Lesson Plans and Worksheets
Jackie Robinson Teacher Resources
Find teacher approved Jackie Robinson educational resource ideas and activities
Fifth graders research the life of Jackie Robinson. For this biography lesson, 5th graders investigate the major events in the life of Jackie Robinson. Students construct a summary of major events and sequence the biography.
Students utilize primary sources to learn about Jackie Robinson. In this research skills lesson, students develop a KWL chart on Jackie Robinson and discuss how primary sources can be used for research. Students conduct research on Jackie Robinson and discuss their findings.
Explore the plot structure in biographies. First, read the biography The Story of Jackie Robinson, Bravest Man in Baseball and identify specific events that possibly changed the life of Jackie Robinson. As you guide your listeners, they record these events on an "events and effects" chart. Then, after group practice, individuals take on the role of a reporter and explain the effects of Jackie being signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers. Kids will love taking on this role!
Is it a biography or an autobiography? Kids discover point of view as they listen to you tell a story about yourself (first person) and then hear two volunteers retell the story: one to you (second person) and one to them (third person). They apply these concepts, comparing and contrasting biographies and autobiographies. Use the lecture notes to explain prefixes in each word and context strategies to define a passage as one of the two genres. There are two short passage examples you can use. Do one together, asking kids to point out clue words that helped them identify the genre. As an added extension, find a reading packet for The Story of Jackie Robinson, Bravest Man in Baseball; kids begin by deciding the genre and can continue completing the packet as they read.
Learners analyze the life of Jackie Robinson and determine which characteristics contributed to his success as the baseball player who broke the color barrier and as a political activist.
Students examine the life of Jackie Robinson and the ways in which he and they can influence government policy.
Students examine Jackie Robinson's role in the Civil Rights movement. They read an essay and watch a video about his spring training in 1946. They answer questions about the material and discuss.
Second graders create a KWL chart about Jackie Robinson. Afterward, they read teacher-selected books and have a class discussion about major league baseball and opportunities of African Americans. Students create speeches and hold a mock civil rights march. In small groups, they write mock interview questions the would like to ask Jackie Robinson and role play jobs and responsibilities he had.
Fifth graders write a newspaper article about Jackie Robinson. In this journalism lesson, 5th graders listen to a teacher read aloud of Jackie Robinson Strong Inside and Out. They complete a Venn diagram that compares Robinson's mental and physical strengths. They write a newspaper article after accessing Time for Kids article online.
Fifth graders view pictures as primary sources to gather information about Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play major league baseball. In this Jackie Robinson lesson, 5th graders research Jackie Robinson and write a Bio-poem. Students share finished poems.