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
Joe Bee Xiong
War to Peace
1961–2007
From growing up in Laos, to serving as a child soldier during the Vietnam War, to making a new home in Eau Claire as a refugee in the 1980s, Joe Bee Xiong’s journey connects many places and people. He served on the Eau Claire City Council as the first Hmong American elected to public office, and his active participation in building cultural bridges in his community made him a role model.
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.”