All resources in Erskine Personal Impact Curriculum (EPIC)

Search

The Best We've Got: The Carl Erskine Story (Educational Full Version)

(View Complete Item Description)

This is the educational version of the documentary about Carl Erskine, the last of the Brooklyn Dodgers’ storied “Boys of Summer” who had a profound social impact in diversity and inclusion. Carl was witness to Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball and the beginning of Special Olympics. Produced by Ted Green Films in partnership with the Indiana Historical Society and Special Olympics Indiana, this film shows Carl's life themes of friendship, loyalty, acceptance, inclusion, diginity, leadership, and social change.

Material Type: Lesson

Author: Special Olympics Indiana

The Best We've Got: The Carl Erskine Story (Part 1)

(View Complete Item Description)

This is Part 1 of the educational version of the documentary about Carl Erskine, the last of the Brooklyn Dodgers’ storied “Boys of Summer” who had a profound social impact in diversity and inclusion. Carl was witness to Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball and the beginning of Special Olympics. Part 1 follows Carl Erskine from his youth in the burgeoning industrial town of Anderson, Indiana, through meeting Jackie Robinson and signing a Major League Baseball contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers. In between, it covers Carl’s deep friendship with Johnny Wilson, and the courage the two of them — Carl being White, Johnny being Black — showed in navigating the racism of the era. Produced by Ted Green Films in partnership with the Indiana Historical Society and Special Olympics Indiana, this film shows Carl's life themes of friendship, loyalty, acceptance, inclusion, diginity, leadership, and social change.

Material Type: Lesson

Author: Special Olympics Indiana

The Best We've Got: The Carl Erskine Story (Part 2)

(View Complete Item Description)

This is Part 2 of the educational version of the documentary about Carl Erskine, the last of the Brooklyn Dodgers’ storied “Boys of Summer” who had a profound social impact in diversity and inclusion. Carl was witness to Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball and the beginning of Special Olympics. Part 2 traces Carl’s colorful baseball career during the Golden Age of the sport, including his two no-hitters, World Series strikeout record and five World Series appearances. It also delves deeply into Carl’s relationship with Jackie Robinson, Major League Baseball’s first Black player, and shows how Carl was, according to the nation’s leading expert in diversity in sports, “one of the first white allies.” Produced by Ted Green Films in partnership with the Indiana Historical Society and Special Olympics Indiana, this film shows Carl's life themes of friendship, loyalty, acceptance, inclusion, diginity, leadership, and social change.

Material Type: Lesson

Author: Special Olympics Indiana

The Best We've Got: The Carl Erskine Story (Part 3)

(View Complete Item Description)

This is Part 3 of the educational version of the documentary about Carl Erskine, the last of the Brooklyn Dodgers’ storied “Boys of Summer” who had a profound social impact in diversity and inclusion. Carl was witness to Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball and the beginning of Special Olympics. Part 3 opens with the birth of Carl’s son Jimmy, who has Down syndrome, and then dives back to show the mistreatment of people with intellectual disabilities that began in the United States’ Industrial Age. It then shows how the Erskines bucked the trend by not institutionalizing Jimmy and instead brought him home, and how they subsequently became national pioneers in the acceptance of people with special needs. Produced by Ted Green Films in partnership with the Indiana Historical Society and Special Olympics Indiana, this film shows Carl's life themes of friendship, loyalty, acceptance, inclusion, diginity, leadership, and social change.

Material Type: Lesson

Author: Special Olympics Indiana

Playing for Change (Read Aloud)

(View Complete Item Description)

The story tells how Carl Erskine became lifelong friends with Johnny Wilson, then Jackie Robinson. Also, learn the story of how Carl compares his World Series ring and son Jimmy’s Special Olympics medal.32 pages Suggested for grades 4-6  ISBN: 979-8-9863985-1-8Library of Congress: GV861. L87 B76 2022

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan, Reading

Author: Special Olympics Indiana

The Parallel: EPIC Edition (Audio Book)

(View Complete Item Description)

Carl shares stories about his childhood friend Johnny Wilson, his days as a Dodger pitcher and his teammate Jackie Robinson. He takes us on the journey from the day his son Jimmy was born through their experience with Special Olympics. The book includes discussion questions and activities for students to reflect on parallels of the stories.40 pages  Suggested for grades 7–12ISBN: 979-8-9863985-0-1Library of Congress: HM831 .E77 E65 2022

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan, Reading

Author: Special Olympics Indiana

Playing for Change: Interactive Notebook and Jigsaw

(View Complete Item Description)

After reading Playing for Change, students will have the opportunity to break into groups and do research about various subgroups and topics provided in the text. The intention is for this to be a jigsaw activity where groups can organize their information with the interactive notebook sheets provided, and then present or share with the class what they have learned. Teachers can use this for language arts or social studies assessments, if needed. 

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan

Author: Special Olympics Indiana

Differences

(View Complete Item Description)

In this lesson, students will learn about their classmates and teacher in a way that builds community and cohesiveness in the learning environment. Using the book, Playing for Change, students will discuss differences in the characters who were accepted and those who were not. In pulling these elements out of the plot, students will then identify differences in themselves that possibly relate to others in the classroom. 

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan

Author: Special Olympics Indiana

Bravery Mini-lessons Series

(View Complete Item Description)

In this lesson, students will learn about their classmates and teacher in a way that builds community and cohesiveness in the learning environment. Using the book, Playing for Change, students will discuss differences in the characters who were accepted and those who were not. In pulling these elements out of the plot, students will then identify differences in themselves that possibly relate to others in the classroom. 

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan

Author: Special Olympics Indiana

Wanna Play? (Read Aloud)

(View Complete Item Description)

Story tells how Calr Erskine became lifelong friends with Johnny Wilson, then Jackie Robinson.  Also, learn the story of how Carl compares his World Series ring and son Jimmy’s Special Olympics medal. This video is 8:37 minutes.32 pages Suggested for grades 1-3  ISBN: 979-8-9863985-0-1Library of Congress: HM831. E77 E65 2022

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson, Reading

Author: Special Olympics Indiana

Load more