Centerfield Ballhawk by Matt Christopher

Title: Centerfield Ballhawk by Matt Christopher
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards/Honors: na
Summary: This story is about a young boy who discovers that his dad is very proud of reguardless of his ability to be a great hitter like his father. jose Mendez is struggling with being great at hitting homeruns like his dad. Through the story Jose learns that it his character andd his ability to catch baseballs in the outfield that makes him special.
Jose realizes when his father comes to one of his baseball games that his father is proud of his accomphlisments.

Personal Rating: *** Good.

Reading Level: 3.4

Interest Level: 2nd- 5th

Reading: The students will access prior knowledge about baseball and ways we try to please our parents. This allows the students to make connections to real life.

The students talk about ways we can be teammates and offer examples ways we have been a teammate. Using the following website students decide how to be a good teammate or what makes a bad teammate. http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/book_buddy/centerfield/building.html

Writing: Students complete a writing/sequencing activity on this website.
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/trophies/rsr/new_news3_a.html
Students complete a daily writing journal on teamwork. The students write an imaginative story "You hit a homerun inn a baseball game and the ball suddenly starts to grow bigger. Write a story about what happens. Be sure to a beginning, middle, and an end.
Students use the computers to research youth baseball.

Social Studies: Students will compare and contrast their role in their family and their community. Students will identify characteristics of what makes a good citizen and think of ways they can impact their community.

Problem/Difficulities: N/A