Objectives:

As a result of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. describe the status of baseball as a sport in Nicaragua.
   
2. explain how baseball in Nicaragua reflects the concept of cultural diffusion.
   
3. analyze Nicaragua’s National Hymn for meaning.
   
4. identify some of the National baseball teams found in Nicaragua.
   
5. name and identify at least two Nicaraguan baseball players that have played or currently play in the Major Leagues.
   

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Materials:

1. Student Handout: Nicaraguan National Hymn
   
2. Student Handout: Béisbol
   

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Activities:

1. Begin the lesson by asking students to list the sports they like to play, whether as an organized activity or just for fun. Place their list on the chalkboard.
   
   a. Ask students to explain what they like most about playing their particular sport. Why do they enjoy it?
   b. Survey the class again by asking students to guess what the most popular sport is in Nicaragua, based on their current knowledge.
   c. After completing the survey, tell the class that the most popular sport in Nicaragua is baseball. Does that surprise them? Why?
   
   
2. Ask students if they have ever played attended a professional or semi-professional baseball game and ask for a show of hands.
   
   a. Ask them what the first activity is in any baseball game or professional sporting event. (Playing the National Anthem)
   b. Distribute the student handout entitled Nicaraguan National Hymn.
   c. Direct students to read the Nicaraguan National Hymn. You may wish to play the anthem if a recording is available. (For Spanish language classes, you may wish to duplicate only the Spanish language version and have the students translate the hymn.)
   d. Ask students to interpret lines 1-4. What do these lines reveal about Nicaragua’s history?
   e. Ask students to interpret remaining lines. How do they reveal a sense of national pride and hope for the future?
   
   
3. Distribute the student handout entitled Béisbol.
   
   a. Direct students to read the first page of the handout.
   b. Ask students to explain how the origins of baseball in Nicaragua reflect the concept of cultural diffusion (the spreading of ideas and cultural practices from one culture to another).
   
   
4. Direct students to read the remainder of the handout.
   
   a. Based on the handout, ask students to explain why they think baseball can be considered Nicaragua’s national pastime.
   b. Ask students to evaluate the success of Nicaragua’s national teams. How competitive do they appear to be?
   
   
5. Concluding Activities (Select those that are most appropriate for your subject matter and grade level.)
   
   a. Using available library and/or Internet resources, assign students research one of the Nicaraguan players who has made it to the major leagues and to report their findings to the class.
   b. Using a map of Nicaragua from a previous lesson in this Resource Guide, direct students to identify and label the five different cities that have baseball teams in Nicaragua.
   c. Have students create and design a picture of a logo or a mascot for one of the five baseball teams.
   

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