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Read Chapter 6: “The Noble Experiment” – Chapter 8: “Oh, What a Year!;” Complete Student Packet Worksheets for Chapter 6: “The Noble Experiment” – Chapter 8: ”Oh, What a Year!”

Explain that there are some events in our lives that are significant, while there are other events in our lives that change us forever. For example, many of my teachers were good when I was growing up, but in 7^th grade, I had an amazing teacher. S/he made me realize that stories were my gateway to the past. I think this teacher influenced me to eventually become a teacher, so I could share literature and history with others.

Time permitting, ask for 1-2 volunteers who have had life changing experiences to come to the front of the classroom. The rest of the class will act as “biographers” and will ask interview questions about the event. Scaffold this activity by prompting students with sample questions, such as: Describe how the event happened. When did this happen? Who was involved? How did the event make you feel? How did your life change? Why was it important?

will explain that when I read a biography, I am reading about the important events that happened in a person’s life. Some events are important, like the ones we charted on our comic strip in Lesson 2, but other events are life-changing. They impact a character by making them grow, change, or realize something about the world. I want to be able to explain how life-changing events impact and affect a main character.

To explain the impact of a life-changing event in the life of the main character in a biography, I will first identify an event that helped the character grow, change, or realize something about the world. Then, I will list the effects of the event, and finally use them to explain the impact of the event on the life of the main character.

I will model explaining the impact of life-changing events in the life of Jackie Robinson. I will record the life-changing events on Events and Effects Chart 1. First, I will find and describe a life-changing event that happened to Jackie. I will focus on when Carl Johnson convinced Jackie that continuing to belong in a gang would break his mother’s heart. I will describe the event using Who?, What?, Where?, When?, Why?, How? Questions and record the information on the Events and Effects Chart 1. Note: See Events and Effects Chart 1 for specific examples.

Then, I will write the effects of this event by looking for evidence in the text. I know that because of this conversation, Jackie dropped out of The Pepper Street Gang and worked hard at sports and academics in school. He was able to go to Pasadena Junior College and eventually UCLA because he left the gang and focused on sports and school.

Finally, I will use this event to explain how it impacted him. I will record the impact on the Events and Effects Chart 1. This conversation changed Jackie’s life because he decided to leave the gang and stay out of trouble. Instead of taking his anger at prejudice out on his mother and his future, he used his feelings of anger to get into college, play professional sports, and make a positive difference in the world.

Ask: "How do I explain the impact of life-changing events on a character?" Students should respond that you identify an event that helped a character change, grow, or realize something about the world. You describe that event and its effects, and use the effects to explain how the event was made an impact on the character.

will examine the impact of the Minor League World Series between Montreal and Louisville on Jackie’s life. We will record our thoughts on the Events and Effects Chart 2. Note: See Events and Effects Chart 2 for specific examples.

First, we will describe the event using our reporting questions—Who?, What?, Where?, When?, Why?, and How? We will describe how the players and audience in Montreal were so offensive and rude at the first game, they brought Jackie’s morale down to an all time low, and he was not able to play his best.

We will list the effects of this event. When the teams got to Montreal, the crowd had heard about the disrespectful Louisville team. 5,000 crowd members booed at Louisville. Jackie realized that he was supported by his home team and his crowd, so he played his best game he could and won the Minor League World Series.

Finally, we will explain how the experience of the Minor League World Series impacted Jackie. Jackie knew that he would face many opponents who did not like what he was doing, but the support he received from his home team encouraged him to push harder to victory. He realized that he could change the game, and that people were behind him. Because of this, he won the Series and was signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers as the first African-American baseball player in the Major Leagues.

will act like a reporter and explain the effects of Jackie being signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers. You will  describe how this happened, and list the effects you find in Chapter 7: “The Loneliest Man” and Chapter 8: “Oh, What a Year!” Finally, you will use that information to explain why the event was made a great impact on Jackie’s life. (See Student Packet pages 15-16.)

will come together to discuss how being signed to the Dodgers affected Jackie’s life. We will extend the discussion to talk about how being signed to the Dodgers affected others and how it impacted the world.