1 GAMEday EDUCATION CURRICULUM 2010 Making Learning Fun for Everyone!
2 Dear Teachers, Get ready for GAMEday Education 2010 with the Peoria Chiefs! Included in this education packet are exercises you can do with your class to help them get excited about coming out to see a ballgame. In the spirit of trying to make learning fun, you will see that each exercise not only concerns baseball but implements elements of common school subjects as well. Each exercise is included to help students learn more about baseball while increasing their intellect and making learning fun. Exercises are grouped by subject. The main subjects covered are Geography/Social Studies, Math, English and Brain Busters. There are multiple exercises for each subject so feel free to choose the best exercise or two for your particular class. Also, for 2010 we ve included our brand new Student Media Program which allows two of your students to work as credentialed media pre-game and experience Minor League Baseball from a reporter s viewpoint. Please be sure to check out all the details at the end of this packet. Our hope is that your class not only enjoys completing the exercises, but that they will also learn some new fun facts about Chiefs Baseball and their school work. Any questions you may have about this packet or the GAMEday Education Days can be answered on our web site at www.peoriachiefs.com, where you will find a GAMEday Education link under the Community tab. This is also the place to find additional information about the 2010 GAMEday Education Days. 2010 GAMEday Education Days Thursday, May 6, 2010 11:00AM vs. Cedar Rapids Kernels Tuesday, May 11, 2010 11:00AM vs. Clinton LumberKings If there are any questions or concerns feel free to contact the Chiefs office at (309) 680-4000. Have fun and Go Chiefs!
3 WMBD 31 is proud to be part of the 2010 Peoria Chiefs GAMEday Education program. WMBD 31 Chief Meteorologist Marcus Bailey and our team of meteorologists will bring the weather education classroom to the ballpark. Kids will learn about how meteorologists observe the atmosphere and forecast the weather. What s the difference between a watch and a warning; you ll find out. Students will also learn how weather impacts the game of baseball. We ll have video presentations and hands-on experiments down on the field. WMBD s mascot, Snow Bear, and Peoria Chiefs mascot Homer will assist to make the weather presentation a fun-filled event. So, come on out to the ballpark, learn about the weather, cheer on the Chiefs, and have a great day. Best Regards, Marcus Bailey WMBD 31 Chief Meteorologist.
4 Table of Contents Geography Exercises including map locations and team s league information Midwest League page 5-6 Map of MLB Teams page 7-8 Activities... Games and fun learning exercises Secret Signs page 9 Word Search page 10 Crossword page 11 Ballpark Symbols page 12 Color Homer page 13 Mathematics. Calculating distances and monetary applications Mileage Chart page 14 Pie Chart page 15-16 Formulas & Concession Costs page 17 Baseball Field Dimensions page 18 English.. Language arts, spelling, and writing Baseball terms page 19 Noun & Verb Usage page 20 Chiefs Press Release page 21 Homer Fan Letter page 22 Baseball Scramble page 23 GAMEDAY... Exercises completed on Education gameday Questions at the Peoria Chiefs game page 24 Learning how to keep score page 25-26 STUDENT MEDIA PROGRAM page 27-31
5 The Midwest League The Chiefs are one of 16 teams in the Midwest League. The League is comprised of teams from the states of Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky. Below is a map of these 7 states. Test your geographical skills with the following questions. Teams in the MWL Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Beloit Snappers, Clinton LumberKings, Cedar Rapids Kernels, Quad Cities River Bandits, Burlington Bees, Kane County Cougars, Peoria Chiefs, West Michigan Whitecaps, Great Lakes Loons, Lansing Lugnuts, Lake County Captains, Fort Wayne Tin Caps, Dayton Dragons, South Bend Silver Hawks, Bowling Green Hot Rods 1. Identify the capitals of each state. 2. Which state or states borders the most other states in the league? 3. Use the internet to identify the population of each city that has a team.
6 Directions: Use the map of Midwest League Teams to answer the following true or false questions. T or F 1) The state of Ohio has 2 Midwest League teams. T or F 2) The Lansing Lugnuts are located in Ohio. T or F 3) There are 2 teams in the state of Illinois. T or F 4) The Fort Wayne TinCaps are south of the West Michigan Whitecaps. T or F 5) The South Bend Silver Hawks are the only Midwest League Team in Indiana. T or F 6) The eastern division has eight teams. T or F 7) There are only 4 states that have Midwest League Teams in them. T or F 8) The state of Iowa has the most Midwest League teams. T or F 9) The Kane County Cougars are located in the state of Wisconsin. T or F 10) The Peoria Chiefs must travel West to play the Burlington Bees.
7 Directions: Using the map on the following page, place the number of the Major League Baseball team next to the blue dot that marks the city in which that team plays. Remember, some cities have more than one Major League team and there is one team that doesn t play in the United States. Major League Baseball Teams (alphabetical order) 1) Arizona Diamondbacks 16) Milwaukee Brewers 2) Atlanta Braves 17) Minnesota Twins 3) Baltimore Orioles 18) New York Mets 4) Boston Red Sox 19) New York Yankees 5) Chicago Cubs 20) Oakland Athletics 6) Chicago White Sox 21) Philadelphia Phillies 7) Cincinnati Reds 22) Pittsburgh Pirates 8) Cleveland Indians 23) San Diego Padres 9) Colorado Rockies 24) San Francisco Giants 10) Detroit Tigers 25) Seattle Mariners 11) Florida Marlins 26) St. Louis Cardinals 12) Houston Astros 27) Tampa Bay Rays 13) Kansas City Royals 28) Texas Rangers 14) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 29) Toronto Blue Jays 15) Los Angeles Dodgers 30) Washington Nationals
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10 Q T M S E P F Y B A R L W M A D D U X G O N Q P P O H Q S J H J G K I E R L M P L O Y K I I U C W I L D F L Z Y R E Z A I N A T A S B I A L X R L A T W R A R Y R I L G S F C C E A B H D P J D O E D G H V C R I S P N N E R A H F G Y A C M I Find the following Major League Baseball Players LAST NAMES in the word search above. All of the players listed played or coached for the Peoria Chiefs!!! 1) Rick ANKIEL 6) Greg MADDUX 2) Coco CRISP 7) Yadier MOLINA 3) Joe GIRARDI 8) Albert PUJOLS 4) Mark GRACE 9) Jim TRACY 5) Danny HAREN 10) Jack WILSON
11 ACROSS DOWN 1: 2 base hit 2: The man behind the catcher 5: Mistake that allows a runner to reach base 3: The tool used by players in the field 6: Not a ball (pitch) 4: Round tripper (2 wds) 8: Person who coaches the team 6: One player bunts, the other steals home 9: Ball hit out of play 7: Where relief pitchers warm up 11: Run batted in (abbrev.) 10: Area over the plate between the knee and 12: Player who teams up with the pitcher on every play chest (2 wds) 14: Sticky substance used for better grip (2 wds) 13: A fly ball that is caught, but score a run (2 wds) 15: The best teams from each league playing for the 16: Getting two outs in succession (2 wds) championship (2wds) 17: 1base hit 18: An infield hit where the hitter doesn t swing the bat 19: Advancing one base by way of a pitcher s 20: 3 base hit mistake 21: Three white bags on field 22: Wooden stick 22: Not a strike, the other half of base
12 Symbols at a Ballpark Every game at the ballpark is started with the singing of the National Anthem. Players, fans, coaches and students all turn and face the American flag while listening to the performance. Being an American is a great honor, use these thoughts as you learn more about these patriotic symbols. 1. Who was Betsy Ross? 2. Why is the American flag nicknamed Old Glory? 3. Unscramble the flag words:
13 Color Homer Use your creativity and artistic skills to color Homer.
14 Directions: Answer the following questions using the mileage chart for the Midwest League. MILEAGE CHART BEL BG BUR CR CLI DAY FTW GL KC LC LAN PEO QC SB WM WIS BELOIT X 505 220 180 120 395 280 425 80 460 325 160 160 200 280 160 BOWLING GREEN 505 X 500 570 560 265 350 560 445 465 475 415 535 370 520 605 BURLINGTON 220 500 X 110 110 430 380 545 200 580 450 100 80 300 400 360 CEDAR RAPIDS 180 570 110 X 90 510 380 560 220 600 430 180 80 300 400 275 CLINTON 120 560 110 90 X 440 300 470 130 505 350 110 40 220 300 235 DAYTON 395 265 430 510 440 X 130 310 330 220 260 335 435 210 330 495 FORT WAYNE 280 350 380 380 300 130 X 250 200 240 130 280 310 90 150 350 GREAT LAKES 425 560 545 560 470 310 250 X 370 300 90 470 485 270 110 525 KANE COUNTY 80 445 200 220 130 330 200 370 X 405 250 140 170 130 220 200 LAKE COUNTY 460 465 580 600 505 220 240 300 405 X 255 505 515 275 320 560 LANSING 325 475 450 430 350 260 130 90 250 255 X 350 370 160 70 400 PEORIA 160 415 100 180 110 335 280 470 140 505 350 X 100 220 300 280 QUAD CITIES 160 535 80 80 40 435 310 485 170 515 370 100 X 240 320 270 SOUTH BEND 200 370 300 300 220 210 90 270 130 275 160 220 240 X 120 275 WEST MICHIGAN 280 520 400 400 300 330 150 110 220 320 70 300 320 120 X 370 WISCONSIN 160 605 360 275 235 495 350 525 200 560 400 280 270 275 370 X 1) How many miles do the Peoria Chiefs have to travel to play the Fort Wayne TinCaps? What is the total mileage of the round trip? 2) If Burlington travels to play Lansing on Friday through Sunday and then travels to South Bend on Monday for games Monday through Wednesday then returns home after their game. How many total miles will Burlington travel? 3) How many hours will it take the Peoria Chiefs to get to the Cedar Rapids Kernels if the bus is traveling 60 Miles per hour? 4) What team is the furthest from the Bowling Green Hot Rods in miles? 5) What city is the closest to the Lake County Captains in miles?
15 Directions: By using the Chiefs Roster on the next page answer the following questions. 1) Who is the tallest player on the team? 2) Who is the youngest player on the team? 3) How many players do the Chiefs have on their active roster? 4) How many pitchers do the Chiefs have on their active roster? 5) How many catchers do the Chiefs have on their active roster? 6) How many infielders do the Chiefs have on their active roster? 7) How many outfielders do the Chiefs have on their active roster? 6) Color the Pie Chart to show what percentage of the players are pitchers, catchers, infielders and outfielders. % of the Chiefs are pitchers % of the Chiefs are catchers % of the Chiefs are infielders % of the Chiefs are outfielders
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17 Here s the Pitch ERA & $$$ Statistics are very important to pitchers. People want to know about wins and losses, earned run averages, strikeouts and walks. One of the most important statistics to a pitcher is his earned run average. An earned run is one scored without the help of an error. An unearned run is when the runner could not have scored without the benefit of an error. The formula for determining a pitcher s earned run average is: ERA = (ER x 9) / IP An earned run average is represented by a whole number and decimal carried out to two places, such as 3.96. Figure out the ERA for these Peoria Chiefs pitchers for the 2009 season. PITCHER IP ER ERA Chris Archer 109.0 34 Erik Hamren 58 2/3 39 Chris Carpenter 73 2/3 20 Justin Bristow 100 1/3 50 Josh Whitlock 22 1/3 13 Ryan Buchter 61 9 Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack At a Chiefs game, you can buy a souvenir, something to eat and something to drink. Figure out how much the person owes and the change each person gets from a $20 bill. CUSTOMER ITEMS TO BUY COST CHANGE FROM $20 Mike hat, hot dog, soda Jenna hamburger, fries Ryan baseball, peanuts, soda Brian t-shirt, popcorn, ice cream Christy 2 hot dogs, soda, t-shirt
18 Directions: Use the above diagrams to help answer the following questions. 1) What shape is home plate? 2) Using the dimensions of home plate, what is the perimeter of home plate? 3) What is the distance in feet, a batter will run if he hits a triple? 4) If a player hits 2 home runs and strikes out in his other at bat, how many total feet will he run around the bases? 5) If you walked from home plate, down the foul line, to the right field fence, approximately how many yards would you walk? 6) BONUS: What is the area of home plate? (hint: you have to use the 3 shapes that make up the plate)
19 Directions: The following terms are important for any baseball fan to know in order to understand what is going on around them. Use the list as a spelling quiz, definitions or have the students write an essay using 8 of these terms. TERMS- Around the horn: throwing the ball around the infield after an out Ball: a pitch that is thrown outside of the strike zone Blooper: a soft, shallow outfield hit Bunt: to bat a pitched ball lightly so that is does not go beyond the infield Clean up Batter: the 4 th hitter in the batting line-up Closer: a relief pitcher gets the final outs for a win Double: a hit in which the batter reaches second base Double play: a play by which two players are out on the same play Error: a misplay by a fielder that should have been made Grand slam: a home run that is hit with the bases loaded Manager: the leader of the team who makes decisions and enforces the rules Pinch hit: to bat in place of a regular player RBI: Run Batted In Relief pitcher: the pitcher who replaces the starting pitcher when he is taken out of the game Rookie: a first- year player Sacrifice bunt: a play in which the batter bunts to move his teammate from one base to the next Single: a hit in which the batter reaches first base Steal: an attempt to advance to the next base without the ball being hit Strike: a pitch that is thrown in the strike zone Triple: a hit in which the batter reaches third base Triple play: a play in which three players are put out on the same play Umpire: the official who administers all of the rules of the game Walk: when a batter goes to first base because of four balls thrown by the pitcher
20 Verbs & Nouns Irregular Verbs You cannot add ed or-d to an irregular verb to show action that has already happened. That is why they are called irregular verbs. There is no pattern to irregular verbs. You just have to remember the spellings. Circle the correct form of the irregular verb for each of the following sentences. 1) Yesterday, the pitcher (begins / began) the game throwing nothing but fastballs. 2) The first two batters (drive / drove) balls into the outfield for hits. 3) The catcher (knows / knew) the pitcher had to throw another kind of pitch. 4) The pitcher (says / said) no and the team lost the game. 5) Today, there is a new pitcher. Now, the catcher (gives / gave) the pitcher the sign to (throw / threw) a curveball. 6) The pitcher (knows / knew) the catcher is right and throws a curveball. 7) The batter swings and misses the ball. He shakes his head. He (knows / knew) he should not have tried to hit the pitch. Compound Nouns A compound noun is a noun made up of two or more other words. There are many compound nouns in baseball. Rewrite the following sentences using a baseball compound noun. Example: The pitcher threw the ball fast. New sentence: The pitcher threw a fastball. 1) The ball bounced against the stop that was in back of the batter. New sentence: 2) The hitter ran down the line to the base. New sentence: 3) The park where the Peoria Chiefs play ball is called O Brien Field. New sentence: 4) The ball that curved over home plate tricked the batter into swinging. New sentence: 5) The game using a ball and running bases is played across the country. New sentence:
21 Directions: Read the following Chiefs press release and answer the questions that follow. The answers can be found in the reading. Write your answers on a separate piece of paper. PEORIA, IL- The Major League Baseball playoffs begin Wednesday with a very strong presence of former Peoria Chiefs players, rehab players, coaches and managers. Overall, 16 individuals who have worn the Chiefs uniform will participate in the 2009 playoffs led by seven with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals, as expected as a former affiliate, lead the way with seven former Chiefs and another three left off the postseason roster. MVP candidate Albert Pujols played in Peoria in 2000 and makes his sixth post-season appearance after hitting.327 with 47 home runs, 45 doubles, 135 RBI and 124 runs scored this season. He also led the Cardinals with a career-high 16 stolen bases. All-Star catcher Yadier Molina played with the 2002 MWL Champion Chiefs and hit.293 this season with six homers, 23 doubles and 54 RBI. Brendan Ryan finished second in the MWL batting race in 2004 and has solidified himself in the Cardinals infield with a.292 season that included 19 doubles, 37 RBI and 14 stolen bases. Outfielder Rick Ankiel pitched for the Chiefs in 1998 and was on the 2002 roster though he didn t appear in a game. This season the lefty hit.231 with 11 homers and 38 RBI. On the pitching side, the Chiefs have three former players in the Cardinals bullpen. Kyle McClellan was a Chiefs starter in 2004 before moving to the Cardinals bullpen last year. This season he was 4-4 with a 3.38 ERA in 66 games while earning three saves and 16 holds. Jason Motte was a catcher for the Chiefs in 2003 before making the move to the mound a few years later. He was 4-4 this season with a 4.76 ERA in 69 games while recording 15 holds. Rookie Blake Hawksworth was a 2003 MWL All- Star as a starter. He made his MLB debut in June and went 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in 30 relief appearances this season. The only non-cardinals player on a post-season roster is New York Yankees catcher Jose Molina. The older brother of Yadier, Jose played for the Chiefs as a Cubs affiliate in 1994 appearing in 68 games. Last season he hit the final home run in the history of Yankee Stadium. This year Molina appeared in 52 games and hit.217 with a homer and 11 RBI. He is expected to be A.J. Burnett s personal catcher in the post-season. Former Chiefs Manager Jim Tracy is back in the post-season after a four year absence. Tracy was the Chiefs skipper in 1987 and 1988 going a combined 141-139 with players Jerome Walton, Shawn Boskie, Derrick May, Mike Harkey and Heath Slocumb. Tracy began the season as the Colorado Rockies bench coach and took over on an interim basis on May 29 when the club was 18-28 and Clint Hurdle was fired. Under Tracy the Rockies went 74-42 and won the N.L. Wild Card. Tracy was also in the playoffs in 2004 as the Dodgers manager losing the NLDS in four games. The other manager in post-season play is Joe Girardi who was a player with the Chiefs in 1986. The East Peoria native led the Yankees to a 103-59 record and their first A.L. East title in three years. The former National League Manager of the Year is in his second season with the Yankees, a team he won three World Series with in the 1990s. The Chiefs have been represented in MLB s post-season in every year since they were shutout of the 1990 playoffs. Wally Joyner and Devon White were the first former Chiefs to see playoff baseball in the Majors with California in 1986. Since then 117 former Chiefs have played in a total of 483 playoff games. The most came in 2006 when 14 former Chiefs saw post-season action and there were six in the playoffs last year. Former Chiefs have won 22 World Series rings and at least one former Chief has been in the series every year since 1992 except for 2003. Former Chiefs have hit.268 in 400 playoff at-bats with 26 home runs while pitchers have gone 16-16 with one save and a 3.47 ERA in 88 games, 44 starts. Greg Maddux has the most years making the playoffs by a former Chiefs player with 12 while Pujols has now tied Girardi for second on that list with six appearances as a player. Pujols has already appeared in the most games (53), collected the most hits (61) and most home runs (13) by a former Chiefs player in MLB playoff history. Maddux leads the way for pitchers in games pitched (35), wins (11), losses (14) and has the only save by a former Chiefs player in MLB playoff history. Besides Maddux only four other former Chiefs have won post season games: Bud Smith in 2001, Danny Haren in 2004 and 2006 and Josh Kinney in 2006. On the managing side, only Tracy in 2004 and Joe Maddon last season have managed both the Chiefs and a playoff MLB team until this year. Questions: 1) How many home runs did Albert Pujols hit in the 2009 season? 2) Name the two brothers playing in the 2009 post season? 3) What was important about Jose Molina s home run in 2008? 4) Name the two former Chiefs who managed in the 2009 post season? 5) In what year did the most former Chiefs appear in post season play?
22 Write a Story About Homer! Homer is the Chiefs biggest fan! He loves kids of all ages. He would love to hear from you. Use a piece of paper to write a letter to Homer telling him about your favorite parts of a Chiefs game. Send your fan letter to Homer at this address: Homer c/o Peoria Chiefs 730 SW Jefferson St. Peoria, IL 61605
23 Unscramble the following baseball terms: Baseball Scramble nbut IRB uoldeb lakw albl aetls ktsire geslin aemt pirlet cthpier reuomhn ratbet rorer inw My Own Baseball Card Use a 5 x 8 index card to create your own baseball card as a member of the Peoria Chiefs. Decorate the front of the card to represent yourself or attach a photo. The back of the card should be completed as follows: Your Full Name: Date of Birth: Birth Place: Age: Drafted by the Chicago Cubs Others describe me as... When I grow up I want to be My favorite school subject is because
24 GAMEDAY QUESTIONS Directions: The following questions can be answered by attending the Peoria Chiefs baseball game on Thursday, May 6 th or Tuesday, May 11 th. The answers to these questions will only be available if you are at the game on one of these dates. 1. How many palm trees are there in left field? a) 7 b) 8 c) 9 2. How many concession stands are at the stadium? a) 12 b) 7 c) 4 d) 5 3. Behind what section is Guest Services located? 4. What is the name of the kid on the Pete Vonachen statue located on the concourse? 5. What is the Peoria Chiefs mascot s name? 6. Which dugout is the visitor s dugout? a) 1 st base b) 3 rd base 7. What is the color of the Chiefs hats? 8. Where is the American Flag? a) left field b) center field c) right field 9. What color are the stadium seats? 10. Did the Peoria Chiefs bat first or play the field first? 11. What color are the foul poles? 12. What beverage company sponsors the Right Field Picnic Plaza?