Lesson Plan: In The Game

Essential Questions

• What is fairness?
• What does it mean to be a good teammate? 

Literature Connection

• Novel: Slam! by Walter Dean Myers
• Novel: Fast Break by Mike Lupica

Preview Text Features (5 minutes)

Have students open their magazines to page 18 and 19 to read the story’s title and subtitle. Then:

• Ask students to answer the question posed in the subtitle: “What does it really mean to be a champion?” Answers will vary. Some students may answer in the literal sense: A champion is someone who has defeated all rivals to become No. 1. Others might say that a champion is a “winner” in other senses of the word, such as always doing what’s right.

• Point out the bubbles in the margins of the story and the arrows that connect each one to a sentence in bold. Preview the questions in the bubbles as a class.

Preview Vocabulary (10 minutes)

• Direct students’ attention to the vocabulary box. Go over the words (alternate, legendary, whimper, hobble) and their definitions together.
• Play the Vocabulary Slideshow.

Set a Purpose for Reading (5 minutes)

• Before students start reading, set a purpose for reading by telling them that they will make inferences about “In the Game.” Explain that making an inference means figuring out something that isn’t directly stated by using clues from the text. Point out the activity on page 23, which allows students to practice making inferences.

• Read the story aloud to the class. Stop at bold sentences and have students answer the questions in the margins. (Sample answers are below.)
  
• After each section, ask students to summarize what happened.
• Afterward, discuss the critical-thinking questions.

Answers to the Close-Reading Questions (20 minutes)

• Setting (p. 19) Cory is in line outside a shoe store, waiting to get inside to buy a pair of special new sneakers called Isaiah Jackson Retro 4s.
• Inference (p. 19) It seems like Cory’s dad gave money to the cashier to skip the line. This tells us that Cory’s dad is willing to break the rules to get what he wants. 
• Character (p. 19) Cory might be thinking that it wasn’t fair for him and his dad to skip the line and that the kid in the hoodie should have gotten the shoes that Cory got.
• Inference (p. 20) Cory is sure he and Jason will be on the list because his dad is putting the list together. He also mentions that Jason is “maybe the best player on the team.”
• Compare and Contrast (p. 20) Jason likes the shoes because he’s a fan of the player they’re named after, Isaiah Jackson. Cory likes them because everyone thinks they’re cool.
• Character’s Motivation (p. 20) Cory’s dad picks two other kids over Jason because one kid’s dad works with him and the other is a family friend. This doesn’t seem fair. He should consider the players’ skill and dedication, not their relationship to him and his family.
• Character (p. 21) This shows that Jason is a good sport. He might be disappointed,  but he’s supporting the team. This probably makes Cory feel worse because it highlights how much Jason deserves a chance to play.
• Inference (p. 21) When Cory sees Jason’s brother, he knows the game is important for Jason. His brother has come to surprise him and watch him play. Cory is unhappy that Jason isn’t getting to play.
• Problem and Solution (p. 22) Cory’s problem is that he’s uncomfortable with his dad’s decision. He’s torn between the knowledge that it’s not his fault and the knowledge that it’s still wrong.
• Problem and Solution (p. 22) Cory has decided to solve the problem by pretending to get injured. He fakes an ankle injury and leaves the game, giving Jason a chance to play.
• Inference (p. 22) We can tell that Cory and Jason’s team won the tournament because they’re taking home the trophy.
• Character (p. 22) Cory is happy at the end of the story because he fixed an unfair situation. Giving Jason a chance to play made Cory feel good, and it was good for the team.

Critical-Thinking Questions (5 minutes)

• What does it mean to be a team player? What traits do good team members have? (critical thinking) Sample answer: Being a team player means putting the needs of the group above your own. For example, Cory was a good team player because he looked out for Jason. Traits of good team members include cooperativeness, generosity, and selflessness.

• Guide students to complete the activity on page 23. 
• Have students further examine Cory’s character by working together on our Character Skill Builder. (Click here to see all your Skill Builders.)
• Writing prompt: Imagine that you’re Cory, and it’s the night after your team won the tournament. Write a letter to your dad telling him that you faked the injury that took you out of the game. Explain your reasons for doing what you did and the results of your actions.