Jackie Robinson was the first black man to play professional baseball. His accomplishments on and off the baseball have had a longstanding impact on American life. Tomorrow we celebrate the anniversary of this birthday (January 31, 1919). To help students across the country learn more about about Jackie Robinson, we have compiled our favorite resources to share how #42 broke baseball's color barriers.
- The Breaking Barriers Essay Contest provides a chance for diverse students in grades 4-9 to share their personal stories and how they use Jackie Robinson’s values to face their own barriers. Contest deadline: March 13, 2015.
- In this Kids Press Corps interview, Sharon Robinson answers questions from Kid Reporter Amiri Tulloch about her father, Jackie Robinson; her book Jackie Robinson: American Hero ; and 42 , the movie about Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier.
- Watch this booktalk on Jackie's Nine: Jackie Robinson's Values to Live By , written by Jackie's daughter, Sharon Robinson.
- In this biography Sharon Robinson shares a personal family story. The family story includes Jackie Robinson’s accomplishments and how they impacted American life.
- For a number of titles on the great Jackie Robinson, check out recommended books from the Book Wizard.
- Through this activity students study the definitions of Jackie Robinson's Nine Values with interactive digital flashcards and then test their knowledge with a quiz.