Baseball Lesson Plans

Students research how climate, distance, population shifts and immigration have influenced American baseball. They also consider how players from other countries have made their mark on American baseball.

Students view video and conduct research on how baseball has reflected the social context of American history. They work in groups to investigate outstanding minority baseball players, including racial minorities and women, and develop dramatic monologues to present their findings to the class.

Learners act as historians by, first, reading and analyzing oral histories of professional baseball players to become familiar with baseball figures. Then, they proceed to interview family members, relatives, or neighbors who have attended baseball games in the past. Students share their recorded interviews with the entire class.

Students create their own baseball cards about themselves. In this autobiography lesson, students use information about their lives to create a baseball card. Students make flash cards using baseball vocabulary, and play vocabulary games. Students also break into pairs and practice being an interviewer, and interviewee.

Learners explore Latin America by researching the favorite past time, baseball. In this Latin culture lesson plan, students identify the leaders in the Latin American baseball movement such as Felipe Alou, Jose Mendze and the great Roberto Clemente. Learners practice using baseball vocabulary terms and answer study questions based on the the book they are assigned to read.

Students figure out the average salary of a Major League Baseball player, then identify MLB revenue sources in addition to ticket sales.

Fifth graders prepare eight questions about the topic they are studying.  In this board baseball review lesson game, questions are rated from easy to difficult and haw many bases students receive. The  students are grouped in two teams and answer questions and move through the bases on the board.

Students investigate the art of baseball. In this sports activity, students discuss their thoughts about the sport of baseball and create a baseball word list. Students use pattern blocks and drawing paper to create a simulated baseball field. Students are broken up into small groups to study the rubric and start building their "field." There are various extension activities included in this activity, such as creating a tape of baseball sounds.

Students read an article by Scott Menscher comparing and contrasting American and Japanese games. They analyze the connection that today's baseball is an international game incorporating Japanese philosophy.

Ninth graders discuss impact of Negro Leagues on society, research Negro Leagues baseball players, paraphrase and summarize information, and present pertinent information in baseball card format.