Cultural Diversity: Diversity in the Dugout

Unit Overview

"For starting pitchers we have two Dominicans, one Italian, one Mexican, and one Japanese. In the bullpen we have one Venezuelan, a Mexican, a guy from the United States, and a guy from St. Louis."

- Hall of Fame Manager Tommy Lasorda

For over 150 years the game of baseball has created many opportunities for players from around the world. Today, the "National Pastime" is more culturally diverse than ever before. Nearly 30% of players on big league rosters were born outside the United States. The game also takes on unique flavors worldwide as players and fans come together at the ballpark, leaving many of their differences behind. In this unit, students will discover that baseball is a sport that has multicultural appreciation. They will investigate the experiences of players from all over the world who have come to the U.S. to play professional baseball. They will work both independently and collaboratively to learn how the diversity of baseball makes the game stronger.

About the Curriculum

 
All of the lessons and activities that you will find below have been prepared to accompany "Cultural Diversity: Diversity in the Dugout." You will find that the curriculum is organized into three levels: Level 1 for elementary school students, Level 2 for middle school students, and Level 3 for high school students. Feel free to pick and choose lessons from multiple levels if you feel that your students are ready for a challenge or would benefit from a review.

Within each level you will find both pre-visit lessons and post-visit lessons. We strongly encourage you to use these materials before your visit or videoconference. We've found that students understand and learn so much more if they are prepared before their Hall of Fame experience.

Click on the links to view Adobe Acrobat documents, which you can easily print or save for later use. All lessons are aligned with Common Core State Standards.

Level 1 - Rookie

Elementary Level Overview & Table of Contents
Lesson 1 (Pre-Visit) Our Community = Our Team
Lesson 2 (Pre-Visit) A World of Baseball Talent 
Lesson 3 (Pre-Visit) Cultural Curveball
Lesson 4 On-Site Visit
Lesson 5 (Post-Visit) Baseball: An International Pastime

Level 2 - Intermediate

Intermediate Level Overview & Table of Contents
Lesson 1 (Pre-Visit) A Community of Baseball Fans
Lesson 2 (Pre-Visit) A World of Baseball Talent
Lesson 3 (Pre-Visit) Cultural Curveball
Lesson 4 On-Site Visit
Lesson 5 (Post-Visit) Baseball: An International Pastime

Level 3 - Advanced

Advanced Level Overview & Table of Contents
Lesson 1 (Pre-Visit) A Community of Baseball Fans
Lesson 2 (Pre-Visit) A World of Baseball Talent
Lesson 3 (Pre-Visit) United Nations of Baseball
Lesson 4 On-Site Visit
Lesson 5 (Post-Visit) Voices of Diversity in the Dugout

Interested in Additional Resources?

On the Recommended Reading list below, you’ll find resources that were compiled to aid parents, teachers, and students in learning more about Diversity in the Dugout.

Recommended Reading for Cultural Diversity