Teacher Resources | Student Resources

 

 

 Heroes
of the 20th Century

  
 

 
  

Who Am I?

Test Your Biography IQ!
My love of wildlife came from being the son of parents who rescued and rehabilitated animals in Australia. I especially loved reptiles and hosted a well-known wildlife show. My wife and I worked tirelessly as conservationists. I died tragically while working on a documentary film. I'm a Hungarian concentration camp survivor from World War II. I went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize for my efforts to help the world never forget the Holocaust and to help show the plight of the persecuted everywhere.  I was born in Mississippi and had a difficult childhood. I graduated from college and began my television career in Nashville and moved to Baltimore and in 1976 began hosting a popular local TV show. I was lured to Chicago where my local talk show has gained major popularity. I didn't gain fame until I was nearly 60 years old. I'm proud that I helped to raise the standard of living of poor, mostly black farmers in the American South, but I'm probably most known for developing more than 300 uses for peanuts.
 The Answer The Answer  The Answer  The Answer 

How did you do? Rate your Biography IQ.

Research Process

Directions to Students

Task and Product

The first decade of the 21st century has almost passed. The editors of a well-known national news magazine have contacted your school to participate in a feature article where selected young people across the nation will identify the most significant heroes of the 20th century as well as heroes who have emerged in the last ten years.

Working with a partner, you will identify a possible hero figure to research and then present an oral report about this person using a multimedia presentation (either PowerPoint or a Web 2.0 tool). Your classmates will decide which five of the presentations will be selected to present before the magazine's panel of editors, who will then decide among these and other classes' entries which heroes and students to feature in the upcoming spread.

When choosing and researching a hero figure, consider:

  • selecting someone of interest to you
  • how the figure fits the agreed-upon characteristics of a hero (as previously discussed and decided in class)
  • major contributions of this person
  • any obstacles the person overcame in his or her life

For a list of hero figures to consider, click here.

If you select someone not on the list, you must receive prior teacher approval of your choice and you must ensure there are enough resources available on your person to complete the requirements of the project.

After completing your research you will prepare an oral presentation or a video with your partner about your hero using either PowerPoint or Web 2.0 tool such as VoiceThread, Animoto, MakeBeliefComix, ToonDo, or a Podcast/Vodcast for presenting highlights during your presentation.

Assessments

You may be graded on your daily work on the research process as well as on your final product and presentation.

Daily (Formative)

Research Process - Summative (Student/Self)

 Research Process - Summative (Teacher)

Web 2.0 Product

Oral Presentation

Multimedia Presentation

Questions

Essential question: Whom do you feel was a truly significant hero of the Twentieth Century and why?

Jump start your thinking! Start with these subsidiary questions as guides; then add more of your own.

  • What major events in the nation or world transpired that affected this person's life and how?
  • Did this person affect any national or world events? In which ways?
  • What specific contributions has this person made that gives him or her hero status?
  • Did this person have to overcome any particular obstacles in life? If so, what and how?

Gather, Sort, and Cite

Gather information from a variety of sources.

Sort your findings using a graphic organizer, note cards, outline, word document, or other form for recording your research.

Cite your sources to avoid plagiarism.

 

Organize

Analyze your research notes to determine if you have sufficient information to answer your questions.

Synthesize your information to form a new whole. Recall the items you were considering in your research.:

  • how the figure fits the agreed-upon characteristics of a hero (as previously discussed and decided in class)
  • major contributions of this person
  • any obstacles the person overcame in his or her life
  • what events/people affected this person's life and what events/people were affected by this person?

Evaluate the effectiveness of your research for the task.

  • Have you gathered sufficient details about your topic?
  • Are your details organized in the right categories or sub-topics to make sense for your audience?
  • Have you adequately answered your questions?

Conclusion

Presentation: Use your research results to prepare your multimedia presentation. Refer to your assessment tools to ensure you meet all the criteria.

Follow-Up: It is now time for the class to select five of the projects for presentation before the magazine's panel of editors. The editors will then decide among these and other classes' entries which heroes and students to feature in the upcoming magazine spread.

Your teacher will discuss the process the class will use to evaluate and choose the five projects. Selection should be based on the most compelling presentations and not just on historical facts or society's preconceived notions.