3rd grade book report-- where do I find

[BWVDenise]

a biography of a positive roll model which is written on a third grade reading level?
Honestly, I feel like he just brought home homework for ME, as if I don't already have enough to do!!!
I know well enough how to find biographies, but it's finding one that he will be able to read and will hold his attention that I don't know how to go about finding.
Can somebody steer me in the right direction? After that I have to figure out how to make a costume of this person for him to wear for an oral presentation. I'm not very creative when it comes to stuff like that, so I am stressing out big time right now.

 

[janette]

I have had no problem finding them at the library. My DD did a report on Leonardo DiVinci last year and she's going to do him again since they need to do one on an inventor. The library had several to choose from at varying levels.

 

[Shannon G]

I went to Borders.com, and found that they have some biographies written for children. Click on books, then children's books, then people & places, then biographies.

Good luck!

 

[tmq2766]

My DD is in 3rd grade and just finished a book report on Walt Disney that we got from the library.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I was going to suggest Walt Disney too! There are quite a few biographies on him in the children's section of bookstores. Lots of other choices too.

 

[peg2001]

Oh, ANYTHING by Jean Fritz would be great. Here's some of her titles (there's lots more, check the library):

You want women to vote, Lizzie Stanton?

Why not, Lafayette?

Stonewall

Where do you think you are going, Christopher Columbus?

What's the big idea, Ben Franklin?

And then what happened, Paul Revere?

Why don't you get a horse, Sam Adams?

Peggy

oops - edited to add that since you have a son, you may want to disregard the first one. . .he may not appreciate the costume.

 

[mcnuss]

Honestly, I feel like he just brought home homework for ME, as if I don't already have enough to do!!!

You should stay out of this. It is his assignment and he should pick the book on his own. By this point in 3rd grade, he is capable. Take him to the library and have the librarian show him where the biographies are. That should be the extent of your involvement otherwise he won't learn a valuable part of this lesson.

 

[trishy]

I think Mark Twain is an interesting character - plenty of biographies for all levels - and would make for a relatively easy costume in addition.

 

[Cindy B]

Yes, let him go to the library and pick it out himself.

And don't panic, if he picks things, such as a Rap star, or something like that.

It is his project, and he should be able to find something himself.

 

[Mishetta]

How about a famous baseball player? (Joe DiMaggio, etc..) Then all you'd have to do is get a baseball uniform for him.

I do understand what you mean about YOU having the homework. Some of these projects my son brings home, I think are waaaaaay over what a kid can do. The funny part is that, I try to help him as little as possible. I mean, I don't DO IT for him. I let him write it out, etc....but then when I stopped in the school for a special program one night, I saw the latest project that his class had done & I'd say at least 50% of them looked like the parents did the project & NOT the child!

My DH & I are both very hands on type of people, but when it's a project your child should do for school, it really should be their project, not the parent's project. We help him gather all the material he needs & we help him sort it, read it, etc...but when he actually has to assemble something, we let him do as much as he's capable of & then we help out. We don't just "DO" it for him.

Let your child pick it out & do as much as he can & then you can help him. It's his project.

 

[rascalmom]

Been through this with both dd's at the same grade level. The school media center should have lots of biographies. My daughters did Shannon Miller (the gymnast), Michele Kwan (skater), Laura Ingalls Wilder and Walt Disney. It was pretty funny to see my little strawberry blonde dressed up as Walt Disney.

Try not to stress and try not to feel like you have to do this for them. The teacher is asking for at 3rd grade level grade report & will have given the kids adequate suggestions. I worked in the elementary media center as a volunteer for two years and saw about 120 3rd grades go through this every year.

Don't feel you have to sew a costume - but you might try to guide your child's selection of his subject (wouldn't it be fun to dress up like... or how would you make yourself look like...) When my dd did Walt she wore an old suit of her dad's, a Mickey tie & her Mickey ears from our most recent trip. Have fun and let them have fun!

 

[TiggerPiglet]

My DD too is in the third grade and did a book report on Sara Hughes, the Olympic Skater, a couple of months ago. Like other posters have said, just go to the library and ask them where the biographies are for his age and once they point you to the section, just let him pick out the book. My DD picked out a couple and then sat down and looked them over before she chose which one she wanted. I think she picked Sara Hughes because it was a smaller book

 

[whirlsy]

how about Mister Rogers~ Captain Kangaroo

 

[BWVDenise]

Thank you all so much for your suggestions. I am a little calmer now, and I took him to the library after dinner. He picked 2 books that he will decide between-- Walt Disney and Frederick Douglass (he seems really interested in the latter, but at least he can look through both and decide which he is most interested in speaking on). I have no idea what I will suggest for costumes on either man, but hopefully we'll come up with something that will work.

I really had no idea that that had "junior" biography books. Now I know!!

 

[clh2]

I totally agree with many of the previous posters. It is your child's project - and they should be able to pick out an interesting book. My daughter did a book report on Madame Curie a couple of years ago. While she didn't have to do a costume - an easy one for a scientist would be a man's old white dress shirt - made to look like a lab coat.

If you want to check out some ideas before you get to the library - go into the children's section at barnes & noble online. I think the following web site should get you to a children's list of biography - by subject:Barnes & Noble Web site

Again - not to suggest you should buy one - just to get an idea of what types of biographies are available.