HIT: Baseball Theme 2

[Belinda Holbrook <holbrook@REVEALED.NET>]

     A great common study novel would be FINDING BUCK McHENRY by Alfred
Slote.  It
is about a boy who starts a new little league team (because he gets cut
from
his team because he isn't so good) and he needs to find a coach.  He is
also
an avid baseball card collector.  Through this, he learns that the
custodian
at his school is actually a former Negro League Baseball player.  It's a
delightful book, and was easily accessible for our low-achieving middle
schoolers.  Tbey really enjoyed it.  It's a great tie-in for students to
make
their own baseball cards.

***************************************************************************


I have just completed a school-wide bulletin board and mini theme on
Baseball and Softball.  Check out the websites attached and don't forget
about women in baseball!  We had kids read Casey at the Bat and act it
out.  We made movie lists and I displayed related sports fiction books.
It was fun and there is no end to it...Students researched popular park
food (hotdogs, popcorn and of course, crackerjacks).  One group did a
quick diarama of Fenway park.  www.redsox.com/fenway/stats.html
www.cooperstownvideo.com/movies.html
www.baseballhalloffame.org
www.readingphillies.com/sound.htm
www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/990107thursday.html

***************************************************************************


We contacted our local team to get players to read to the kids and talk
about
the value of reading.  The team (Rochester Red Wings) also offered the
prizes
for our reading promotion contest:  a t shirt, cap, bumperstickers... and
the
grand prize: one kid got to be batboy/girl for one game!

***************************************************************************


We had a terrific author visit from Dan Gutman last week. His major love
is
baseball. He has a series of 4 for the 3/4 grade level called Tales from
the Sandlot, plus other fiction - Honus [Wagner] & Me,
Jackie [robinson] & Me, and nonfiction, Baseball's Biggest Bloopers,
Baseball's Greatest Games, etc.

His website is www.dangutman.com and email is dangut@aol.com.

If you can't afford a visit, check his website, and email him.  He likes
(!)
communicating with kids.

***************************************************************************


Still more!



Belinda Holbrook
Media Specialist
Madison School
Davenport, IA
holbrook@revealed.net

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