“The American National Game of Baseball.” The 1862 World Series
The World Series is right around the corner and may provide an avenue to tap into students’ interest in sports to engage in a conversation about history. If you want to connect to the Civil War, currently in it’s sesquicentennial, you might have students look closely at this Currier and Ives depiction of the 1862 World Series and see if they notice anything different (i.e., the pitcher is pitching underhanded). To go deeper into the Civil War consider making use of resources in the primary source set, Baseball Across a Divided Society created by the Library of Congress.
New York boys playing baseball in an alley, 1910. Beginning in the 1890s there was increasing agitation for small parks and playgrounds to get the city’s children off the streets.
For industrialization in the early 20th century have students consider this Lewis Hines photo of children playing baseball in a new York City alley and how it contrasts with this one from around the same time of children playing baseball in Central Park. What do these two images tell us about society during this time?
What are some ways you tap into your students’ interests like sports, music, etc. to get them engaged about history? Tell us about it here.
Our 5th graders begin each year by reading In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord. The novel focuses on Shirley, a ten-year-old Chinese immigrant who arrives in New York City in 1947. Cultural and language difficulties make the move hard for Shirley, who spends her time listening to Brooklyn Dodgers’ baseball games on the radio. Not only do Shirley’s speaking skills improve, she also develops a love for America’s game and an admiration for Jackie Robinson.
We use this novel as an opportunity to share All-American poems (Casey at the Bat) and songs (Take Me Out to the Ballgame), baseball lore, and the significance of Jackie’ Robinson’s inclusion on the team. We also like the way that Shirley’s classmates come to accept her and become friends, something that is sometimes difficult for our English Learners.