About Wisconsin Biographies
Wisconsin Biographies
Wisconsin is shaped by people who have made history: the freedom seekers, community builders, innovators of industry, land protectors, and more. The Wisconsin Biographies collection brings their stories to life for learners today with short animated videos, digital books, historical images, and extension activity ideas that support academic standards. Visit the Educator Resources page for a quick-start chart for the collection, and guides for each story.
Learning Goals
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Discover
Discover life stories from Wisconsinites of the past and recognize their contributions to history.
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Interpret
Interpret informational and multimodal texts in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
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Relate
Identify connections between past and present, and relate to the lives of people who made Wisconsin history.
Story Spotlight
Les Paul
The Search for the New Sound
1915–2009
He heard the sound in his mind—a unique sound that no one had ever heard before—and he wanted to share it with the world. Les Paul’s natural curiosity and relentless enthusiasm for music, guitar, and electronics propelled this “Wizard of Waukesha” into music history. His groundbreaking music techniques are still used in the music recording industry today.
Explore the Collection
Partners
Funding provided by
Quotation
“We must include a variety of perspectives to make history fascinating enough for our students to make a connection. This collection helps instill curiosity about the past, shows that the improbable can actually become possible; and may even inspire the life of the learner.”