Heroes in my community: reading a biography
A biography tells the story of a person’s life. It usually uses the past simple. Look for the facts: When and where was the person born? What did they do? Why do people admire them? Read the biography on page 42 of your book, and then read our own about a teacher. We answer who, when, where, what and why with the facts in the text. Hero does not mean only a person in a film. A hero can be a teacher, a nurse, a neighbour or a coach in your community. Words that describe heroes: kind, caring, brave, determined, helpful. An achievement is something good they did. To inspire means they make you want to do good things too.
| Question | Where to look in the biography |
|---|---|
| When was she born? | the first sentence |
| Where was she born? | the first sentence |
| What did she do? | the middle sentences |
| Why is she inspiring? | the last sentences |
Wafaa Said was born in 1958 in a small village near Minya. As a child she loved books, and she read under a lamp at night. In 1980 she became a teacher. She taught children to read for thirty-five years. In 1995 she started a small library in the village with fifty books. Many children visited it after school. She retired in 2015, but she still helps in the library every week. She was kind, patient and very determined. Her students say, “She taught us to love learning.”
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Born | 1958, a village near Minya |
| Became a teacher | 1980 |
| Started a library | 1995, fifty books |
| Qualities | kind, patient, determined |
Hero interview. Interview an adult in your family or school about a person they admire. Ask: Who is it? What did they do? Why do you admire them? Write three facts and one quality.