Number 42: Jackie Robinson and Courage
45 min
Lesson Components
Number 42: Jackie Robinson and Courage – Handout A: NarrativeWalk-In-The-Shoes Questions
As you read, imagine you are the protagonist.
- What challenges are you facing?
- What fears or concerns might you have?
- What may prevent you from acting in the way you ought?
Observation Questions
- How was Robinson’s identity different from other major league baseball players?
- What was Robinson’s purpose in playing major league baseball as an African American? Why would Robinson subject himself to discrimination as the first African American major league player?
- What challenges are you facing?
- What fears or concerns might you have?
- What may prevent you from acting in the way you ought?
Discussion Questions
Discuss the following questions with your students.
- What is the historical context of the narrative?
- What historical circumstances presented a challenge to the protagonist?
- How and why did the individual exhibit a moral and/or civic virtue in facing and overcoming the challenge?
- How did the exercise of the virtue benefit civil society?
- How might exercise of the virtue benefit the protagonist?
- What might the exercise of the virtue cost the protagonist?
- Would you react the same under similar circumstances? Why or why not?
- How can you act similarly in your own life? What obstacles must you overcome in order to do so?
- Students will evaluate Jackie Robinson’s courage during the integration of major league baseball.
- Students will analyze how courageous acts can promote equality.
- Students will apply their knowledge of courage to their own lives.