People Who Shaped America: Pennsylvania--Nellie Bly

People Who Shaped America: Pennsylvania--Nellie Bly
Biography Trading Card

Introduce your students to the remarkable life of Nellie Bly, one of America's first investigative journalists and one of Pennsylvania's most courageous historical figures. In this engaging, no-prep lesson, students research Bly's groundbreaking career before creating a Biography Trading Card that highlights her achievements, personality, and lasting impact on journalism and society.
Perfect for upper elementary and middle school classrooms, this lesson combines historical research with creative design, critical thinking, and visual communication.

What's Included
- Teacher directions (1–2 class periods)
- Student Research & Planning worksheet
- Biography Trading Card design worksheet
- Collector's Notes & Reflection worksheet
- Online research resource page
- Black-and-white versions of all student worksheets for economical printing

Students Will Learn About
- Nellie Bly's early life in Pennsylvania
- How she became a pioneering journalist
- Her undercover investigation of a mental asylum
- Around the World in 72 Days
- Her role in opening opportunities for women in journalism
- The importance of investigative reporting
- Nellie Bly's lasting legacy in American history

Perfect For
- U.S. History
- Pennsylvania History
- Journalism & Media Studies
- Women's History
- Language Arts Integration
- Project-Based Learning (PBL)
- Independent Research
- Small Group Activities
- Early Finishers
- Substitute Plans

Why Teachers Love It
- Ready to print and teach
- Encourages historical inquiry and evidence-based research
- Combines biography with an engaging collectible trading card project
- Develops research, summarizing, design, and communication skills
- Suitable for Grades 4–8
- Includes both color and black-and-white student pages

This resource is part of the People Who Shaped America – Pennsylvania series, helping students discover the individuals whose courage, innovation, and determination shaped Pennsylvania and influenced the history of the United States through engaging research and hands-on learning activities.