BEYOND BASEBALL

Combine character development and language arts learning with John H. Ritter’s baseball novel, Choosing Up Sides, which highlights the moral dilemmas facing adolescents. Working alone, in small cooperative groups, and in large inquiry groups, students complete activities, called “Plays,” and acquire knowledge about the elements of literature and baseball. Students use points they earn from competing “Plays” to travel from one stadium to another, eventually ending up at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Through analysis and discussions, students understand the process of conflict, resolution, and personal growth. Success at developing empathy and compassion, and improving language arts skills gets students inducted into Beyond Baseball’s Academic Hall of Fame. Grades 5–10. Using all components would take 20 class periods. Interact. 2009 revised edition.

Sample pages

Common Core correlations, Grades 5–8

Common Core correlations, Grades 9–10Interact1 charactereduc