Baseball Saved Us - RIF.org | · the title, Baseball Saved Us, means. Then ask them what they think...

9
TEACHER’S GUIDE LEE & LOW BOOKS Teacher’s Guide copyright © 2016 LEE & LOW BOOKS. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share and adapt for personal and educational use. For questions, comments, and/or more information, please contact us at [email protected]. Visit us online at leeandlow.com. [Issue] :: [Title] SYNOPSIS One day, my dad looked out at the endless desert and decided then and there to build a baseball field. So begins Ken Mochizuki’s moving tale of life in a Japanese American internment camp during World War II. “Shorty” and his family, along with thousands of Japanese Americans, are forced to relocate from their home to an internment camp after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Fighting the heat, dust, and freezing cold nights of the desert, Shorty and the others at the camp need something to look forward to, even if only for nine innings. So they decide to build a baseball diamond, and in this unlikely place, a league is formed to boost the spirits of the internees. Surrounded by barbed-wire fences and guards in towers, Shorty soon quickly learns that he is playing not only to win, but to gain dignity and self-respect as well. Inspired by actual events, Ken Mochizuki’s story of hope and courage shows us an almost-forgotten part of the American past. Baseball Saved Us is the ultimate rite of passage story. It will appeal again and again to readers who enjoy cheering for the underdog. Baseball Saved Us written by Ken Mochizuki illustrated by Dom Lee About the Book Genre: Historical Fiction *Reading Level: Grade 3 Interest Level: Grades 1–6 Guided Reading: O Accelerated Reader ® Level/ Points: 3.9/0.5 Lexile ™: AD550L * Reading level based on the Spache Readability Formula Themes: United States History, Sports and Sports History (Baseball), Prejudice, Identity and Pride, Self Esteem and Confidence, Families (Fathers), Childhood Experiences and Memories, World War II and Japanese Internment Camps, Leadership, Courage, Persistence and Overcoming Obstacles, Tolerance and Acceptance, Immigration and Citizenship, Japanese Americans, Asian/Asian American Interest

Transcript of Baseball Saved Us - RIF.org | · the title, Baseball Saved Us, means. Then ask them what they think...

Page 1: Baseball Saved Us - RIF.org | · the title, Baseball Saved Us, means. Then ask them what they think this book will most likely be about and who the book might be about. What events

TEACHER’SGUIDELEE&LOWBOOKS

Teacher’sGuidecopyright©2016LEE&LOWBOOKS.Allrightsreserved.Permissionisgrantedtoshareandadaptforpersonalandeducationaluse.Forquestions,comments,and/ormoreinformation,pleasecontactusatgeneral@leeandlow.com.Visitusonlineatleeandlow.com.

[Issue]::[Title]SYNOPSISOneday,mydadlookedoutattheendlessdesertanddecidedthenandtheretobuildabaseballfield.

SobeginsKenMochizuki’smovingtaleoflifeinaJapaneseAmericaninternmentcampduringWorldWarII.

“Shorty”andhisfamily,alongwiththousandsofJapaneseAmericans,areforcedtorelocatefromtheirhometoaninternmentcampaftertheattackonPearlHarbor.Fightingtheheat,dust,andfreezingcoldnightsofthedesert,Shortyandtheothersatthecampneedsomethingtolookforwardto,evenifonlyfornineinnings.Sotheydecidetobuildabaseballdiamond,andinthisunlikelyplace,aleagueisformedtoboostthespiritsoftheinternees.

Surroundedbybarbed-wirefencesandguardsintowers,Shortysoonquicklylearnsthatheisplayingnotonlytowin,buttogaindignityandself-respectaswell.

Inspiredbyactualevents,KenMochizuki’sstoryofhopeandcourageshowsusanalmost-forgottenpartoftheAmericanpast.BaseballSavedUsistheultimateriteofpassagestory.Itwillappealagainandagaintoreaderswhoenjoycheeringfortheunderdog.

BaseballSavedUswrittenbyKenMochizukiillustratedbyDomLee

AbouttheBookGenre:HistoricalFiction

*ReadingLevel:Grade3

InterestLevel:Grades1–6

GuidedReading:O

AcceleratedReader®Level/Points:3.9/0.5

Lexile™:AD550L*ReadinglevelbasedontheSpacheReadabilityFormula

Themes:UnitedStatesHistory,

SportsandSportsHistory

(Baseball),Prejudice,Identityand

Pride,SelfEsteemandConfidence,

Families(Fathers),Childhood

ExperiencesandMemories,World

WarIIandJapaneseInternment

Camps,Leadership,Courage,

PersistenceandOvercoming

Obstacles,Toleranceand

Acceptance,Immigrationand

Citizenship,JapaneseAmericans,

Asian/AsianAmericanInterest

Page 2: Baseball Saved Us - RIF.org | · the title, Baseball Saved Us, means. Then ask them what they think this book will most likely be about and who the book might be about. What events

2

BaseballSavedUs

LEE&LOWBOOKS

Teacher’sGuidecopyright©2016LEE&LOWBOOKS.Allrightsreserved.Permissionisgrantedtoshareandadaptforpersonalandeducationaluse.Forquestions,comments,and/ormoreinformation,pleasecontactusatgeneral@leeandlow.com.Visitusonlineatleeandlow.com.

byline[Name]

1

BACKGROUNDFromtheAuthor’sNote:In1942,whiletheUnitedStateswasatwarwithJapan,theUnitedStatesArmymovedallpeopleofJapanesedescentawayfromtheWestCoast.TheyweresenttointernmentcampsinthemiddleofAmericandesertsupuntil1945.Thereason,theU.S.governmentsaid,wasbecauseitcouldnottellwhomightbeloyaltoJapan.NoneoftheseimmigrantsfromJapan—ortheirchildren,whowereAmericancitizens—wereeverproventobedangeroustoAmericaduringWorldWarII.In1988,theU.S.governmentadmittedthatwhatitdidwaswrong.

InternmentCamps:AftertheJapaneseattackonPearlHarborin1941duringWorldWarII,PresidentFranklinD.RooseveltissuedExecutiveOrder9066whichenabledtheevacuationandincarcerationofallthoseofJapaneseancestryintheUnitedStates.120,000people,mostofwhomwereAmericancitizens,weresenttotencampsforfouryears(1942–1946.ThecampswereinisolatedareasthroughouttheWest.AmapofthecampsisavailablefromtheJapaneseAmericanNationalMuseum(http://www.janm.org/projects/clasc/map.htm).AccordingtoPBS’s“TheChildrenoftheCampsProject,”halfofthe120,000senttothecampswerechildren(http://www.pbs.org/childofcamp/history/).JapaneseAmericanslosttheirpropertyandsavingswhileinthecamps.

Foradditionalteacherresources,pleasecheckout:

• “TeachingwithPrimaryResources:JapaneseAmericanInternmentTeacher’sGuide”fromTheLibraryofCongress,includesphotographs(http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/internment/)

• “LifeinaWWIIJapaneseAmericanInternmentCamp”fromOurStory,awebsitecreatedbytheSmithsonian’sNationalMuseumofAmericanHistorytoencourageadultsandchildreningradesK–4toreadhistoricalfictionandbiographytogether(http://amhistory.si.edu/ourstory/activities/internment/index.html)

2

• “JapaneseAmericanIncarceration:TheCoreStory”fromDensho:TheJapaneseAmericanLegacyProject(http://www.densho.org/core-story/)

• “JapaneseRelocationandInternmentDuringWorldWarII”fromtheU.S.NationalArchivesandRecordsAdministration(http://www.archives.gov/research/alic/reference/military/japanese-internment.html)

AdditionaltitlestoteachaboutWorldWarII:

TheSchooltheAztecEaglesBuilt:ATributetoMexico’sWorldWarIIAirFightersbyDorindaMakanaonalaniNicholsonhttps://www.leeandlow.com/books/2936

APlaceWhereSunflowersGrowbyAmyLee-Tai,illustratedbyFeliciaHoshinohttps://www.leeandlow.com/books/2770

FlowersFromMarikowrittenbyRickNoguchiandDeneenJenks,illustratedbyMichelleReikoKumatahttps://www.leeandlow.com/books/2392

HeroeswrittenbyKenMochizuki,illustratedbyDomeLeehttps://www.leeandlow.com/books/2403

Irena’sJarsofSecretswrittenbyMarciaVaughan,illustratedbyRonMazellanhttps://www.leeandlow.com/books/2759

WaterRolls,WaterRises/Elaguarueda,elaguasubewrittenbyPatMora,illustratedbyMeiloSowww.leeandlow.com/books/2865

PassagetoFreedom:TheSugiharaStorywrittenbyKenMochizuki,illustratedbyDomLeehttps://www.leeandlow.com/books/2431

QuietHero:TheIraHayesStorybyS.D.Nelsonhttps://www.leeandlow.com/books/2435

TheWakameGathereswrittenbyHollyThompson,illustratedbyKazumiWildshttps://www.leeandlow.com/books/2901

Page 3: Baseball Saved Us - RIF.org | · the title, Baseball Saved Us, means. Then ask them what they think this book will most likely be about and who the book might be about. What events

BaseballSavedUs

3

LEE&LOWBOOKS

Teacher’sGuidecopyright©2016LEE&LOWBOOKS.Allrightsreserved.Permissionisgrantedtoshareandadaptforpersonalandeducationaluse.Forquestions,comments,and/ormoreinformation,pleasecontactusatgeneral@leeandlow.com.Visitusonlineatleeandlow.com.

1

BEFOREREADINGPrereadingFocusQuestions(ReadingStandards,Craft&Structure,Strand5andIntegrationofKnowledge&Ideas,Strand7)

Beforeintroducingthisbooktostudents,youmaywishtodevelopbackgroundandpromoteanticipationbyposingquestionssuchasthefollowing:

1. Takealookatthefrontandbackcovers.Takeapicturewalk.Askstudentstomakeaprediction.Doyouthinkthisbookwillbefictionornonfiction?Whatmakesyouthinkso?Whatcluesdoestheauthorandillustratorgivetohelpyouknowwhetherthisbookwillbefictionornonfiction?

2. ReadtheAuthor’sNoteatthebeginningofthebook.Askstudents:WhatdoyouknowaboutWorldWarII,PearlHarbor,andtheUnitedStatesinternmentcamps?Howmightyouandyourfamilyfeelifyourfreedomandhomeweretakenaway?

3. Describewhatyouknowaboutbaseball.Howmightbaseballsavepeople?

4. Haveyoueverhadanickname?Howcananicknamemakeyoufeellikeyoubelongorfeellikeyoudon’tbelong?

5. Describeatimeyoufeltleftoutordidnotbelong.Howdidyoumakeyourselffeelbetter?Whodidyouaskforhelp?Whatcanyoudoifyouseesomeonealone,feelingleftout,orbeingteased?

ExploringtheBook(ReadingStandards,KeyIdeas&Details,Strand1,Craft&Structure,Strand5,andIntegrationofKnowledge&Ideas,Strand7)

Readandtalkaboutthetitleofthebook.Askstudentswhattheythinkthetitle,BaseballSavedUs,means.Thenaskthemwhattheythinkthisbookwillmostlikelybeaboutandwhothebookmightbeabout.Whateventsandexperiencesmightbetalkedaboutinthetext?Whatdoyouthinkmighthappen?Whatinformationdoyouthinkyoumightlearn?Whatmakesyouthinkthat?

Takestudentsonabookwalkanddrawattentiontothefollowingpartsofthebook:frontandbackcovers,endpapers,dedications,titlepage,author’snote,illustrations,andauthorandillustrator’sbios.

Asyoushoweachoftheillustrations,askstudentstothinkaboutwhytheillustrator,DomLee,choosestocreateanoveralluniformtoneandwhateffecthisstylehasonthemoodandsettingofthehistoricalfictionstory.

VOCABULARY(LanguageStandards,VocabularyAcquisition&Use,Strands4–6)

Thestorycontainsseveralcontent-specificandacademicwordsandphrasesthatmaybeunfamiliartostudents.Basedonstudents’priorknowledge,reviewsomeorallofthevocabularybelow.

Encourageavarietyofstrategiestosupportstudents’vocabularyacquisition:lookupandrecordworddefinitionsfromadictionary,writethemeaningofthewordorphraseintheirownwords,drawapictureofthemeaningoftheword,createaspecificactionforeachword,listsynonymsandantonyms,andwriteameaningfulsentencethatdemonstratesthedefinitionoftheword.

ContentSpecificinfieldbases,PearlHarbor,barracks,

crate,sagebrush,irrigationditches,

bleachers,catcher,groundedout,

single(typeofbasehit),hitter,

championship,pitches,strikeout,

guardhouse,homeplate,horsing

around,mattresses,inning,horse

stalls,clothsacks,onthemound

Academicendless,government,mumbled,

funneled,uniforms,glinting,staring,

suddenly,probably,expected,

dashed,teammates,grin,blinding,

pretend,roared,tower

NOTE:Thebookdepictsamomentwherethemaincharacteriscalledtheracialslur“Jap.”Studentsmayneedadditionalhistoricalcontextandawarenessconcerningtheuseoftheoffensiveterm.

Page 4: Baseball Saved Us - RIF.org | · the title, Baseball Saved Us, means. Then ask them what they think this book will most likely be about and who the book might be about. What events

4

BaseballSavedUs

LEE&LOWBOOKS

Teacher’sGuidecopyright©2016LEE&LOWBOOKS.Allrightsreserved.Permissionisgrantedtoshareandadaptforpersonalandeducationaluse.Forquestions,comments,and/ormoreinformation,pleasecontactusatgeneral@leeandlow.com.Visitusonlineatleeandlow.com.

1

AFTERREADINGDiscussionQuestionsAfterstudentshavereadthebook,usetheseorsimilarquestionstogeneratediscussion,enhancecomprehension,anddevelopappreciationforthecontent.Encouragestudentstorefertopassagesand/orillustrationsinthebooktosupporttheirresponses.Tobuildskillsinclosereadingofatext,studentsshouldciteevidencewiththeiranswers.

LiteralComprehension(ReadingStandards,KeyIdeas&Details,Strands1–3)

1. WhyareShorty,hisfamily,andotherJapaneseAmericansatthecamp?Howdidtheygetthere?

2. Whatisthepurposeofthecamp?

3. DescribethehardshipsShorty,hisfamily,andtheotherJapaneseAmericansatthecampface.

4. HowdoesShortyfeelaboutlivingintheinternmentcamp?Howdoeshisfatherfeel?HowdoeshisbrotherTeddyfeel?

5. Whoisthenarratorofthestory?

6. Whatisnotableaboutthefenceonthecoverofthebook?Whatisthepurposeofthefence?

2

Extension/HigherLevelThinking(ReadingStandards,KeyIdeas&Details,Strands2and3,Craft&Structure,Strands4–6,andIntegrationofKnowledgeandIdeas,Strand7)

1. WhydoesShorty’sfatherdecidetobuildabaseballfieldandleague?Whatisheworriedabout?

2. WhydoesTeddynotwanttoobeyhisfather?WhydoesthisconcernShortyandTeddy’sfather?

3. Howdoesbaseballimprovelifeattheinternmentcamp?Howdoesbaseballhelpboththegrownupsandthechildrenatthecamp?

4. Whyishopeimportantforenduringlifeatthecamp?

5. WhatisthecauseofShorty’sbighitattheendofthestory?

6. WhatdoyouthinktheguardisthinkingwhilewatchingShortyandhisteammatesbuildafieldandplaybaseball?

7. HowisShorty’slifeatthecampsimilartoanddifferentfromhislifeoutsidethecamp?

8. GuardsarealwayswatchingShortyandtheothersinthecamp.Howdoyouthinktheyfeelaboutbeingwatchedallthetime?

9. HowdoesShorty’slifechange,ifatall,before,during,andafterinternment?Howdoeshislifegetbetterafterthecamp?Howdoeshislifegetworse?

10. Compareandcontrastthebaseballfieldintheinternmentcamptotheoneoutsidethecamp.Whichfieldwouldyouprefertoplayon?Why?

11. WhenShortyhitsahomeruninthecamp,theguardgrinsandgivesathumbs-up.Whydoestheguarddothis?HowdoyouthinkthishomerunmakestheguardandShortyfeel?

12. IfShortyhadnothitahomerunattheendofthestory,howdoyouthinkhisteammateswouldhavetreatedhim?Why?

13. Readtheauthor’snoteagainafterreadingthestory.Whatistheauthor’spurposeinwritingthisstoryforyoungpeople?Doyouthinkheachieveshisgoal?Whyorwhynot?

2

SettingaPurposeforReading(ReadingStandards,KeyIdeas&Details,Strands1–3)

Havestudentsreadtofindout:

• aboutlifeinaninternmentcamp• whyShortyandotherscreateabaseballfieldand

league• whatimpactthebaseballleaguehasonthe

internees’day-to-dayexperienceatthecampandwellbeing/stateofmind

• towhatthetitle,BaseballSavedUs,refers

Encouragestudentstoconsiderwhytheauthor,KenMochizuki,wantstosharethisstorywithyoungpeople.

Page 5: Baseball Saved Us - RIF.org | · the title, Baseball Saved Us, means. Then ask them what they think this book will most likely be about and who the book might be about. What events

BaseballSavedUs

5

LEE&LOWBOOKS

Teacher’sGuidecopyright©2016LEE&LOWBOOKS.Allrightsreserved.Permissionisgrantedtoshareandadaptforpersonalandeducationaluse.Forquestions,comments,and/ormoreinformation,pleasecontactusatgeneral@leeandlow.com.Visitusonlineatleeandlow.com.

3

14. DoyouthinktheUnitedStatesgovernmentwasjustifiedinforciblyrelocatingJapaneseandJapaneseAmericanstointernmentcampsduringWorldWarII?Whyorwhynot?DoesitmatterthatthemajoritywereAmericancitizens?DoesitmatterthattherewaslittleevidencethattheinterneesposedadangertotheUnitedStates?DoesitmatterthatnoothergroupofpeoplewereforciblyrelocatedtothecampsdespitetheUnitedStateswasatwarwithothercountriesinadditiontoJapan?

15. WhatdoesitmeantobeAmerican?

16. Whydoyouthinktheauthor,KenMochizuki,choosestomakethenarratorachild?Howdoesthisaffecttheimpactofthebook?

17. Whydoyouthinktheauthor,KenMochizuki,onlyusesthemaincharacter’snickname,Shorty?

18. HowisShorty’snicknameusedtoshowheisbothacceptedandrejectedbyhisteammatesandpeers?Whydopeoplehavenicknames?Howcannicknamesmakepeoplefeel?

19. Whydoyouthinktheauthor,KenMochizuki,writesahistoricalfictionstoryinsteadofanonfictionstory?Howdoesthischoicehelpreaderslearnabouttheeventsandtimeperiod?Howdoesthischoiceinfluencehowreadersfeelabouttheeventsandtimeperiod?

20. Couldsomethinglikethishappentoday?Whyorwhynot?

4

21. AreyousurprisedbythewayShortyandtheotherinterneesaretreated?Whyorwhynot?

22. Whatdoesthetitle,BaseballSavedUs,mean?Towhomdoesthe“us”refer?Howdoesbaseballsamethem?Doyouthinkthisisafittingtitle?Whyorwhynot?

23. Baseballisoftenreferredtoas“America’snationalpastime.”Whyisthedecisiontoplaybaseballinsteadofanothersportoractivityapowerfulmessagetoboththoseinsideandoutsidethecamp?

Reader’sResponse(WritingStandards,TextTypes&Purposes,Strands1–3andProduction&DistributionofWriting,Strand4)(LanguageStandards,ConventionsofStandardEnglish,Strands1and2andKnowledgeofLanguage,Strand3)

Usethefollowingquestionsandwritingactivitiestohelpstudentspracticeactivereadingandpersonalizetheirresponsestothebook.Suggestthatstudentsrespondinreader’sresponsejournals,essays,ororaldiscussion.Youmayalsowanttosetasidetimeforstudentstoshareanddiscusstheirwrittenwork.

1. ImagineyouareShortyinthestory.Writealettertoafriendoutsidetheinternmentcamporadiaryentrydescribinghowyoufeelaboutbeinginthecamp.Whatislifelikethere?

2. Describeatimeyoufeltthatyoudidnotbelongorfitin.Whydidyoufeelthatway?Whatdidyoudotomakeyourselffeelbetterorresolvethesituation?Whodidyouaskforhelp?Whatadvicedoyouhaveforsomeoneexperiencingbullyingorexclusion?

“KenMochizuki...capturestheconfusion,wonderandterrorofasmallchild....TheillustrationsbyDomLee...addaproperseriousmoodtothisfinebook.”–TheNewYorkTimes

“Thesecollaborators’prepossessingdebutlookintroducesreaderstoasignificantandoften-neglected—forchildren,atanyrate—chapterinU.S.history.”–PublishersWeekly

“Usingscratchboardoverlaidwithoils,Leeprovidessplendidlyevocativeart....Finedebutsforauthor,illustrator,andpublisher.”–KirkusReviews

Page 6: Baseball Saved Us - RIF.org | · the title, Baseball Saved Us, means. Then ask them what they think this book will most likely be about and who the book might be about. What events

6

BaseballSavedUs

LEE&LOWBOOKS

Teacher’sGuidecopyright©2016LEE&LOWBOOKS.Allrightsreserved.Permissionisgrantedtoshareandadaptforpersonalandeducationaluse.Forquestions,comments,and/ormoreinformation,pleasecontactusatgeneral@leeandlow.com.Visitusonlineatleeandlow.com.

5

3. Describeatimeyouhadtopresentinfrontofothers(inagame,artperformance,speech,etc.).Whatadvicedoyouhaveforsomeonewhofeelsnervous,shy,orscaredaboutdoingwell?

4. WhatdoesitmeantobeAmericaninyouropinion?IfyouwerebeinginterviewedandaskedtodescribewhatitmeanstobeanAmerican,howwouldyourespond?Writeyourresponse.

5. Whatinthestoryremindsyouofamomentinyourownlifeordoyouconnecttothemost?Why?

6. TheJapaneseAmericanswerewronglyaccusedofnotbeingtrustworthy.Describeatimeyouwerewronglyaccusedofdoingsomethingwrong.Whathappened?Howdidyoufeel?Wereyoupunished?Whatdidyoulearn?

ELL/ESLTeachingStrategies(Speaking&ListeningStandards,Comprehension&Collaboration,Strands1–3andPresentationofKnowledge&Ideas,Strands4–6)(LanguageStandards,VocabularyAcquisition&Use,Strands4–6)

ThesestrategiesmightbehelpfultousewithstudentswhoareEnglishLanguageLearners.

1. AssignELLstudentstopartner-readthebookwithstrongEnglishreaders/speakers.Studentscanalternatereadingbetweenpages,repeatpassagesafteroneanother,orlistentothemorefluentreader.StudentswhospeakandreadSpanishmaybenefitfromusingtheSpanishedition,Elbéisbolnossalvo(https://www.leeandlow.com/books/2481).

2. Haveeachstudentwritethreequestionsaboutthetext.Thenletstudentspairupanddiscusstheanswerstothequestions.

3. Dependingonstudents’levelofEnglishproficiency,afterthefirstreading:•Reviewtheillustrationsinorderandhavestudentssummarizewhatishappeningoneachpage,firstorally,theninwriting.•Havestudentsworkinpairstoretelleithertheplotofthebookorkeydetails.Thenaskstudentstowriteashortsummary,synopsis,oropinionaboutwhattheyhaveread.

6

4. Havestudentsgiveashorttalkaboutwhichmomentinthestorytheyconnectwithmostandremindsthemofsomethingintheirlives.

5. Thestorycontainssomecontent-specificwordsthatmaybeunfamiliartostudents.Basedonstudents’priorknowledge,reviewsomeorallofthevocabulary.ExposeEnglishLanguageLearnerstomultiplevocabularystrategies.Havestudentsmakepredictionsaboutwordmeanings,lookupandrecordworddefinitionsfromadictionary,writethemeaningofthewordorphraseintheirownwords,drawapictureofthemeaningoftheword,listsynonymsandantonyms,createanactionforeachword,andwriteameaningfulsentencethatdemonstratesthedefinitionoftheword.

INTERDISCIPLINARYACTIVITIES(IntroductiontotheStandards,page7:Studentswhoarecollegeandcareerreadymustbeabletobuildstrongcontentknowledge,valueevidence,andusetechnologyanddigitalmediastrategicallyandcapably)

Usesomeofthefollowingactivitiestohelpstudentsintegratetheirreadingexperienceswithothercurriculumareas.Thesemayalsobeusedforextensionactivities,foradvancedreaders,andforbuildingahome-schoolconnection.

SocialStudies(ReadingStandards,IntegrationofKnowledge&Ideas,Strands7–9)(WritingStandards,ResearchtoBuild&PresentKnowledge,Strands7–9)(Speaking&ListeningStandards,Comprehension&Collaboration,Strands1and2)

1. HavestudentsworkinteamstoresearcheachofthetenWorldWarIIJapaneseinternmentcampsintheUnitedStates.Groupsshouldbepreparedtoreportthenumberofpeopleheldinthecamp,whereitwaslocated,whenpeoplewerereleased,andifithasspecialhistoricallandmarkstatus.Aseachgrouppresents,markthelocationofeachcamponamapoftheUnitedStatesfortheclass.

2. HavestudentsinvestigateWorldWarIIandPearlHarbor.Makeatimelinewithstudentscontributingtheirfindings.

Page 7: Baseball Saved Us - RIF.org | · the title, Baseball Saved Us, means. Then ask them what they think this book will most likely be about and who the book might be about. What events

BaseballSavedUs

7

LEE&LOWBOOKS

Teacher’sGuidecopyright©2016LEE&LOWBOOKS.Allrightsreserved.Permissionisgrantedtoshareandadaptforpersonalandeducationaluse.Forquestions,comments,and/ormoreinformation,pleasecontactusatgeneral@leeandlow.com.Visitusonlineatleeandlow.com.

AwardsandHonorsParents’ChoiceGoldAward

BestBooksoftheYear,BankStreetCollege

BookstoReadAloudwithChildrenofAllAges,BankStreetCollege

NotJustforChildrenAnymoreSelections,Children’sBookCouncil

“Choices,”CooperativeChildren’sBookCenter

40BooksAboutSports,CooperativeChildren’sBookCenter

50MulticulturalBooksEveryChildShouldKnow,CooperativeChildren’sBookCenter

“ClosetheBookonHate”ReadingList,TheAnti-DefamationLeague

WashingtonStateGovernor’sWritersAward

WashingtonStateChildren’sChoiceAwardFinalist

“Editors’Choice,”SanFranciscoChronicle

7

3. ProvidecopiesofExecutiveOrder9066forstudentstoanalyzetheauthorizationoftheestablishmentoftheinternmentcamps(http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5154).HavestudentsdiscussPresidentRoosevelt’suseoftheterm“alienenemies.”ThenprovidestudentscopiesofthePresidentialLetterofApologyfromPresidentClintonin1993(http://www.pbs.org/childofcamp/history/clinton.html).HavestudentswriteaboutwhatrolethepresidentorexecutivebranchhasinupholdingtherightsofAmericancitizens.

EnglishLanguageArts(ReadingStandards,Craft&Structure,Strands4and5andIntegrationofKnowledge&Ideas,Strands7and9)(WritingStandards,TextTypes&Purposes,Strands1–3,Production&DistributionofWriting,Strand4,andResearchtoBuild&PresentKnowledge,Strands7–9)(LanguageStandards,ConventionsofStandardEnglish,Strands1&2)

1. HavestudentswriteanewspaperarticleaboutShorty’shomerunintheCamp.Theyshouldincludeadescriptionofthebaseballfieldandexplainwhytheteamsareplayingbaseballinthedesert.

2. AskstudentstoimaginetheyareShortyandhavethemwriteadiaryentrytellinghowShortyfeelswhenhehithisfirsthomerun.Studentsshoulddiscusstheirfeelingsabouttheguardwhoworesunglasses.

3. Dividetheclassinhalf.AssignonegrouptowritealetterasShortytotheguardandtheothergrouptowriteastheguardtoShorty.Whatwouldtheysaytotheotheraboutbaseball,theCamp,andthehomerun?Havestudentspairupfromoppositegroupstoreadtheletterstoeachother.Asawholegroup,reflectonwritingasShortyandtheguardandimaginingsomeoneelse’sperspective.

4. HavestudentsreadandcompareHeroes(https://www.leeandlow.com/books/2403)toBaseballSavedUs.WhyareShortyinBaseballSavedUsandDonnieinHeroestreatedliketheyarethe“enemy”?HowwouldyouteachchildrenaroundtheUnitedStateswhatitmeanstobeanAmerican?

5. RetellBaseballSavedUsasapoem.

8

PhysicalEducation(ReadingStandards,IntegrationofKnowledge&Ideas,Strand7)(Speaking&ListeningStandards,Comprehension&Collaboration,Strands1and2andPresentationofKnowledge&Ideas,Strands4&5)

1. Ifpossible,takestudentsoutsidetoplayagameofbaseballorkickball.Havestudentstaketurnstryingthedifferentpositionsonthefield.Afterwards,reflectasagrouponhowbaseballisateamsportandwhatittakestobesuccessfulasateam.AlsohavestudentsconsiderwhybaseballwouldbeagoodchoiceactivityinBaseballSavedUs.

2. Studyhumananatomyinrelationtothrowingapitchinbaseball.Whatmusclesandmusclegroupsareinvolvedinthrowingaball?Whatexercisescananathleteperformtostrengthenthosemuscles?Studentscandemonstrateunderstandingwith2-Dpicturesofthehumanformorreconstructionusingmodelingclay.

Page 8: Baseball Saved Us - RIF.org | · the title, Baseball Saved Us, means. Then ask them what they think this book will most likely be about and who the book might be about. What events

8

BaseballSavedUs

LEE&LOWBOOKS

Teacher’sGuidecopyright©2016LEE&LOWBOOKS.Allrightsreserved.Permissionisgrantedtoshareandadaptforpersonalandeducationaluse.Forquestions,comments,and/ormoreinformation,pleasecontactusatgeneral@leeandlow.com.Visitusonlineatleeandlow.com.

9

Art(Speaking&ListeningStandards,Comprehension&Collaboration,Strands1and2andPresentationofKnowledge&Ideas,Strands4&5)(ReadingStandards,IntegrationofKnowledge&Ideas,Strands7&9)(WritingStandards,ResearchtoBuild&PresentKnowledge,Strands7–9)1. Showstudentsphotographsofmonumentsand

paintingsdepictingsignificanteventsinUnitedStateshistory.HavestudentsdesignamonumenttoremembertheJapaneseAmericans’experienceswiththeinternmentcamps.Whatmoodortonedoyouwantviewerstofeel?Afterstudentspresenttheirideas,showthemrealexamplesofmonumentsorplacessetasidetoremembertheperiodinUnitedStateshistory.

2. HavestudentsexaminetheillustrationsinBaseballSavedUs.Whydoyouthinktheillustrator,DomLee,choosestocolortheillustrationsthisway?Whatmoodortonedotheillustrationssetforthestory?Doesthisremindthemofoldphotographs?Whyorwhynot?Afterthediscussion,askstudentstowritetheiropinions.

3. StudentsinsmallteamsshouldresearchJapaneseAmericanartistswhowereinternedduringWorldWarII.Displayexamplesoftheartworkintheclassroom.

Home-SchoolConnection(Speaking&ListeningStandards,Comprehension&Collaboration,Strands1–3andPresentationofKnowledge&Ideas,Strand4)(ReadingStandards,IntegrationofKnowledge&Ideas,Strand7)(WritingStandards,TextTypes&Purposes,Strands1and2,Production&DistributionofWriting,Strand4,andResearchtoBuild&PresentKnowledge,Strand7)

1. Therearemanyresourcesandscienceexperimentsthatexplainthebiomechanicsofpitching.Additionally,encouragestudentstopracticethrowingaballwiththeirfamiliesanddetermininghowbodypositionandphysicsaffectthespeedandaccuracyofapitch.Checkoutthesescienceexperimentsandgames:ScienceBuddies(http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Sports_p053.shtml)andExploratorium(http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/).

10

2. Invitestudentstointerviewafamilymemberaboutanathletetheysawwhohadtoovercomeobstacles.Whatchallengesdidthatpersonface(racism,sexism,ableism,ageism,languagebarrier,etc.)?Howdidthesportscommunityreact?Howdidtheteamreact?Havestudentswritedowntheirinterviewandsharetheminclass.

3. IfastudenthasafamilymemberwhohasaconnectiontoWorldWarIIortheinternmentcampsandfeelscomfortablesharing,invitethevolunteertodiscusswiththeclass.Helpstudentspreparealistofquestionsfortheguest.Studentsshouldwriteareflectiononwhattheylearnedaftertheguestspeakervisits.Havestudentswritethank-youlettersfollowingtheguestvisit.

4. Shorty’sfatherdecidestocreateabaseballfieldandteamintheCamp.Writeastorysharingatimewheresomeoneinyourlifehadagreatideaandmadeyouproud.Whathappened?

Page 9: Baseball Saved Us - RIF.org | · the title, Baseball Saved Us, means. Then ask them what they think this book will most likely be about and who the book might be about. What events

BaseballSavedUs

9

LEE&LOWBOOKS

Teacher’sGuidecopyright©2016LEE&LOWBOOKS.Allrightsreserved.Permissionisgrantedtoshareandadaptforpersonalandeducationaluse.Forquestions,comments,and/ormoreinformation,pleasecontactusatgeneral@leeandlow.com.Visitusonlineatleeandlow.com.

BookInformationforBaseballSavedUs

$9.95,PAPERBACK978-1-88000-019-932pages*ReadingLevel:Grade3*ReadinglevelbasedontheSpacheReadabilityFormulaInterestLevel:Grades1–6GuidedReadingLevel:OAcceleratedReader®Level/Points:3.9/0.5Lexile™:AD550LTHEMES:UnitedStatesHistory,SportsandSportsHistory(Baseball),Prejudice,IdentityandPride,SelfEsteemandConfidence,Families(Fathers),ChildhoodExperiencesandMemories,WorldWarIIandJapaneseInternmentCamps,Leadership,Courage,Persistence,ToleranceandAcceptance,ImmigrationandCitizenship,JapaneseAmericans

RESOURCESONTHEWEB:LearnmoreaboutBaseballSavedUsat:https://www.leeandlow.com/books/2359

ORDERINGINFORMATIONOntheWeb:www.leeandlow.com/contact/ordering(generalorderinformation)https://www.leeandlow.com/books/2359(secureonlineordering)ByPhone:212-779-4400ext.25ByFax:212-683-1894ByMail:Lee&LowBooks,95MadisonAvenue,NewYork,NY10016

ABOUTTHEAUTHORKenMochizukiisanovelist,journalist,andactor.HelivesinSeattle,Washington,whereheteaches,writeschildren’sbooks,andgivespresentationsabouthisworkfulltime.MochizukihascollaboratedwithillustratorDomLeeonhisfirstpictureBaseballSavedUs,aswellasonHeroes,PassagetoFreedom:TheSugiharaStory,andBeWater,MyFriend:TheEarlyYearsofBruceLee,allwithLEE&LOWBOOKS.BaseballSavedUslaunchedMockizuki’scareerasachildren’sbookauthorandisalsooneofthefirsttitlesLEE&LOWBOOKSeverpublished.DuringWorldWarII,hisparentsweresenttotheMinidokacampinIdaho.Visithimonlineatkenmochizuki.com.

ABOUTTHEILLUSTRATORDomLeewasbornandraisedinSeoul,SouthKorea.Hehasamaster’sdegreeinfineartsfromtheSchoolofVisualArtsinNewYorkCity.Withhisuniquestyleofartcombiningtechniquesofpaintingandscratchingdetailsinencausticwax,Leehasillustratedmanyaward-winningpicturebooksforchildrenforLEE&LOWBOOKS.DomLeeandKenMochizukithroughtheirfourchildren’sbookstogetherhaveearnedmanyawards,including“Choices”fromtheCooperativeChildren’sBookCenter,Parents’ChoiceAward,TexasBluebonnetAwardMasterList,AmericanLibraryAssociation’sNotableBookAward,“PickoftheLists”fromAmericanBookseller,andSmithsonian’s“NotableChildren’sBook.”HelivesinNewJersey.TofindoutmoreaboutDomLee,visitwww.domandk.com.

Allguidedreadinglevelplacementsmayvaryandaresubjecttorevision.Teachersmayadjusttheassignedlevelsinaccordancewiththeirownevaluations.

ABOUTLEE&LOWBOOKSLEE&LOWBOOKSisthelargestchildren’sbookpublisherspecializingindiversityandmulticulturalism.Ourmotto,“abouteveryone,foreveryone,”isasurgenttodayasitwaswhenwestartedin1991.Itisthecompany’sgoaltomeettheneedforstoriesthatchildrenofcolorcanidentifywithandthatallchildrencanenjoy.Therightbookcanfosterempathy,dispelstereotypes,promptdiscussionaboutraceandethnicity,andinspirechildrentoimaginenotonlyaworldthatincludesthem,butalsoaworldwheretheyaretheheroesoftheirownstories.Discovermoreatleeandlow.com.