History at Hand: Crafting Biographical Trading Cards

Explain to students that they will create biographical trading cards. Crafting biographical trading cards is a great way for students to explore the lives of historical figures. Understanding the contributions of these individuals not only offers insight into the past but also provides valuable lessons for the present and future.

Trading cards offer a unique platform for informational text. They include images, headings and subheadings, bullets, and often data charts, making them great examples of how and why to use the features of nonfiction text.

Allocate time for students to research their chosen historical figure. The ability to identify big ideas and supporting details is essential to both comprehension and a student's ability to effectively use information in their own communication.

Assign a research template to students and have them use the text options to take notes and then both arrange and stylize the objects to show priority and connections.

Once students have completed their research, assign one of the many trading card templates to help direct their work.

Because of their small size, the space for information on a trading card is limited. Students must analyze their research and then delete, edit, and evaluate it to create a summary. This process of evaluating and determining the importance of writing a concise summary helps students better grasp the content they are writing about.

When students finish, have them print their work and engage in peer sharing, allowing them time to appreciate and learn from diverse perspectives and insights offered by their peers' work.