It's easy to get the players; it's getting them to play together that's the hard part.
Leadership: Leading Off
Baseball depends on many different leaders, such as the commissioner, team owners, managers and coaches, umpires, team captains, and even players. Leadership often demands sacrifice and self-discipline, creativity and vision, decisiveness and the willingness to be a role model or trailblazer. In this thematic unit, students explore the meaning of successful leadership. Students will identify leaders in baseball, and leaders in the community. Students will also assess their own leadership skills and abilities and put them to the test as they work together to plan and execute a class community service project. Win or lose, leaders - in baseball and other arenas - display a consistent set of ethics and values that influence the real measure of their lives.
Thematic Unit Objective
Understand characteristics and qualities of different types of leaders.
Identify common leadership responsibilities.
Identify several leadership styles, and recognize that different situations call for different leadership styles.
Demonstrate an understanding of leadership roles in professional baseball, and other professional sports.
Utilize primary sources to research the lives and careers of specific leaders in baseball history.
Put their leadership skills to the test as they plan and execute a class community service project.
Hall of Famer Casey Stengel
Advanced (9-12)
Lesson 1 (Pre-Visit): Defining Leadership
What makes a leader? In this lesson, students explore the importance of leadership characteristics and qualities.
Lesson 2 (Pre-Visit): Leadership Styles
Students will identify leadership styles, and understand advantages and disadvantages of different leadership approaches.
Lesson 3 (Pre-Visit): Leadership in Baseball
Students will discuss the leadership skills required of players, coaches, managers, and commissioners.
Lesson 4: On-Site Visit or Video conference
Students will work with museum teachers to reinforce concepts and ideas introduced in the classroom.
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Lesson 5 (Post-Visit): Becoming a Leader
Students will put their leadership skills to the test as they plan and execute a class community service project.