Today, we delved into the fascinating realm of biographies! Our focus was on understanding the structural elements that make biographies unique, using our knowledge of nonfiction text features. The star of the day was none other than the legendary Roald Dahl.

In an engaging activity, we embarked on the challenge of reconstructing a cut-up biography of Roald Dahl. With keen eyes, our students identified and organised key components such as headings, subheadings, introduction, conclusion, glossary, and chronological order.

The activity wasn’t just about piecing together paragraphs; it was an opportunity for our students to showcase their comprehension skills. They explained their reasoning behind the order they chose, demonstrating a deeper understanding of how the structure contributes to the overall flow and coherence of a biography.

By grasping the importance of headings and subheadings, our students learned how these guide readers through the different sections of a biography. The introduction and conclusion were highlighted as crucial elements, framing the narrative and providing a comprehensive overview.

Chronological order was explored, helping students organise the events of Roald Dahl’s life in a clear and sequential manner. This exercise not only enhanced their reading comprehension but also honed their ability to organise information logically.

To reinforce their learning, we encouraged the use of a glossary, emphasising the importance of understanding and defining key terms within a biography.