The speaker explains the beauty of a
noble death.
We act heroically when we stand up
for what we believe in, despite the
consequences.
From the text page, click the “Assign
Text” button or download the PDF.
Have students read the text and
answer the accompanying questions,
then update their graphic organizers.
Reading &
Questions
"How Jackie
Robinson
Changed
Baseball" (7th-8th
Grade)
Jackie Robinson advocated for racial
justice throughout his life, despite the
possibility of facing severe
consequences.
Standing up for what we believe in will
often compel us to act heroically.
From the text page, click the “Assign
Text” button or download the PDF.
Have students read the text and
answer the accompanying questions,
then update their graphic organizers.
Pairing
Questions for "If
We Must Die"
and "How Jackie
Robinson
Changed
Baseball"
A. It is best to stand up for what someone believes in because that person
will likely help others.
B. It is best to stand up for what someone believes in because justice will
prevail.
C. It is best to stand up for what someone believes in, even if there
could be severe consequences.
D. It is best to stand up for what someone believes in, but they should give
in if the situation becomes difficult or dangerous.
After students read each text and
answer the accompanying questions,
have them use their annotations and
graphic organizer to answer the
pairing question set.
Multiple Choice Question: Part A: Which of the following best identifies Jackie
Robinson’s and Claude McKay’s shared perspective on standing up for what one
believes in? [RI.3, RL.3]
Multiple Choice Question: Part B: Select TWO quotations that best support the
answer to Part A. [RI.1, RL.1]
2
A. “UCLA had some of the most racially integrated college sports teams at
the time, but Robinson was still among a very small minority of non-white
athletes on all his teams.” (“Jackie Robinson,” Paragraph 4)
B. “In 1938, while still at junior college, he was arrested after
disputing the police’s detention of one of his black friends.” (“Jackie
Robinson,” Paragraph 5)
C. “As he stepped onto the field as first baseman in 1947, Jackie Robinson
became the first Major League baseball player to break the color barrier
since 1880.” (“Jackie Robinson,” Paragraph 9)
D. “round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, / Making their mock at our
accursèd lot.” (“If We Must Die,” Lines 3-4)
E. “What though before us lies the open grave?” (“If We Must Die,” Line 12)
F. “Like men we'll face the murderous, cowardly pack, / Pressed to
the wall, dying, but fighting back!” (“If We Must Die,” Lines 13-14)
Answers will vary; students should discuss how Jackie Robinson embodied
the heroism described in McKay’s poem because he faced adversity headon to do what was right and to preserve his dignity. In “If We Must Die,”
the speaker discusses the beauty of a noble death, in which one stands up
for oneself against “the murderous, cowardly pack” (Line 13). The poem
suggests there is a group of people (including the speaker) who are being
persecuted by an unruly mob. Because death is inevitable, the speaker
argues that fighting against this mob is the only way to reclaim the dignity
that the mob is trying to take away from them. Likewise, Jackie Robinson
“confronted racism head on,” risking his freedom and livelihood in the
process (Paragraph 5). In one incident, Robinson was arrested after
“disputing the police’s detention of one of his black friends” (Paragraph 5).
Later he was arrested for refusing to sit in the back of a non-segregated
bus. In each instance he could have faced stiff jail sentences, but he chose
to fight against racism in an effort to preserve his dignity.
Open Response Question: How did Jackie Robinson embody the type of heroism
identified in “If We Must Die”? [RI.3, RL.3]
3
Reading &
Questions
"Theseus and the
Minotaur" (5th-6th
Grade)
Theseus risks his life to save the lives
of his people.
We act heroically so we can help
others who are being treated unjustly.
From the text page, click the “Assign
Text” button or download the PDF.
Have students read the text and
answer the accompanying questions,
then update their graphic organizers.
Reading &
Questions
"The
Underground
Railroad" (5th-6th
Grade)
Harriet Tubman risked her freedom
and life to help African Americans
escape slavery.
We act heroically so we can help
others who are being treated unjustly.
From the text page, click the “Assign
Text” button or download the PDF.
Have students read the text and
answer the accompanying questions,
then update their graphic organizers.
Pairing
Questions for
"Theseus and the
Minotaur" and
"The
Underground
Railroad"
A. bravery in the face of danger
B. patience despite pressure
C. tolerance of others who think differently from them
D. knowledge of their enemies
A. “Theseus insisted that he understood the dangers but w
Explanation:
