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https://www.storyboardthat.com/lesson-plans/buddhism/biography-poster
Lesson Plan Overview
Template and Class Instructions
Student Rubric
Lesson Plan Overview
Lesson Plan Overview
Researching real people helps students to gain a more concrete understanding of the culture, lives, and diverse perspectives of people who are followers of Buddhism. It helps students go beyond simply memorizing facts about a religion to acquire a more substantial view of the religion and its followers. In this activity, students will create a biography poster for one person relating to Buddhism. Teachers can assign students a specific person or they may give students a choice.
These posters can be printed out, laminated, and hung around the room as a visual reminder of notable people from the time of Buddhism. Students can also present their posters to their classmates, sharing their knowledge about their person, thus combining research, writing and public speaking skills into one powerful assignment.
Find more biography poster templates to add to this assignment if desired!
Example Figures in Buddhism
- King Ashoka (Asoka) the Great
- Buddha
- The Dalai Lama
- Caroline Augusta Foley Rhys Davids
- Thich Nhat Hanh
Template and Class Instructions
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Research a person past or present related to Buddhism. Create a poster that includes important details and engaging imagery.
Student Instructions:
- Using school resources, conduct research on a person of significance past or present that is related to Buddhism. Take notes using a graphic organizer.
- On the poster, include your person’s name and dates of birth, death (if applicable) and major accomplishments in sequence.
- Add appropriate scenes, characters and items to illustrate each cell.
Requirements: Person’s image, name, dates of birth/death, major accomplishments and images to enhance the poster.
Lesson Plan Reference
Student Rubric
Student Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
Biography Poster Rubric
Create a biography poster that highlights the important facts about a famous or historic person, character or god.
| Proficient | Emerging | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The description includes at least five important facts about the famous or historic figure. | The description includes less than five important facts or it includes information that is not pertinent to the famous or historic figure. | The description is incomplete and does not contain important information about the famous or historic figure. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items that are appropriate to the famous or historic figure. They enhance the poster by symbolizing or illustrating important facts about the figure. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items are mostly accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items is too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
Lesson Plan Overview
Researching real people helps students to gain a more concrete understanding of the culture, lives, and diverse perspectives of people who are followers of Buddhism. It helps students go beyond simply memorizing facts about a religion to acquire a more substantial view of the religion and its followers. In this activity, students will create a biography poster for one person relating to Buddhism. Teachers can assign students a specific person or they may give students a choice.
These posters can be printed out, laminated, and hung around the room as a visual reminder of notable people from the time of Buddhism. Students can also present their posters to their classmates, sharing their knowledge about their person, thus combining research, writing and public speaking skills into one powerful assignment.
Find more biography poster templates to add to this assignment if desired!
Example Figures in Buddhism
- King Ashoka (Asoka) the Great
- Buddha
- The Dalai Lama
- Caroline Augusta Foley Rhys Davids
- Thich Nhat Hanh
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Research a person past or present related to Buddhism. Create a poster that includes important details and engaging imagery.
Student Instructions:
- Using school resources, conduct research on a person of significance past or present that is related to Buddhism. Take notes using a graphic organizer.
- On the poster, include your person’s name and dates of birth, death (if applicable) and major accomplishments in sequence.
- Add appropriate scenes, characters and items to illustrate each cell.
Requirements: Person’s image, name, dates of birth/death, major accomplishments and images to enhance the poster.
Lesson Plan Reference
Student Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
Biography Poster Rubric
Create a biography poster that highlights the important facts about a famous or historic person, character or god.
| Proficient | Emerging | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The description includes at least five important facts about the famous or historic figure. | The description includes less than five important facts or it includes information that is not pertinent to the famous or historic figure. | The description is incomplete and does not contain important information about the famous or historic figure. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items that are appropriate to the famous or historic figure. They enhance the poster by symbolizing or illustrating important facts about the figure. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items are mostly accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items is too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
How Tos about Key Figures in Buddhism
1
Plan a class discussion to deepen understanding of Buddhist figures
Encourage student engagement by organizing a classroom discussion about the diverse figures students research. This helps students connect personally with the material and learn from each other's insights.
2
Prepare open-ended questions to guide student thinking
Develop thought-provoking questions such as “How did this person impact Buddhism?” to foster critical thinking and encourage students to go beyond surface-level facts.
3
Model respectful listening and response techniques
Demonstrate how to actively listen and respond courteously to classmates’ presentations. This builds a supportive classroom environment and improves communication skills.
4
Facilitate connections between historical and modern Buddhist figures
Guide students to compare and contrast ancient and contemporary Buddhist leaders, helping them see continuity and change in beliefs and practices.
5
Encourage students to reflect on personal takeaways
Invite students to share what surprised or inspired them about the figures studied. This step fosters personal relevance and deeper understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions about Key Figures in Buddhism
What are some key figures in Buddhism that students can research for a biography poster?
Key figures in Buddhism for student research include King Ashoka, the Buddha, the Dalai Lama, Caroline Augusta Foley Rhys Davids, and Thich Nhat Hanh. These individuals have made significant contributions to Buddhist history and culture.
How can I guide middle school students to create an engaging biography poster about a Buddhist leader?
Encourage students to research a Buddhist leader using school resources, organize facts with a graphic organizer, and include the person's name, birth/death dates, major accomplishments, and meaningful images on the poster. Visuals and sequencing make the poster engaging and informative.
What should be included on a biography poster about a person related to Buddhism?
A Buddhism biography poster should include the person's image, name, dates of birth and (if applicable) death, major accomplishments, and images or scenes that illustrate important moments in their life.
Why is it important for students to research real people in Buddhism instead of just learning facts about the religion?
Researching real people in Buddhism helps students gain a deeper, more concrete understanding of Buddhist culture, perspectives, and history, moving beyond memorization to meaningful learning.
Where can teachers find templates for biography poster assignments about Buddhism?
Teachers can find biography poster templates on educational resource websites or by searching for printable templates online, making it easier to structure engaging assignments about figures in Buddhism.
More Storyboard That Activities
Buddhism
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© 2026 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
