A comparison of In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson  and Thank You, Jackie Robinson
 

Introduction

Lesson Plan: Language Arts Grade Level: 5th-8th Standards: (McREL) Language Arts Standard 1-Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies of the writing process.  Writes in response to literature. Benchmarks: Level III (Grades 6-8) Recognizes complex elements of plot (e.g., cause-and-effect relationships, conflicts, resolutions). Recognizes devices used to develop characters in literary texts (e.g., character traits, motivations, changes, and stereotypes). Makes inferences and draws conclusions about story elements (e.g., main and subordinate characters, events, setting, theme, missing details). Standards: Standard 2- Demonstrates competence in the stylistic and rhetorical aspects of writing. Benchmarks: Level II (Grade 3-5) Uses descriptive language that clarifies and enhances ideas (e.g., describes familiar people, places, or objects). Level III (Grade 6-8) Uses descriptive language that clarifies and enhances ideas (e.g. established tone and mood, uses figurative language). Uses paragraph form in writing (e.g., arranges sentences in sequential order, uses supporting and follow-up sentences). Uses a variety of sentence structure of express expanded ideas. Directions: Read the two books dealing with baseball with the class as a whole.  One is written from a girl’s point of view and the other from a boy’s.  Both characters are age ten at the beginning of the book, but in  both several years pass by in the telling of the story.  Using the questions as a guide, encourage the students to delve more deeply into the underlying themes of the novels. Lord, Bette Bao.  In the year of the boar and Jackie Robinson. New York, HarperTrophy, 1984.   169 p. RL 5-8 Summary: In 1947, a Chinese child comes to Brooklyn, where she starts to feel at home and to make friends, when she discovers baseball and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Cohen, Barbara.  Thank you, Jackie Robinson.  New York, Beech Tree Paperback Books,  1974.  125 p.  RL YA Summary: A fatherless white boy, who shares with an old black man an enthusiasm for the Brooklyn Dodgers and first baseman Jackie Robinson, takes a ball autographed by Jackie to his elderly friend’s deathbed. In the Year  of the Boar Thank you, Jackie Robinson Characters: Shirley Temple Wong - A ten year old Chinese girl. Characters: Sam -  A ten year old Jewish boy. Davy - A Black cook. Setting: Brooklyn, New York Setting: Winter Hill, New Jersey at Sam's Mother's Inn. Plot: Shirley's adjustment to life in Brooklyn is made easier when she finally gains acceptance from her peers when she learns to play baseball.  She begins to follow the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers as Jackie Robinson makes his debut as the first Black player in the Major Leagues. Plot: Sam finds someone who shares his enthusiasm for the Brooklyn Dodgers when his mother hires a black cook for her Inn.  In Davy

Questions from In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson

1.  How did baseball help Shirley finally become accepted by her classmates? 2.  How would you feel if you suddenly moved across the world to a country where you didn’t know the language or customs. 3.  How do you think Shirley’s traditional family back in China would react to her adventures in Brooklyn? 4.  How would you have reacted if you’d been on stage with Jackie Robinson?

Questions from Thank You, Jackie Robinson

1.  Were you surprised that Sam’s mother would let him travel around the country with Davy and his family to ballgames? 2.  How does the expression “The means justify the end” apply to Sam’s quest to get a ball for Davy? 3.  What are some of the things that could have happened to Sam when he went to New York City by himself? 4.  How do you think Sam summoned enough courage to approach Jackie Robinson to sign the baseball? 5.  How did Davy’s death help him deal with his father’s death?

Questions for both Books

1. What would you have said to Jackie Robinson if you’d had a chance to meet him? 2. What lessons did the integration of Major League baseball teach the children in these books about acceptance? 3. Which book was your favorite and why? 4. Who was your favorite character and why?

Venn Diagram

In the circles, list ways Sam and Shirley were different and in the overlapping section, ways they were alike. Click on the image above to view in full size.