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
Gaylord Nelson
A Vision for the Earth
1916–2005
Gaylord Nelson’s idea for a day focused on the environment would become the internationally recognized annual event, Earth Day, and would inspire generations of people to learn about and care for the earth. Born and raised in Clear Lake, Wisconsin, Gaylord went on to become a state senator, governor of Wisconsin, and a United States senator, always keep an eye to the environment. He advocated for change in the halls of government, in classrooms, and in communities, to ensure a better world for us all.
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.”