Our Current Wit & Wisdom Module:

Module 4 - Breaking Barriers

Click the following link for the Wit & Wisdom Family Letter to learn more about our program:  Wit & Wisdom Family Letter.

Click the following link for tips for supporting your child during Module 2:  Module 4 Tips for Families.

Module 4 Essential Question

How can sports influence individuals and societies?

Module 4 Summary

"Sport has the power to change the world … It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers.

—Nelson Mandela

How do sports influence individuals and societies? How can various forms of sport affect the way we view others? How can sports create opportunities for change? How can people use sports to challenge and overcome barriers? Students explore these questions to develop an understanding of the sheer power of sports to bring people together, to challenge injustices, and to provide hope for the future.  

There is so much in the world that cannot be predicted or prepared for. Yet sports remain a constant, teaching us from an early age the thrill of victory, the sadness of defeat, the power of teamwork, and the accomplishments made possible by working toward goals. Sports are a universal language, and they need not be defined by barriers of gender, culture, racism, or physical limitations. As a spectator or participant, sports can connect complete strangers and create experiences that teach valuable skills and make the world a better place. Students learn how the power of sports has been harnessed throughout history, and in our current day, to leave a positive, lasting impact in the world.

To begin their exploration of the power sports have to break barriers, students learn about the impact the South African rugby team had, under Nelson Mandela’s leadership of the country, in helping to unite and heal a nation wounded by decades of racial apartheid. Then students meet a spunky girl named “Squeaky” from Harlem, who is competitive and protective of her brother, but—through running—learns to see a rival in a new light and the true extent of her brother’s capabilities. Students study examples of athletes, coaches, teams, and organizations that have challenged and overcome barriers through sport. In the spirit of the “breaking barriers” theme, students also study several artists—including sculptor Mark di Suvero and Henri Matisse—who have overcome great challenges to create masterpieces. Each text, unified by the theme of breaking barriers through the power of sports, presents students with rich information that deepens their knowledge and understanding of how sports—instead of being defined by limits—provide a platform for people to prove what is possible. " (Wit & Wisdom Teacher's Edition page 2).

Module 4 Core Texts

Literary Nonfiction (Informational):  We Are the Ship: The Story of the Negro League Baseball, Kadir Nelson

"Jackie Robinson is arguably the most celebrated example of a barrier-breaker in sports for having integrated baseball in 1947, when he became the first African American to play professional baseball.  However, the story of the Negro Leagues - their players, coaches, and owners - is often untold.  In We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball  by Kadir Nelson, students learn the history of the Negro Leagues: how they started, why they prospered, and why they eventually disappeared.  They learn about the heart, determination, spirit, and strength of the men who made it possible for Robinson to cross the racist color line and end decades of segregation in baseball.  Nelson's rich oil paintings and "everyman" narrator captivate students' attention and lend a rare perspective on these little-known but worthy heroes."   (Wit & Wisdom Teacher's Edition page 2).

Module 4 Focusing Question Arcs

• Focusing Question Arc 1:  How can sports affect the way we view others? (Lessons 1-4)

• Focusing Question Arc 2:  How can sports  create opportunities for change? (Lessons 5-16)

• Focusing Question Arc 3:  How can people challenge or overcome barriers through sports? (Lessons 17-30)

• Focusing Question Arc 4:  How can sports influence individuals and societies? (Lessons 31-35)

• Focusing Question Arc 5: What is the story of the year? (Lesson 36)

Module 4 Quizzes and Assessments

• Quizzes:

  • • New-Read Assessment:  Lesson 9

    • Socratic Seminar:  Lesson 24

    • Vocabulary Quick Checks:

      • • VQC #1: after Lesson 5

          • • Quiz Date:  Friday, March 27th

            • Study Guide 

        • VQC #2:  after Lesson 14

          • • Quiz Date:  To be determined

            • Study Guide

        • VQC #3:  after Lesson 20

          • • Quiz Date:  To be determined

            • Study Guide

        • VQC #4: after Lesson 26

          • • Quiz Date:  To be determined

            • Study Guide

    • Question Sets:

      • • Lesson 3

          • • Quiz Date:  Wednesday, March 25th

            • Study Guide

        • Lesson 5

          • • Quiz Date:  Wednesday, April 1st

            • Study Guide

        • Lesson 11

          • • Quiz Date: To be determined

            • Study Guide

        • Lesson 18

          • • Quiz Date:  To be determined

            • Study Guide

        • Lesson 21

          • • Quiz Date:  To be determined

            • Study Guide

• Assessments:

  • • Focusing Questions Tasks:

      • • FQT#1: Lesson 4

        • FQT #2:  Lesson 16

        • FQT #3:  Lesson 30

        • FQT #4:  Lessons 34-35

    • End of Module Vocabulary Test - To be determined

      • • Vocabulary Study Guide - Click HERE!