FAMOUS PERSON INTERVIEWS

This activity will help students explore the different pathways that famous people took in order to find
success. This lesson also explores interview skills. Complete each section by following the instructions
below.

*NOTE: See “Interview Skill and Mock Interview” for related lesson plan!

Teacher Led X Requires Computer X Requires myBlueprint.ca

LEARNING GOALS:
1. Students will examine historical figures and their career paths to explore different occupations and
paths.
2. Student will conduct interviews and practice communication skills.

MATERIALS:
 Computers, tablets or mobile devices
 Writing tools
 Handout [A] - Famous Person Interview
 Handout [B] - Interview Questions
 Famous Person Interview Rubric
 Lined paper

GETTING STARTED:
1. Have students retrieve their device of choice, charged and ready to go.
2. Students will use their devices to research famous person of interest.
3. Review responsible search and internet use expectations as set out by your school.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Provide students with Handout [A] and have them choose a famous person to research activity and
answer questions in part [B]
2. Provide students with the interview questions in Handout [B] and have them answer the questions as
if they were the famous person they researched
3. In pairs, have students create a Talk Show interview of each other as their famous person

**See below for the Famous Person Interview rubric

TEACHER GUIDE PAGE 1 OF 1

 FAMOUS PERSON INTERVIEWS

Famous Person Interview Rubric

Name: ______________________________

Exemplary - 5 Satisfactory -3 Unsatisfactory – 1

Content Answers more than three Answers three interview Answers fewer than
of interview questions. questions. Provides an three interview
/5 Provides more than adequate amount of detail questions. Does not
enough detail in in responses. provide enough detail in
responses. responses.
Understanding Demonstrates a strong Demonstrates an adequate Demonstrates a limited
understanding of topics understanding of topics understanding of topics
/5 discussed in class discussed in class by discussed in class by
by applying this applying this knowledge in applying this knowledge
knowledge interview answers. in interview answers.
in interview answers.
Communication Communicates answers Communicates answers Communicates answers
in a clear and effective with few hesitations. Speaks with many hesitations
/5 manner. Speaks with with limited confidence and and answers are unclear.
confidence and does not reads from notes. Speaks with a lack of
read from notes. confidence and
continually reads from
notes.

Teacher Comments:

/15

STUDENT RUBRIC PAGE 1 OF 1

 FAMOUS PERSON INTERVIEWS

HANDOUT [A] - FAMOUS PERSON BIOGRAPHY

1. Select a famous person that is very successful in an occupation or career you are also interested in or
strive for (possible examples are provided in [A]) and do some research on this person.
2. Answer the questions in [B] based on your research on a separate sheet of paper.

[A] Successful Famous People:

Jane Goodall Nikola Tesla

Leonard Cohen Neil Armstrong
Margaret Atwood Abigail Adams
Glen Gould Malcolm X
Wayne Gretzky Martin Luther King
Lester Pearson Jules Verne
Pierre Trudeau Wright Brothers
Norman Bethune Katherine Dunham
Helen Keller Louisa May Alcott
Bill Gates Dr. Seuss
Louis Pasteur Thomas Alva Edison
Henry Ford Susan B. Anthony
Amelia Earhart Eleanor Roosevelt
Teddy Roosevelt Martha Graham
Ella Fitzgerald Marie Curie
Walt Disney Rosa Parks

[B] Research Questions:

1. What was his/her childhood like? Where did he/she grow up? Stories about his/her family?
2. Were there any events in his/her childhood that they needed to overcome? What did he/she learn
about themselves through this event?
3. What education did he/she have?
4. What steps did he/she take towards his/her occupation?
5. Why is he/she so successful in this occupation?
6. What personal characteristics/traits does he/she have that connect to this occupation?
7. What part of his/her process was luck and what part was earned?
8. What is his/her life philosophy based on the life choices he/she has made?

STUDENT RUBRIC PAGE 1 OF 1

 FAMOUS PERSON INTERVIEW

HANDOUT [B] - INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Put yourself in the shoes of your famous person and answer the questions below as if you were them
applying for the position they are most famous for.
(Use your findings from your research to help you out)

1. Why do you feel you would be perfect for this job?

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2. What are your best qualities and how do those qualities help you in this job?
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3. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a conflict and how did you resolve it?
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4. What is the most important thing you learned at school?

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STUDENT ACTIVITY PAGE 1 OF 2 – HANDOUT [B]

 FAMOUS PERSON INTERVIEW
5. What was the most difficult period in your life and how did you deal with it?
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6. What are the qualities that make a good leader? A bad leader?
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7. If you could choose one super power, what would it be and why?
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STUDENT ACTIVITY PAGE 2 OF 2 – HANDOUT [B]