John H. Ritter, like many authors, draws from his own experience and knowledge when he writes his stories. Likewise, students find it helpful to draw upon their experiences in order to completely understand a text and to ultimately come up with their own conclusions about it. The following lesson plans will help you guide your students through Choosing Up Sides from before page one to beyond the last words.
The "Into" activities will provide a necessary schema toward a basic understanding of the issues involved in the novel. "Through" activities are designed for work in conjunction with reading the text, to further enhance understanding. "Beyond" activities will lead the students to appreciate the overall themes and ideas in the novel.
INTO:
1. John H. Ritter has said that baseball can be viewed as a metaphor for life. That is, there is a likeness or similarity between the game of baseball and various aspects of life. See if you can immerse yourself into the world of baseball. Listen carefully to an audio-taped portion of a major league baseball game. In your mind, see the players, sit in the stands, walk across the grassy field. After the game is over, write about your baseball adventure.
2. Share your writings with your classmates, then discuss what parts of the game reminded you of decisions, challenges, or circumstances in your own life. For example, has life ever thrown you a curve? Have you ever relied on someone else to come through for you? Have you ever had to make a split-second decision or judgment under pressure like an umpire must do?
THROUGH:
1. Luke Bledsoe has the amazing opportunity to see Babe Ruth play baseball. Imagine that you are Luke and that the Babe has asked to meet the "rising young star" that you are. Create a conversation between Luke and Babe Ruth.
2. Uncle Micah is a sports writer. To better understand this kind of writing, read through the sports section of a newspaper. Once you get a sense of how sportswriters replay the events to their readers, write your own sports column about Luke on the day he pitched against Skinny Lappman.
3. At the end of Choosing Up Sides, Luke Bledsoe carries a mountain of thoughts with him as he prepares to confront Pa and leave Crown Falls. Imagine you are Luke. Imagine that you are sitting on the riverbank writing in your journal, sorting out your thoughts, just before you go down to confront Pa. What would you write?
4. Imagine that you've decided to write a letter to Luke at this same point. Imagine that he would read your letter right before he goes down to the river to talk to Pa. What advice would you give Luke? What would you want him to remember as he talked to his father? What should Luke try to accomplish in his talk? Is there anything you'd warn him not to do?
BEYOND:
1. A year has passed since the accident in the river, and the Bledsoe family has had to make a number of adjustments. Step into their home and life, and create a journal entry for Ma, for Chastity, and for Luke. What is life like for them now? Focus on their thoughts, their dreams, and their possible concerns. What have they learned about the consequences of prejudice? About being true to one's self? About accepting others who are different?
