Unit Plan 25 (Grade 2 ELA): Reading Biographies & Timelines
Second graders explore biographies to learn about chronology, key life events, and how photos and captions deepen understanding. They build timelines, connect cause and effect, and explain how visuals help readers understand historical figures.

Focus: Chronology; key events; photos/captions
Grade Level: 2
Subject Area: English Language Arts (Reading Informational)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
This week readers become history detectives. We will learn what a biography is, track a person’s life in chronological order, identify the main topic and key events, and use photos/captions to deepen understanding. By the end, students can build a simple timeline and explain how an image helps them learn.
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Identify the main topic of a short biography and retell key details (RI.2.2).
- Describe the connection between historical events/steps (chronology, cause/effect, first→next→then) in a person’s life (RI.2.3).
- Explain how photos/illustrations and captions contribute to understanding the text (RI.2.7).
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 2
- RI.2.2, RI.2.3, RI.2.7
Success Criteria — student language
- I can say the main topic and 3 key events from a biography.
- I can put events in order and tell how one event led to another.
- I can explain what a photo adds and write a caption that teaches.