A biography is a true story about a person's life.
Mrs. Yollis' class is currently reading biographies about
people who have made significant contributions to our world!
Artists, inventors, statesman, composers,
doctors, inventors,
aviators, astronauts, and pioneers in many fields
are among the amazing historical figures about whom we are reading!
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After reading about your biography subject,
please leave a comment as if you are that person!
Be sure to include at least three facts you learned from your library book or the online encyclopedia. Try to use the HTML code to bold your facts! DO NOT PLAGIARIZE! (Use your own words!)
Watch the comments to see if you can converse with another biography subject you may know!
Family members and friends:
You are invited to choose your own biography subject and join in the conversation!
Dear Mrs. Yollis, her class, fellow Americans, and other bloggers,
ReplyDeleteAs America's first president and Founding Father, I am exceeding proud to be visiting your fine blog. We did not have computers back when I was president (1789-1797). In my day, when we needed to get information out, like when we were writing the Constitution, we had to write our words out on paper using a pen made out of a feather. We called this special writing tool a quill. I would have loved to learn how to type, to contribute to a blog, and I even would have loved to tweet important events out on Twitter! Alas, I was born at the wrong time!
I'll be curious to hear if any other famous people drop by this space. I do indeed love learning! I was looking at Google Earth, and I noticed that the United States is much larger than when I was president. We only had 13 states. How did the United States get so big?
I must retire now to Mount Vernon. I'll stop back in from time to time and read through your comments!
Your first president,
George Washington
Dear Mr. Washington,
DeleteI'm sorry you weren't born at the right time, but if you were, you would have seen my all new iMac. iMac stands for Internet Macintosh. It could ether be a laptop or a computer. If you want a computer, you can't take it around, but sometimes the screen is bigger. If you want a laptop, you can take it around, but the screen is smaller. Which would you prefer?
I am a business worker and I invented lots of electronics. For one part of my life, I worked as the head of the company Pixar. At that time, they were playing Toy Story that was inspired byTin Toy. I have never written with a quill. Just like you would like to learn to type, have a blog, and many more, I would like to learn to write with a quill. How does it feel like? Have you ever written with a pencil like we do now?
I don't have any idea how big the United States was when you were alive. I have heard about the Louisiana Purchase though. That's probably how the United States became so big. Do you know anything about the Louisiana Purchase?
Sincerely,
Steve Jobs
P.S. Click on my name in blue to find out more about me.
Dear Mr. Washington,
DeleteI am surprisingly exactly like you. First of all I am a Founding Father just like you. The 13 states got big because our fellow friend Thomas Jefferson made the Louisiana Purchase. He paid $15 million for all that land. That must of been a massive trade. I wonder how much money he had. Can you tell me how much money he had?
I must have helped you with your Constitution because I am part of the Constitutional Congress! That is crazy. Now I must go back home to Philadelphia. Don't worry I will be Back to read your comments.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Franklin
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteI am Thomas Edison (Sean), and I was one of the greatest inventors of my century. My first invention was the stock ticker. I sold it for $40,000. Another invention that I created was the first movie with sound. My most famous invention was the lightbulb. All around the world, today people still use these inventions that I invented.
Do you think the lightbulb help change the world?
Sincerely,
Thomas Edison ( Sean)
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteI am Amelia Earhart, the first woman to be in an airplane across the Atlantic Ocean. I was not piloting the plane, I only helped out, but when I returned I got a huge celebration. I was also the first person to fly solo from the U.S. to Hawaii.
I was born on June 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas. I saw my first plane when I was ten years old at a county fair. It did not interest me that much, but then I went to an airplane show and one of the pilots tried to scare me by flying right over me. I loved it, and that is when I knew I wanted to be a pilot.
Sincerely,
Amelia Earhart (Collin)
Dear Amelia,
DeleteWe are pilots too. We INVENTED the motor-powered airplane. Growing up we loved to invent and we were BEST friends.
I think that being a pilot is one of the best jobs in the world. Our first flight was 42 seconds, how long was yours?
Your flying friend,
The Wright Brothers ( AKA Peter)
Dear Mrs. Yollis and her pupils,
ReplyDeleteI am Helen Keller. I was born on June 27, 1880 on a farm in Tuscumbia, Alabama. My teacher, Annie Sullivan, is writing this comment for me because I am blind and deaf. She taught me how to communicate by using sign language and reading braille.
Before I met her, I felt like I was trapped in a dark cave with no sound. I was very angry. My family didn't know how to help me, so they called the Perkins Institute in Boston. The Perkins Institute sent Annie Sullivan to live with us and teach me. At first, it was not easy. We got into many arguments. Eventually, I understood that the movements she was making in my hand, were not just a game, but sign language. That's when I felt like the journey out of my darkness began.
I am interested in learning about other biography friends and the importance they have in the world.
Sincerely,
Helen Keller (typed by Annie Sullivan)
(Mallory)
Dear Ms. Hellen Keller,
DeleteI'm Elizabeth Blackwell, the first women doctor in the United States of America. I was born on February 3, 1821.
I understand that it is a hard life to be blind and deaf. I wish you could come to my hospital (the New York Infirmary for Women and Children) and I can help cure you. But I'm fairly glad to hear that Ms. Annie Sullivan has helped you in a wonderful way!
Before I could become a doctor, I had to become a nurse in Paris, France because no hospital would let me work because of my gender. I decided I want to be a surgeon. But this dream got spoiled when I accidentally squirted a strong medicine in my left eye. After sometime, the medicine affected my left eye, and I lost sight in my eye.
I would love to learn some other ways Annie taught you how to read and write to take you out of your terrible dark world.
Have a great life ahead,
Elizabeth Blackwell (Aashi)
P.S. Ask Annie to help you out reading this comment.
Bonjour Mrs. Yollis' class,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Claude Monet. On November 14, 1840, I was born in Paris, France. I am an impressionist artist. My paintings are whimsical and dreamy.
While I was living, not many people appreciated my paintings. :( They thought they weren't finished or detailed enough; however,today many people appreciate my paintings! :)
Today you can still see my paintings throughout America and Europe! In fact, my paitings are hanging at the Getty!
Sincerely,
Claude (Abbey)
Dear Mrs. Yollis' class,
ReplyDeleteI was the 40th president of the United States from (1981-1989). I was also a lifeguard and saved 77 people from drowning. I am very famous for ending the Cold War. The Cold War was a rivalry between America and the Soviet Union. I believe that I was a good President, and I hope people will remember me.
From,
Ronald Reagan
Dear Ronald Reagon,
DeleteI was the 3rd president of the U.S.A. I was born on April 13, 1743, and I died on July 4, 1826. It was hard to right the Declaration of Independence, but all the work paid off. How many states were there when you were president?
Sincerely,
Thomas Jefferson
P.S. This is actually Parsa.
Dear Ronald Regan,
DeleteAlthough we have our differences in handling land, it's nice to meet you. By the whey I am a famous photographer. I am 82. And I like to go to Yosemite National Park. I took black and white pictures.
Warmly,
Ansel Adams
Dear Mrs. Yollis' class,
ReplyDeleteMrs. Yollis and all of you students are quite lucky to have been born free. I was born a slave and worked from sunrise to sunset. Also, I barely got any food. Once, when I was fifteen, I was hit by an iron weight and fell to the floor almost dead. Luckily, I did survive but, just barely. :-( However, there were good things too. For example, when I escaped to freedom. I felt so victorious at that time. When I got older, I became very good friends with Susan B. Anthony and she was in the fight for women's rights.
I was known for being one of the most famous conductors of the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad is not a railroad underground. It is a secret system where various homes would hide the slaves to help free them. For example, you would hide them in the basement, the attic, the closet, and even haystacks!
It was hard work to be a slave. Have any of you worked hard like I did?
Your only slave,
Harriet Tubman (Jenna)
Dear Harriet Tubman,
DeleteI worked very hard at getting woman rights. I did not complete it myself, though. Some other woman who were up for the fight helped me. Another thing I have done is free all the slaves. It was very hard to accomplish a lot of the things I have done. Have you ever done something very hard and not accomplish it by yourself?
Sincerely,
Susan B. Anthony
Dear Mrs. Yollis and Class,
ReplyDeleteI had to pass on a letter that ended up arriving to me instead of you. It is from a man who wasn't born in U.S.A. but came to call it home. I thought it best to prepare as en Extended Comments post because it included a photo and links. Have you previously heard of this man?
http://rossmannellcomments.edublogs.org/2013/05/10/a-letter-from-albert-einstein-fictional-for-mrs-yollis-and-class/
Ross Mannell
Teacher (retired), N.S.W., Australia
Dear Mrs. Yollis and class,
ReplyDeleteLadies and gentlemen, I am the best artist in the world.
My name Pablo Ruiz Picasso.
I was born in 1881, in Malaga, Spain. I am very well known for creating Cubism, the first style of modern art.
I also had two different periods in my artwork, The Blue Period and The Rose Period. I was inspired by being in love with a lovely lady named Fernande to create The Rose Period and I was inspired when my best friend died and at the same time my paintings weren't selling to create The Blue Period.
By the best artist that ever lived,
Pablo Picasso
(Grace)
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
ReplyDeleteI am Sally Ride, the first woman in space.
I was born on May 26, 1951 in Los Angeles, California.
When I was young I was very athletic. I was successful in many sports, however tennis was one of my favorites.
I studied science and physics in school. I received two degrees in physics. When I was getting my Ph.D, I decided to apply to be an astronaut. I was selected in 1978 to begin astronaut training. In 1983, I was America's first woman in space. Even though at 32 years old, I was the youngest American astronaut in space, most people were more interested in the fact that I was the first American woman in space.
It was June 18, 1983 when we rocketed into space. Does anyone know the name of our space shuttle?
Your space loving friend,
Sally Ride (Savannah)
Dear Sally Ride,
DeleteThe name of your space shuttle was the Challenger. It took off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
What an incredible accomplishment to be the youngest American astronaut in space and the first American woman! I cannot believe you grew up in Encino, not too far from where we live!
How long was your first mission on the Challenger?
Sincerely,
Melissa (Savannah's mom)