Women's History: Dirt on Their Skirts (Intermediate)
“Take me out to the ball game,” sang Katie Casey in the famous baseball anthem. Katie was not alone. Women and girls have always loved and played the game and have worked hard to fulfill their baseball dreams. In this unit, students will discover stories of exceptional women and their achievements on the field, in the press box, and in the front office. Students will analyze milestones and events in the history of women and girls in baseball to determine how their achievements led to greater opportunities for all.
Thematic Unit Objective
Students will:
Discuss gender stereotypes in sports, and learn how female baseball players have challenged those stereotypes.
Compare and contrast the experiences of female baseball players and all-women's baseball teams during different eras of American history.
Analyze milestones and events in the history of women in baseball to determine how their achievements led to greater opportunities for women in our modern culture.
Understand the challenges women overcame in the 19th and 20th centuries to inspire accomplishment and respect in the front office, on the field, and in the press box in Major League baseball.
Module Contents
Lesson 1 (Pre-Visit): In the Front Office: Female Executives
In this lesson, students will explore the backgrounds, accomplishments, and impacts made by women in executive roles in Major League baseball.
Activity
Students will analyze a political cartoon as a primary source and create their own cartoons based on the subject of modern women in sports.
Lesson 2 (Pre-Visit): On the Field: The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Students will learn about the experiences of women who played with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
Activity
Working in small groups, students will analyze primary and secondary sources related to the history of the AAGPBL.
Lesson 3 (Pre-Visit): In The Press Box: Female Reporters
Students will gain a basic understanding of sports journalism.
Activity
Students will work in groups to survey various types of sports media to find out about the representation of men and women in sports journalism.
Lesson 4: On-Site Visit or Videoconference
Students will work with museum teachers to reinforce concepts and ideas introduced in the classroom.
Activity
On-site lesson or videoconference
Lesson 5 (Post-Visit): Honoring Women Who Played
Students will review what they have learned about female ballplayers and all-women's baseball teams.
Activity
Students will design and create ways to honor the important roles played by female ballplayers in the history of the National Pastime.
Common Core Standards
CCSS ELA CONTENT: RH.6.1/7.1/8.1, RH.6.4/7.4/8.4, RH.6.7/7.7/8.7, SL.6.1/7.1/8.1, SL.6.2/7.2/8.2, SL.6.4/7.4/8.4
