Students will research the impact of World War II on Major League Baseball and create a trading card using a draw program or by using the template.
The Baseball Card will feature a student chosen photograph of the player/leader and historical statistics on the back or side of the cardboard paper.
Activity will encourage students to development and apply knowledge of World War II to the social aspects of the United States.
What better way to reach out those students to bring in the history of World War II and apply it to an area of interest.
A great way to show how World War II impacted the home front in America and what “Heroes” rose to the occasion to serve for their country.
- Identify the factors that most significantly impacted the American decision to enter World War II.
- Analyze the psychological impact of World War II on the “home front” in the United States.
- Apply what they have studied during the World War II unit and communicate their understanding of the unit by assuming the persona of the baseball player or world leader.
2. Continuity and change in the history of Missouri, the United States and the world
6. Relationships of the individual and groups to institutions and cultural traditions 7. The use of tools of social science inquiry (such as surveys, statistics, maps, documents)
2aD Describe and evaluate the evolution of the United States domestic and foreign policy including the Cold War.
2bG Examine the wars of the 20th century, including: causes, comparisons, consequences, and peace efforts.
3B Compare and contrast governmental systems, current and historical, including those that are democratic and totalitarian.
7B Distinguish between primary and secondary sources.
Student History textbook, classroom notes, etc.
Excellent website with more information: http://www.baseballinwartime.com/
Baseball players go to war photographs:
http://41.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l8te7lubo61qbjz0go1_1280.jpg
http://sportsthenandnow.com/wp/wpcontent/uploads/2011/07/AAGPBL.jpg
http://www.nww2m.com/wpcontent/uploads/2013/01/stanmusial.jpg
http://cdn.rsvlts.com/wpcontent/uploads/2014/05/apphoto.jpg
Internet
Baseball players were professional athletes that were often treated as celebrities in America.
When the United States government made the decision to enter World War Two, more than 500 Major League Baseball players
traded in their baseball uniforms for military service uniforms.
To better understand the impact of World War II on the “home front” in America, students will research a baseball player or leader.
Lesson Steps:
1. Explain to the students that they will research a professional baseball player or a leader during the time frame of World War II
and then create a trading card using their research.
(You may want to bring in actual baseball or football trading cards and discuss the features of the trading card,
such as the photo, title, facts, border, color, etc. to give the students a better understanding of the project)
2.Pass out the template to give students an idea of what they will be creating in a draw program or by hand.
3.Assign the students topics or have them choose a topic to research. A list of suggested players/leaders is included.
4. Distribute the rubric.
Discuss the criteria: an imported or scanned graphic, title, important facts, name of trading card series, grammar, punctuation,
borders, text boxes and returned rubric.
5.Students will research their topic using the Internet and create a trading card using a draw program.
6.Students will print out their trading cards and display them in the classroom.
The trading cards can also be printed on card stock and given to each student to use instead.
Notable Players who served in the military during World War II
Moe Berg Pete Gray Joe DiMaggio Ted Williams
Bob Feller Joe Nuxhall All American Girls Baseball
Negro Leagues: Buck O’Neil Satchell Paige Josh Gibson Jackie Robinson
Hank Greenberg Stan Musial Warren Spahn Yogi Berra Monte Irvin Pee Wee Reese
Kennesaw Mountain Landis Green Light Letter Happy Chandler Bill Veck Elmer Gedeon Harry O’Neill
Baseball card image template: http://www.educationworld.com/tools_templates/trading_card-thumb.png