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Moneyball - Lesson Plan

Moneyball - Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan for Moneyball

DAY 1 – 4   Discussion Page

  1. Read Chapters 1-2; 3; 4-5; 6-7.  Pay close attention to the Issues/Questions to Ponder in the various chapters.

  2. Writing - Paraphrasing

In your own words, write what is meant by this sentence:  "Baseball statistics, unlike the statistics in any other area, have acquired the powers of language."

      3.  Write 4 facts and 4 opinions from the story here:

Facts Opinions
1. 
1.   
2. 
2.
3. 3.
4. 4.

Write the supporting details here:
Who
 What
When
 Where
How Why
   

DAY 1: What are some of the facts which explain why Billy Beane had a major problem at the beginning of the 2002 season?

DAY 2: What did Bill James do with the various statistics he accumulated about Major League Baseball?

DAY 3: What feat did the Oakland Athletics accomplish during the 2002 Major League Baseball season?

DAY 4: Select one member of the Oakland Athletics team, of 2002, and describe what happened to him in succeeding years.

EXTRA: Do you think that "sabermetrics" played a role in the outcome of the Oakland Athletics' 2002 season?  Why/why not?

Watch the following video-clips about the movie, Moneyball:

1.  Moneyball movie trailer

2.  Moneyball, Behind the Scenes

3.  Moneyball Featurette

 

Write details about the characters and events in Moneyball.

Characters Events Relating to the Following:
1. Billy Beane
 1. Cory Lidle
2. Paul DePodesta/"Peter Brand"
 2. Scott Hatteberg
3. Art Howe
 3. Ron Washington
4. Bill James
 4. Barry Zito

Essay Writing

Complete the sentence below, and write your essay here:

Billy Beane's budget was drastically cut after his team - the Oakland Athletics - was purchased by a new owner.  Forced to find a new way to build his team, using less money, Beane did not panic.  If individuals facing a crisis are unwilling to explore new options  ...

 

Building Vocabulary Skills

Select five words from the Visual Vocabulary Builder and write sentences using each of those words.

 

Book Quote Page

Write sentences to explain each of the quotes from the book:

  1. Page 13 - Stanford University's Dean of Admissions (Fred A. Hargadon) writes to Mrs. Beane:  "We are withdrawing Billy's admission...I do wish him every success, both with his professional career in baseball and with his alternate plans for continuing his education." 

  2. Page 37 - Billy Beane outlines a situation to his baseball scouts:  "We're blending what we see but we aren't allowing ourselves to be victimized by what we see."

  3. Page 54 - Billy Beane makes an observation about himself:  "It wasn't anyone's fault.  I just didn't have it in me."

  4. Page 140 - Paul DePodesta (referred to as "Peter Brand" in the film version) describes his reaction to unpopular ball players:  "What gets me really excited about a guy is when he has warts, and everyone knows he has warts, and the warts just don't matter."

  5. Page 262 - Michael Lewis describes Scott Hatteberg's reaction to his winning home run:  "He shouts at his teammates.  He's not saying:  Look what I just did.  He's saying:  Look what we just did!  We won!"


ANSWER KEYS for Moneyball - Available to logged-in Academic Members - PART 1;  PART 2