Baseball is the only game you can see on the radio.
Communication Arts: Going! Going! Gone!
How do you follow baseball? Over time, fans have been able to track the game by reading sports writers' colorful stories in newspapers, listening to play-by-play commentary on the radio, and watching their favorite teams on television. In this unit, students find out about the various methods that have been used to report news and sports over time, including newspapers, radio, television, and the internet. At the same time, they practice the writing and presentation skills necessary to create an interesting and memorable sports report. Then, they examine primary source articles in order to discover the power and influence of a reporter's point of view.
Thematic Unit Objective
Examine the history of mass media by researching various reporting techniques.
Practice descriptive writing by relating a personal sports memory.
Analyze primary sources in order to identify opinion and point of view.
Appreciate, through teamwork and collective effort, the social experience of baseball through the delivery of a baseball broadcast.
Phil Hersh, Chicago Tribune
Rookie (Grades 3-5)
Lesson 1 (Pre-Visit): Baseball in the Media
Students investigate several types of media that cover baseball games.
Lesson 2 (Pre-Visit): As If You Were There: Part 1 Play by Play Verbs
Students strengthen their knowledge of active verbs as they learn how baseball commentators describe games using dramatic language.
Lesson 3 (Pre-Visit): As If You Were There: Part 2 Sports Writing
The next-best thing to seeing or listening to a game in person is to read about it. In this lesson, students read a post-game report and deconstruct its form and structure.
Lesson 4: On-Site Visit or Video conference
Students will work with museum teachers to reinforce concepts and ideas introduced in the classroom.
Book your field trip or video conference
Intermediate (Grades 6-8)
Lesson 1 (Pre-Visit): Bringing Home Plate Home: Baseball & Sports Media
There are many teams in sports – not just those on the field! In this lesson, students discuss and research different careers in sports media and discover how media teams function.
Lesson 2 (Pre-Visit): As If You Were There: Sports Writing
The next-best thing to seeing or listening to a game in person is to read about it. In this lesson, students read a post-game report and deconstruct its form and structure.
Lesson 3 (Pre-Visit): Baseball Heroes in the Press
Sstudents consider the affects of the media on public figures such as sports heroes.
Lesson 4: On-Site Visit or Video conference
Students will work with museum teachers to reinforce concepts and ideas introduced in the classroom.
Book your field trip or video conference
Advanced (Grades 9-12)
Lesson 1 (Pre-Visit): Bringing Home Plate Home: Baseball & Sports Media
There are many teams in sports – not just those on the field! In this lesson, students discuss and research different careers in sports media and discover how media teams function.
Lesson 2 (Pre-Visit): As If You Were There: Sports Writing
The next-best thing to seeing or listening to a game in person is to read about it. In this lesson, students read a post-game report and deconstruct its form and structure.
Lesson 3 (Pre-Visit): Baseball Heroes in the Press
Sstudents consider the affects of the media on public figures such as sports heroes.
Lesson 4: On-Site Visit or Video conference
Students will work with museum teachers to reinforce concepts and ideas introduced in the classroom.
Book your field trip or video conference