The Science of Fun and Sports in America
Teaching with Primary Sources
Illinois State University
Joshua Jett
Bloomington Junior High School
Summer 2009
Leonard-Cushing fight / Thomas A. Edison, Inc. ; producer, W.K.L. Dickson.
United States : Kinetoscope Exhibiting Co., [1894]
Students will seek out answers about how and why science/technology change over time by analyzing film strips of sporting events in the early 1900s. After careful analysis of these primary sources, students will be prepared to synthesize their observations into a PowerPoint presentation for the class. Sports are a high-interest subject with early adolescents. It is expected that students will be highly engaged while examining these resources. Prior to the Day One activity students will need to be grouped by their favorite sport.
Overview/ Materials/LOC Resources/Standards/ Procedures/Evaluation/Rubric/Handouts/Extension
Overview Back to Navigation BarObjectives / Students will:
· analyze primary sources (short films) from the Library of Congress.
· discuss essential questions using details from their research.
· create a PowerPoint presentation about changes in sports technology.
· cite primary sources in their presentation.
· present findings to classmates.
Recommended time frame / 4 days
Grade level / 8th Grade
Curriculum fit / Science, Language Arts, and Social Science
Materials / · http://www.loc.gov
· http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/activities/science/flash.html
· http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/awlhtml/awlleis.html
· http://www.library.ilstu.edu/aam/Resources/NA_analysis_sheets/motion_picture_analysis_worksheet.pdf
· Essential Questions Discussion Worksheet (handout)
· PowerPoint template (handout)
· Student Checklist (handout)
· Reserve IMC computer lab and materials
Essential Questions
· How have science and technology given humans the ability to improve their surroundings (and leisure activities)?
· How has scientific knowledge and economics driven technological development?
· How do sports and leisure equipment use scientific knowledge and skills?
· What are the future effects of science and sports technologies?
Illinois State Learning Standards Back to Navigation Bar
Language Arts:
GOAL 3: Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
3C. Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes.
· 3.C.3b Using available technology, produce compositions and multimedia works for specified audiences.
GOAL 5: Use the language arts to acquire, assess and communicate information.
5A. Locate, organize, and use information from various sources to answer questions, solve problems and communicate ideas.
· 5.A.3a Identify appropriate resources to solve problems or answer questions through research.\
5B. Analyze and evaluate information acquired from various sources.
· 5.B.3a Choose and analyze information sources for individual, academic and functional purposes.
· 5.B.3b Identify, evaluate and cite primary sources.
5C. Apply acquired information, concepts and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.
· 5.C.3c Take notes, conduct interviews, organize and report information in oral, visual and electronic formats.
Science:
GOAL 13: Understand the relationships among science, technology and society in historical and contemporary contexts.
13B. Know and apply concepts that describe the interaction between science, technology and society.
· 13.B.3a Identify and explain ways that scientific knowledge and economics drive technological development.
· 13.B.3c Describe how occupations use scientific and technological knowledge and skills.
· 13.B.3f Apply classroom-developed criteria to determine the effects of policies on local science and technology issues
Procedures Back to Navigation Bar
Day One:
· Introductory Activity: Students will enter the computer lab and proceed to the Library of Congress Activity: What in the World Is That? .
· Once all students have completed the activity, quickly discuss their predictions and thoughts about these early inventions. Why was it so difficult to make accurate predictions?
· Lesson Body: What other areas in our lives can we see technological improvements? Has sports technology changed? Explain.
· Pass out the Science of Fun and Sports Checklist.
· Explain that today students will investigate sports clips form the early 1900s when many of today’s popular sports began. Students are to pay close attention to the athlete’s equipment, uniforms, and stadiums.
· Student Activity: Students watch three sports films from the America at Leisure site at the Library of Congress. They will choose two of the films to complete Motion Picture Analysis Worksheets.
· Conclusion: Review checklist, answer student questions, and collect Analysis Worksheets.
Day Two and Three:
· Introductory Activity: Pass out the Essential Questions Discussion Worksheet to each group.
· After students have used a sufficient amount of time reviewing their Analysis Worksheets and providing details in their EQ Discussion worksheet, discuss their responses.
· Lesson Body: Help students make connections between changes in sports equipment over time. Why were these changes needed or desirable? What made these changes possible?
· Provide students with a PowerPoint template to report their conclusions to their classmates.
· Student Activity: Students complete PowerPoint.
· Conclusion: Review checklist, answer student questions, and collect EQ Discussion Worksheets and PowerPoint Templates.
Day Four:
· Introductory Activity: Review checklist with students and explain presentation format by providing an example.
· Lesson Body: Student groups present changes in sports research findings.
· Conclusion: Students discuss classmates’ conclusions and review their initial statement on Day One.
Evaluation Back to Navigation Bar
Formative Assessments:
· Motion Picture Analysis Worksheets (2)
· Essential Questions Discussion Worksheet
Summative Assessment:
· PowerPoint presentation
o Rubric attached
Extension Back to Navigation Bar
· Students may add to their PowerPoint presentation in two ways:
o Use Windows Movie Maker to create a short film using today’s sports technology to present to the class.
o Create a model of future sport technology to present to the class.
Primary Resources from the Library of Congress
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The Science of Fun and Sports in America
Image / Description / Citation / URL/ This is a film of seven small children who are holding hands and playing in the surf. / Children in the surf, Coney Island / American Mutoscope & Biograph Company. United States : 1904. / http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/papr:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(awal+1978))+@field(COLLID+workleis))
/ Several types of cars from all over the world are featured in this filmed race. / Automobile race for the Vanderbilt Cup / American Mutoscope & Biograph Company. United States : 1904. / http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/papr:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(awal+1952))+@field(COLLID+workleis))
/ This is a film of two baseball players running toward home plate. The players are from a Newark, New Jersey team. / The ball game / Thomas A. Edison, Inc. United States : 1898. / http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/papr:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(awal+1317))+@field(COLLID+workleis))
/ The subject of this film is a basketball game played between teams of girls. / Basket ball, Missouri Valley College / American Mutoscope & Biograph Company. United States : 1904. / http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/papr:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(awal+1203))+@field(COLLID+workleis))
/ This film shows an actual six-round contest between Mike Leonard and Jack Cushing. / Leonard-Cushing fight / Thomas A. Edison, Inc. ; producer, W.K.L. Dickson. United States : Kinetoscope Exhibiting Co., [1894] / http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/papr:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(edmp+4026))+@field(COLLID+workleis))
/ This film shows a man in period fishing clothing and using a short rod and net. / Bass fishing / American Mutoscope & Biograph Company. United States : 1903. / http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/papr:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(awal+0269))+@field(COLLID+workleis))
/ Excerpts of a 1903 football game between the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan. / Chicago-Michigan football game / Thomas A. Edison, Inc. United States : 1903. / http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/papr:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(awal+4184s2))+@field(COLLID+workleis))
/ Short film about part of a hockey game on a frozen lake. / Hockey match on the ice / Thomas A. Edison, Inc. ; producer, William Heise. United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1898. / http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/papr:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(edmp+0037))+@field(COLLID+workleis))
/ This film clip shows the end of the horse race at Sheepshead Bay. / Racing at Sheepshead Bay / Thomas A. Edison, Inc. ; producer, James White. United States : Edison Manufacturing Co., 1897. / http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/papr:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(edmp+0058))+@field(COLLID+workleis))
/ Ice skaters skate back and forth on a frozen pond in Central Park. / Skating on lake, Central Park / American Mutoscope and Biograph Company United States : 1902. / http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/papr:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(lcmp002+m2a37849))+@field(COLLID+workleis))
/ This film provides short clips of many different people roller skating in their daily life. / The roller skate craze / Selig. United States: 1907. / http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/papr:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(awal+1396))+@field(COLLID+workleis))
/ This film shows a parade of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. Actors in costume (cowboy, Native American, & cavalry) can be viewed. / Buffalo Bill's wild west parade / American Mutoscope and Biograph Company. United States : 1902. / http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/papr:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(lcmp002+m2b31268))+@field(COLLID+workleis))
Rubric
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Science of Fun and Sports PresentationsStudents Names: ______
CATEGORY / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Content - Accuracy / All content throughout the presentation is accurate. There are no factual errors. / Most of the content is accurate but there is one piece of information that might be inaccurate. / The content is generally accurate, but one piece of information is clearly flawed or inaccurate. / Content is typically confusing or contains more than one factual error.
Sequencing of Information / Information is organized in a clear, logical way. It is easy to anticipate the type of material that might be on the next card. / Most information is organized in a clear, logical way. One card or item of information seems out of place. / Some information is logically sequenced. An occasional card or item of information seems out of place. / There is no clear plan for the organization of information.
Effectiveness / Project includes all material needed to gain a comfortable understanding of the topic. It is a highly effective study guide. Proper citations are included. / Project includes most material needed to gain a comfortable understanding of the material but is lacking one or two key elements. It is an adequate study guide. Citations are included. / Project is missing more than two key elements. It would make an incomplete study guide. Citations are mostly included. / Project is lacking several key elements and has inaccuracies that make it a poor study guide. Citations are not included.
Cooperation / Group delegates tasks and shares responsibility effectively all of the time. / Group delegates tasks and shares responsibility effectively most of the time. / Group delegates tasks and shares responsibility effectively some of the time. / Group often is not effective in delegating tasks and/or sharing responsibility.
Handouts
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The Science of Fun and Sports in America
Student Checklist
Students Names ______
Project Timeline & ChecklistDay One / ÿ Sit with partner groups in IMC lab.
ÿ Play the What in the World Is That? game on the Library of Congress Website.
ÿ View the America at Leisure website.
ÿ View three sports films form the early 1900s.
ÿ Choose two of these films to carefully observe.
ÿ Complete first Motion Picture Analysis Worksheet.
ÿ Complete second Motion Picture Analysis Worksheet.
ÿ Hand worksheets in to your teacher.
Day Two / ÿ Gather yesterday’s analysis worksheets from your teacher.
ÿ Work together to answer your Essential Questions Discussion Worksheets.
ÿ Use details from yesterday’s Analysis Worksheets to include on today’s EQ Discussion Worksheet.
ÿ Create a draft of your PowerPoint.
ÿ Open the PowerPoint Template.
ÿ Enter pictures, citations, and details onto each PowerPoint slide.
ÿ Hand in worksheets to your teacher.
Day Three / ÿ Gather yesterday’s analysis worksheets from your teacher.
ÿ Open the PowerPoint Template.
ÿ Enter pictures, citations, and details onto each PowerPoint slide.
ÿ Practice rehearsing your slideshow presentation.
ÿ Hand in worksheets to your teacher.
Day Four / ÿ As a group present your findings to the class.
ÿ List your thoughts about other groups’ findings.
Teaching with Primary Sources
Illinois State University
The Science of Fun and Sports in America
Student Essential Questions
Students Names ______
Directions: Read through yesterday’s Movie Analysis Worksheets and then answer the four Essential Questions. Think carefully about how your sport’s equipment, uniforms, and stadiums have changed over the last 100 years. Why would it not remain the same?Q #1 / How have science and technology given humans the ability to improve their surroundings (and sports activities)?
Q #2 / How do sports and leisure equipment use scientific knowledge and skills?
Q #3 / How has scientific knowledge and economics driven technological development?
Q #4 / What are the future effects of science and sports technologies?
The Science of Fun and Sports in America
Student PowerPoint Draft
Students Names ______
Directions: Review your Analysis and EQ worksheets. Write a plan for a four slide PowerPoint presentation. Enter your observations and data in the appropriate spaces. Present this information to the class in two days.Slide #1 / Slide #2
Slide #3 / Slide #4