Elder Tea
Tuesday, May 10
The Interview/Biography
1. Choose an elder (an adult, over the age of 50, who has had an influence on
you).
2. Plan to interview your elder. Set up a time. Plan questions in advance. Take
notes. Record your interview, if possible (audio tape, video tape, and e-
mail are great ways to get a word-for-word account of the interview).
3. Take the information you gather and write a biography on your elder. The
biography should be at least 8 paragraphs, including an introduction and
conclusion.
4. Put your biography into a book. Plan and design a terrific cover, complete
with pictures.
First draft of biography: Due April 3 typed
Second draft of biography: Due April 10 typed
Final copy: Due April 24 typed
Have your parents read Elder Tea packet and sign below:
Parent Signature________________________________________
Dedication
DUE: April 28
Your dedication page is simply a statement where you dedicate your book to your
elder. Example:
I dedicate this book to Grandpa Tom, the best grandpa a guy could ever have!
Tribute
DUE: April 28th
In addition to your biography, your book will include a tribute to your elder. This can one
of the following:
Writing piece (one page):
Write about a special time(s) that you and your elder shared together
Poetry:
Write a bio-poem about your elder
Make an acrostic about your elder
Art:
Create a collage that represents your elder
Create portrait of your elder
THE INTERVIEW
You may use any or all of the following questions as well as any you create! Have fun!
Examples:
Where have you lived?
How many are in your family?
What was school like for you?
What was your favorite subject?
Did you have a favorite teacher(s)?
Who has influenced you through the years?
How have people influenced you?
What did you do for fun as a child?
What inventions have you seen evolve over the years?
Describe some sad, happy and exciting times during your life.
Also:
What was your first car?
What was the hardest thing to go through in your life?
Who was your favorite president?
Were you close to your parents?
Do you remember how it was when my mom/dad was born?
Do you remember how it was when I was born?
Were your parents strict? How?
What are you most proud of?
Did you come from a poor or rich family?
Did you have to work hard to obtain the money you needed?
What was the world like when you were born? Growing up?
Do you regret anything significant in your life?
Describe a tragic point in your life.
Any embarrassing moments?
Are you happy with the choices you’ve made in life?
If you could change on thing in your life, what would it be? Why?
Were you afraid of anything?
Did you ever play an instrument?
Did you ever have any accidents or broken bones?
Elder Tea Checklist
March 17: Ask an elder, set up an interview date and time
between 3/20 and 3/31 and tell him/her about the “Tea” on
May 10
March 24: Must submit a list of interview questions by this
date
March 31: Complete your interview by this date and bring it
to class
April 3: Typed, first draft due
April 3-7: Revise & edit with Mrs. Levy & parent volunteers
April 10: Second draft due (please hand in early if you are
going on vacation early)
April 10-14 Revise & edit with Mrs. Levy & parent volunteers
April 24-27: Work on Tribute
April 28: Tribute due
May 1-3: Work on Speech (we will practice in class)
May 4: Speech due in class
May 5: FINAL elder book due bound with cover and back
page: This is how the book will be presented.
May 10: ELDER TEA
How to Put the Elder Tea Booklet Together
DEDICATION Tribute
I I chose to
COVER dedicate honor my papa
A BEAUTIFUL LIFE… this book for Elder Tea
JOHN SMITH to the best because he
(picture if possible) grandpa in the has had a big
world: influence on
Papa Smith my life by….
Page 1 Page 2
Biography Patient
It was a sunny day Always there
in June when John Playful
Smith entered this Awesome
world. The birds
were singing, flowers Page 6
Pages 3-5 (poem)
Precious Moment Picture collage
I will never forget
the time Papa Smith
took me fishing at
Lake Warner in
Vermont.
Page 7 Page 8
optional ( optional)
NOTES
PARENTS: This year, the tribute page will be a poem, which we will do in
class. Please ignore the above requirements.
HOWEVER: your child can do as MUCH as they would like to.
The requirements are :
1.interview
2.dedication page
3. tribute poem