learn more? Create a free teacher account, check out our pricing, schedule a personalized demo, or Join the Writable Educators Facebook Community.