Jill Eisenberg, our Resident Literacy Expert, began her career teaching English as a Foreign Language to second through sixth graders in Yilan, Taiwan as a Fulbright Fellow. She went on to become a literacy teacher for third grade in San Jose, CA as a Teach for America corps member. She is certified in Project Glad instruction to promote English language acquisition and academic achievement. In her column she offers teaching and literacy tips for educators.
Marcenia Toni Stone Lyle
Each week this summer, we are pairing Lee & Low titles to your favorite summer destinations with fun activities!
Your summer outing: the Ballpark, Baseball Hall of Fame, or Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Book recommendations:
- Beisbol! Latino Baseball Pioneers and Legends
- Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl’s Baseball Dream
- Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer
- Silent Star: The Story of Deaf Major Leaguer William Hoy
William Hoy
Questions during reading:
- What position does this ball player hold and what responsibilities are involved in that position?
- Why does this person have a difficult time being allowed to play baseball?
- How does this person demonstrate persistence?
- What do you think this ball player accomplished for ball players of today?
- How has baseball and who can play changed (or not changed) over time?
- How does baseball encourage tolerance or acceptance?
- Do you agree or disagree with the statement: Baseball is America’s favorite pastime? Why?
Activities:
Louis Sockalexis
Create a baseball trading card!
Materials: a school individual-sized milk carton, white paper, glue stick, markers or crayons
- Using the book or the baseball museum websites, research the player’s full name, position, team(s), league(s), dates of career, any honors, batting average, and a fascinating fact.
- Cut the individual-sized milk carton with scissors so that you have one rectangle side panel. The rest of the carton can be discarded.
- Cover both sides of the side panel with white paper and secure with a glue stick.
- On one side, draw the player’s portrait or picture of the player in action. The picture is typically portrait orientation, but it can be landscape orientation.
- At the bottom of the picture, write the player’s name.
- On the other side of the trading card, write the player’s position, team(s), league(s), dates of career, any honors, batting average, and a fascinating fact (if there’s room!).
Write and think like a ball player!
Imagine you are the ball player you just read. As this person,
- Write a diary entry about one or more of the events in the story: when you first found out you were selected to play on the team; how you felt the first time a fan, coach, or other player treated you poorly; or when you finally felt accepted by fans and other players for your abilities.
- Write a letter or email to your parents about why you want to play baseball and what support you are or are not getting from fans and the other players.
- Write a blog post or letter to the editor to your fans describing your abilities, what makes baseball rewarding for you, and how your role as a minority in baseball is important.
Marcenia Toni Stone Lyle
For further reading on books and activity suggestions to match your summer adventures:
