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The average height of an NBA player is 6 feet 6 inches. Their wingspan, however, can be different from their height. Wingspan is the distance between a player’s outstretched fingertips. In this lesson, students will explore if their height & wingspan are the same or different.
Grades 3-5
• PE 4.E4.3 Recognizes the role of rules and etiquette in physical activity with peers.
• PE 4.E4.4 Exhibits etiquette and adherence to rules in a variety of physical activities.
Grades 6-8
• PE 4.M6.6 Identifies the rules and etiquette for physical activities, games and dance activities.
• PE 4.M6.7 Demonstrates knowledge of rules and etiquette by self-officiating modified physical activities and games or following parameters to create or modify a dance.
Students will learn the basic rules of baseball.
Worksheet
Discussion Questions
• Why do you think understanding the rules of baseball is important for players and fans?
• How do the rules of baseball promote fair play and sportsmanship?
• In what ways do you think teamwork is important in baseball?
Reflection Questions
• How do you think understanding the rules of baseball can help you appreciate the game more?
• If you could change one rule in baseball, what would it be and why?
This lesson aims to provide essential background knowledge about the basic rules of baseball. This background knowledge will be useful in future lessons.
• Start the lesson by asking students about their experience with baseball.
• If they have ever watched or played baseball or just general knowledge they have about the sport.
• You can record student answers on the board or have students work in small groups and write their answers on a paper with their groups.
• Continue the conversation by leading students in a short discussion using the questions provided or your own.
Explain to students that they will learn the basic rules of baseball and some fundamental skills needed to understand and enjoy the game.
• Review the basic rules of football listed below with students, then have them complete the worksheet.
Field Layout & Player Positions
Explain the basic rules of pitching, hitting, and running bases:
• Pitching: The pitcher throws the ball towards home plate, aiming to strike out the batter or force them to hit the ball.
• Hitting: The batter attempts to hit the pitched ball and reach base safely.
• Running Bases: Runners advance around the bases in a counter-clockwise direction, aiming to reach home plate and score a run.
Discuss other important rules such as fouls, fair balls, and outs.
Basic Rules
• Explain the scoring system in baseball, where each run is scored by a player completing a circuit around the bases and touching home plate.
Scoring
• Explain the scoring system in baseball, where each run is scored by a player completing a circuit around the bases and touching home plate.
• Worksheet answers in order
• This lesson can take on multiple forms depending on your class. If you want to use this lesson as a game, consider making notecards or writing the words from the word bank on large pieces of paper ahead of time.
• You could also create slides or a Kahoot to review these terms. This would all need to be completed before teaching the lesson.
• The goal of baseball is to score more runs than the opponent.
• The job of the home plate umpire is to call balls and strikes.
• A regulation major league baseball game lasts 9 innings.
• A grand slam is worth four runs.
• If a pitcher throws 3 strikes, he has thrown a strikeout.
• If a pitcher throws 4 balls, he has thrown a walk.
• The four infield positions are first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, and shortstop.
• Every pitch involves a pitcher throwing a baseball to a catcher.
• When a batter hits a fair ball over the outfield fence on the fly, he has hit a home run.
• When a batter hits the ball, the hit is either fair or foul.
Use the information below to determine the final score of Game 7 of the 2023 National League Championship Series between the Diamondbacks and Phillies in Philadelphia on October 24, 2023.
• Top of the 1st - Christian Walker grounded out, Corbin Carroll scored.
• Bottom of the 2nd - Alec Bohm homered to left.
• Bottom of the 4th - Bryson Stott doubled, Alec Bohm scored.
• Top of the 5th - Corbin Carroll singled, Emmanuel Rivera scored; Gabriel Moreno singled, Corbin Carroll scored.
• Top of the 7th - Corbin Carroll hit a sacrifice fly, Geraldo Perdomo scored.
• Final Score: 4-2
• Winning Team: Diamondbacks
• End the lesson by leading students in a short discussion about what they learned using the questions provided of your own
• Turn this lesson into a game and see which team can earn the most points.
• Have students create their own word problems using the rules of baseball.
• Students can make a visual representation showcasing what they learned about baseball rules.
