I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR TEACHERS

Teacher Instructions

1. Before class prepare the handout and the transparency. Make copies of the cards in the visual section so that each pair will have one set.
   
   
2. Have the students form pairs. Distribute a set of cards to each pair and Handout 1 to each student. Have the students do #1. Review the answers.
   
   
3. Have the students do #2. (Do not review the answers.)
   
   
4. Give one student in each pair Handout A and the other student Handout B. Explain how to form questions. Have them do the information gap activity. 

Answer Key to Student Activities

Notes

Babe Ruth was the first player to hit over 50 homeruns.
Jackie Robinson was the first black player to join MLB.
Oh was the one of the most famous baseball players in Japan.
Nomo was the first Japanese baseball player who was successful in MLB.
Ichiro established a new record for hits in a season in MLB.

II. STUDENT ACTIVITY HANDOUTS

Handout 1

1. Form pairs. Each pair will receive a set of cards. Each card has a historical event that occurred either in the history of American baseball or in the history of Japanese baseball. Divide the cards into events that happened in the U.S. and events that happened in Japan.

2. Let's make a comparative baseball history chart.

(1) First, place the cards for the history of American baseball in chronological order from the past to the present. Do the same for the history of Japanese baseball.

(2) Place each card in a cell in the chart below.

Handout A

You have the answers for the history of American baseball below and your partner has the answers for the history of Japanese baseball. Exchange information so that both of you have the answers for both countries. 

e.g., ウイルソンが日本の学生に野球を教えたのは何年ですか？ 

c.　戦争（せんそう）が終わって、プロ野球がまた始まりました。
g.　ウィルソンが日本の学生に野球を教えました。
h.　戦争（せんそう）のため、野球をすることができなくなりました。
k.　プロ野球ができました。
l.　王（おう）がホームランを５５本打ちました。

Handout B

You have the answers for the history of Japanese baseball below and your partner has the answers for the history of American baseball. Exchange information so that both of you have the answers for both countries. 

e.g., カートライトが野球のルールを作ったのは何年ですか？

a.　女性のプロ野球ができました。
b.　イチローがメジャーリーグで新しい記録（きろく＝ record）を出しました。
d.　ジャッキー・ロビンソンがメジャーリーグに入りました。
e.　野茂（のも）がメジャーリーグに入りました。
f.　ベーブ・ルースがホームランを６０本打ちました。
i.　プロ野球ができました。
j.　カートライトが野球のルールを作りました。

III. VISUAL AIDS FOR TEACHERS

IV. FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES

Have the students do more research on the history of baseball and expand the lists. In particular, they can focus on when the various leagues were created and when famous players joined their teams and their records. Review verbs like 出来た, 入った, and 打った.