Jackie Robinson, Civil Jackie Robinson, Civil Rights Leader?Rights Leader?

A lesson plan to accompany theA lesson plan to accompany theDigital History ReaderDigital History Readerwww.dhr.history.vt.eduwww.dhr.history.vt.edu

Virginia Tech: School of EducationVirginia Tech: School of EducationComposed byComposed byTommy GeorgeTommy GeorgeKaren McNamaraKaren McNamaraGina RumboloGina Rumbolo

Just Do It Activity Just Do It Activity (~5 min.)(~5 min.)

Concept Attainment ModelConcept Attainment Model– Let’s define “Racism” as a class:Let’s define “Racism” as a class:

Please provide a list of examples, non-Please provide a list of examples, non-examples, essential characteristics, examples, essential characteristics, and non-essential characteristics.and non-essential characteristics.– Example: Black Codes in VirginiaExample: Black Codes in Virginia– Non-Example: full suffrage/equal Non-Example: full suffrage/equal citizenshipcitizenship

– Essential Characteristic: negative feelings Essential Characteristic: negative feelings towards a group or minoritytowards a group or minority

– Non-essential Characteristic: limitations Non-essential Characteristic: limitations of civil liberties, “separate, but equal” – of civil liberties, “separate, but equal” – Plessy v Fergusson)Plessy v Fergusson)

““Character Profiling” Activity Character Profiling” Activity (~15 min.)(~15 min.)

Using the provided handout and Using the provided handout and attached information, students attached information, students will be able to generate a brief will be able to generate a brief paragraph describing the paragraph describing the character of Jackie Robinson.character of Jackie Robinson.– Goal: a first impression from the Goal: a first impression from the provided informationprovided information

– Result: completion of brief Result: completion of brief paragraph and general discussion to paragraph and general discussion to follow.follow.

But first, who was Jackie But first, who was Jackie Robinson? – a brief lecture of his Robinson? – a brief lecture of his

life, accomplishments, etc. life, accomplishments, etc. (~15 min.)(~15 min.) #42 on the Brooklyn #42 on the Brooklyn DodgersDodgers– Lifetime .311 batting Lifetime .311 batting average, Hall of Fame average, Hall of Fame inductee, Rookie of the inductee, Rookie of the Year, MVP, stolen-base Year, MVP, stolen-base titles, etc.titles, etc.

Born in rural Georgia, Born in rural Georgia, moved out West to moved out West to California with his mother California with his mother and four siblingsand four siblings

11stst to letter in four to letter in four sports at UCLA including sports at UCLA including football, basketball, football, basketball, baseball, and trackbaseball, and track

Besides Sports…Besides Sports…

Drafted into the Army after Drafted into the Army after Pearl HarborPearl Harbor– Becomes a second lieutenantBecomes a second lieutenant– Court-martialed for not moving to Court-martialed for not moving to the back of a busthe back of a busCharges were eventually dropped and Charges were eventually dropped and he received an honorable discharge he received an honorable discharge from service from service

Jackie’s Role in the Jackie’s Role in the Civil Rights Civil Rights MovementMovement

"If they can fight and die on Okinawa, "If they can fight and die on Okinawa, Guadalcanal (and) in the South Pacific, Guadalcanal (and) in the South Pacific, they can play ball in America." –Happy they can play ball in America." –Happy Chandler, commissioner of Major League Chandler, commissioner of Major League Baseball and former Senator and Baseball and former Senator and Governor of KentuckyGovernor of Kentucky

““Accomplishment: Was the first African-Accomplishment: Was the first African-American to play Major League Baseball American to play Major League Baseball (drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers)(drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers)

““Here’s to you, Mr(s). Robinson”Here’s to you, Mr(s). Robinson” As As Sports Sports IllustratedIllustrated's Bill 's Bill Nack wrote: Nack wrote: "Robinson was the "Robinson was the target of racial target of racial epithets and flying epithets and flying cleats, of hate cleats, of hate letters and death letters and death threats, of pitchers threats, of pitchers throwing at his head throwing at his head and legs, and and legs, and catchers spitting on catchers spitting on his shoes." his shoes." (espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016431.html)(espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016431.html)

WebQuest Activity WebQuest Activity (~30 min.)(~30 min.)

Using the provided handout and Using the provided handout and instructions, students will instructions, students will independently or in small groups, independently or in small groups, research information from the online research information from the online module to answer the attached module to answer the attached questionnaire.questionnaire.– The website for this activity is:The website for this activity is:

http://www.dhr.history.vt.edu/us/mod08_robinson/http://www.dhr.history.vt.edu/us/mod08_robinson/index.htmlindex.html. .

– If time allows, please complete the self-If time allows, please complete the self-assessment quiz after answering the assessment quiz after answering the questions.questions.

Jackie Robinson Spectrum Jackie Robinson Spectrum (~10 min.)(~10 min.)

Students will be provided a series of Students will be provided a series of statements pertaining to Jackie statements pertaining to Jackie Robinson.Robinson.– The students will personally rate/rank The students will personally rate/rank these statements based on their opinions these statements based on their opinions and interpretations of the material.and interpretations of the material.

– Spectrum ranges from “strongly agree” to Spectrum ranges from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree”“strongly disagree”

– A general discussion will be held during A general discussion will be held during the spectrum activity based on the results the spectrum activity based on the results and differing perspectives of the and differing perspectives of the students.students.

Closure: Personal Perspective Paper Closure: Personal Perspective Paper (remaining time/homework)(remaining time/homework)

Goal: allow students to use their Goal: allow students to use their prior knowledge of the content to prior knowledge of the content to develop their own interpretation of develop their own interpretation of the original guiding question of:the original guiding question of:– To what did degree did Jackie Robinson’s To what did degree did Jackie Robinson’s life influence the Civil Rights Movement?life influence the Civil Rights Movement?

Please read the instructions carefully on Please read the instructions carefully on the attached handout.the attached handout.– Grammar, formatting, AND content will be Grammar, formatting, AND content will be assessed. This assignment should be AT LEAST assessed. This assignment should be AT LEAST one-page, typed, single-spaced, 12-point Times one-page, typed, single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman Font.New Roman Font.