Lesson Plan

Ken Burns: Jackie Robinson Taking the Measure of a Man

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This Ken Burns: Jackie Robinson Taking the Measure of a Man lesson plan also includes:

During his first few games as the first black player in Major League Baseball, Jackie Robinson proved that he could withstand the wily curveball of Johnny Sain as well as the racial epithets shouted from opposing teams' dugouts. A short clip introduces a lesson plan about Jackie Robinson, his place in American sports history, and his ability to ignore the discrimination that lurked around every corner of the baseball diamond.

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CCSS: Designed
Instructional Ideas
  • Have class members watch the video clip independently before returning to the group for a larger discussion
  • Incorporate the lesson into a unit on 20th century civil rights, Black History Month, or a historical study of desegregation
Classroom Considerations
  • Video clip requires access to the Internet
  • Parts of the clip repeat racist statements directed at Robinson during his career; be sure that your class can discuss these moments in a mature manner
Pros
  • Clip is brief but informational
  • Connects Jackie Robinson's treatment at the ballpark to modern-day bullying
Cons
  • None