Teaching Students About Glory Road
Educators have the responsibility of creating engaging lesson plans and activities that not only teach essential skills but also inspire students. One way to achieve this is by incorporating stories that depict perseverance, courage, and overcoming adversity. Glory Road is one such story, an inspiring journey of a college basketball team that broke racial barriers in the 1960s. This blog post will provide K-12 teachers with ideas on how to teach students about Glory Road and make a lasting impact on their education.
The core message of Glory Road is the importance of teamwork and overcoming racial prejudice in the pursuit of success. This message can be effectively communicated to students through various means such as literature, film screenings, and group discussions. Begin by either reading the book by Don Haskins and Dan Wetzel or presenting excerpts to your students.
Next, organize a screening of the 2006 film adaptation starring Josh Lucas as Coach Don Haskins. Watching the movie collectively will enable all students to have a shared experience they can discuss later. Provide historical context before the screening to help illustrate the challenges faced by Coach Haskins and his players.
After presenting the story’s background, engage your students in group discussions about key themes within Glory Road. The idea is to encourage students to express their thoughts about teamwork, perseverance, equality, and making a difference in society. Encourage your young learners to analyze how these themes are portrayed in the movie or novel.
Group activities can also be organized as follows:
Assignments
Have your students conduct research on other figures from history who’ve taken a stand against discrimination or injustice in sports and society in general. Their findings can be presented through written essays, oral presentations, or creative visuals.
Art projects
Invite your students to create artwork or posters inspired by Glory Road that depict its characters or themes. Display these art pieces around your classroom or school to commemorate the story as well as to inspire other students.
Role-plays or debates
Organize role plays, debates, or mock trials to model scenarios on the team’s challenges throughout their journey to the championship. This method will help students get a better understanding of characters’ emotions and societal obstacles.
Teaching students about Glory Road should be an inspiring and engaging lesson to educate them about significant historical events while imparting vital life lessons. With your guidance, they’ll have a deepened understanding of the importance of teamwork, overcoming adversity, and standing up against social injustices. By sharing this story with your K-12 learners, you are setting them up for a brighter, more inclusive future.