Description As a kid, Jackie Robinson loved sports. And why not? He was a natural at football, basketball, and, of course, baseball. But beyond athletic skill, it was his strength of character that secured his place in sports history. In 1947 Jackie joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the long-time color barrier in major league baseball. It was tough being first- not only did “fans” send hate mail but some of his own teammates refused to accept him. Here is an inspiring sports biography, with black-and-white illustrations throughout. Week 1 – 3: I introduce a rich vocabulary to describe the character traits exemplified by these historical figures. Provide observation questions designed to help students extract details that matter. Equip students with the scaffolding that enables them to craft one body paragraph that will later become part of the culminating essay. Week 4: Students craft a simple introduction and conclusion, put the components together, and, voila, an essay! Week 5: A creative project, of course, that offers directives to tap into the students imagination.
