Dear Marlins Think Tank Reader: Everyone remembers the 1997 & 2003 World Series Championships. Those were great moments on the field. However, we are most thankful for the great moments created off the field. Contained in this booklet are many examples of those great Marlins memories created with you in the classroom. As a teacher, you give students the tools they need to succeed. Your dedication changes lives. We are here to help. We would love baseball to be a part of your instructional curriculum. This can be used to engage students and spark their desire to learn. The Miami Marlins are committed to continuing to make a positive impact in education. Marlins Think Tank is a perfect way to add some fun into learning. For more information about Marlins Educational initiatives, please visit www.marlins.com/community. See you in the classroom. Regards, David Samson This Marlins Think Tank guide details the variety of educational offerings available to South Florida schools when partnering with the Miami Marlins.
Get your school connected to the appropriate Marlins representative who can lead you through the necessary steps to be part of these unique educational programs. For more information, go to marlins.com/thinktank. THE LINEUP MARLINS THINK TANK... 2 MARLINS THINK TANK WEEK... 3 MARLINS THINK TANK ART CONTEST... 4 BREAKING BARRIERS ESSAY CONTEST... 5 GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY... 6 MARLINS PARK TOURS... 7 PEP RALLIES... 8 FACULTY AND STAFF DISCOUNTS... 9 WEATHER DAY... 10-11 FUNDRAISING SCHOOL SPIRIT GAMES...12 STUDENT CLUB DAYS...13
Marlins Think Tank aims to enrich the learning experiences of children in grades four through six by linking baseball to the following curriculum areas: Writing Language Arts Mathematics Social Studies Science Health & Fitness The Marlins Think Tank provides lesson plans - which meet Common Core State Standards as adopted by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) - with Miami Marlins baseball as the theme for each lesson! Students will read, learn, and have fun with the Marlins Think Tank, and even hear from current Miami Marlins players through interactive videos! Classrooms that complete a Marlins Think Tank lesson are also eligible to enter for a chance to win a Marlins Think Tank Week visit. FOR OLDER STUDENTS The Marlins Think Tank offers an exclusive Career Day section which includes video messages from Marlins front office professionals across several departments. The videos address topics such as career paths, keys to success, goals, and more! The Marlins Think Tank is available for free to all teachers and classrooms at marlins.com/thinktank. 2
MARLINS THINK TANK WEEK Every year, classrooms that take advantage of the Marlins Think Tank curriculum have the opportunity to meet Miami Marlins players, coaches, and broadcast personalities. During Marlins Think Tank Week, the Miami Marlins roster will visit classrooms across South Florida listening to presentations from students, sharing personal experiences in education, and celebrating what they learned. To participate in the Marlins Think Tank Week, fourth through sixth grade classrooms must submit a completed Marlins Think Tank lesson. The Marlins Think Tank Week takes place during May of each year. Check marlins.com/thinktank for official rules and dates. 3
MARLINS THINK TANK ART CONTEST The Miami Marlins recognize that an important part of developing a strong mind is stimulating creativity and imagination. The Marlins Think Tank Art Contest is open to students of all grade levels. Winners of the contest are eligible to receive great prizes, such as: Autographed Items Tickets to a Marlins Game Access to Marlins Batting Practice On-Field Recognition at a Marlins Game Eligible artwork must include: artist s name, contact information, school, grade, and teacher s name. Send to: Miami Marlins, c/o Think Tank Art Contest Community Outreach Department 501 Marlins Way Miami, FL 33125 The contest is held in the fall. For details on the Marlins Think Tank Art Contest, visit marlins.com/thinktank. 4
BREAKING BARRIERS ESSAY CONTEST Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life is a baseball-themed character education program developed by Major League Baseball and Scholastic Inc., which uses America s Pastime, baseball, as the metaphor for life. The curriculum is based on the values demonstrated by barrier breaker and baseball legend Jackie Robinson: Determination Commitment Persistence Integrity Justice Courage Teamwork Citizenship Excellence The Breaking Barriers essay contest invites students in grades four through eight to submit an essay about barriers they have faced or are still facing in their lives. The essay should aim to demonstrate how the student used the values exemplified by Jackie Robinson to deal with those obstacles. Contest rules and deadlines are released each Fall. For more information, visit mlb.com/breakingbarriers.
GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY The Marlins have demonstrated a commitment to giving back to the community through philanthropy and service. The Marlins also encourage South Florida s youth to engage in community service, and we invite them to join us on Global Youth Service Day. The 2013 season marked the Inaugural Marlins-led Global Youth Service Day project, which was held at Shake-A-Leg Miami. In 2014, the Marlins partnered with the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade for a beautification project. Global Youth Service Day projects engage youth in hands-on activities that leave the world in better shape as a result of their service. Global Youth Service Day takes place in early April each year. The opportunities are limited, so contact community@marlins.com for more information and to reserve your space today! 6
MARLINS PARK TOURS Classrooms can now experience a behind-the-scenes tour of Marlins Park! Marlins Park, deemed the jewel of Major League Baseball, is a state-of-the-art, 37,000- seat retractable roof facility in the heart of Miami. Special sites featured during the tour include: MLB Playing Field Marlins Home Clubhouse Marlins Home Batting Cage Bobblehead Museum Aquariums behind home plate Tours can be organized to meet the specific needs and interests of your class. Specialized tours include: Environmentally-focused Green Tours Art in Public Places Tours History of Sport Tours Tours for students are offered at a discounted rate! For every 10 students, one chaperone receives a complimentary admission. To schedule a tour for your class, call 1-877-MARLINS or e-mail tours@marlins.com. 7
PEP RALLIES The Miami Marlins recognize the hard work and dedication students and teachers put in all year. The Marlins also recognize that encouragement and motivation on the eve of their tests can help students perform to the best of their abilities. The Marlins offer a variety of services to support all students preparing for testing, including: DJ-hosted Pep Rallies Marlins Giveaways Billy The Marlin Appearances For more information and to schedule a Pep Rally for your school, visit marlins.com/apperances 8
FACULTY AND STAFF DISCOUNTS Celebrate education at Marlins Park! Join the Marlins as we show our appreciation for South Florida s educators. Teachers, administrators, and school employees receive an exclusive discount on tickets to multiple games throughout the season. 305.480.2523 GROUPS@MARLINS.COM 9
WEATHER DAY AT MARLINS PARK The Miami Marlins would like to invite students in grades three through eight to Marlins Park to be part of Weather Day! On Weather Day, students learn about hazardous weather that affects our area, including thunderstorms, lightning, hurricanes, and more. Weather Day features creative lessonplanning opportunities, in addition to the educational elements presented on game day. Schools begin arriving at 10:15 AM for a 10:45 AM educational program, and watch from the stands as meteorologists conduct a fun and informative presentation using the MarlinsVision video board. All schools in attendance will get to see their school or class name on the scoreboard during the game! Tickets start as low as $10! 305.480.2523 GROUPS@MARLINS.COM 10
Curriculum example of a previous Weather Day: 1. Thunderstorms Florida is the thunderstorm capital of the United States. How do they form? Water cycle 2. Lightning Florida is the lightning capital of the United States. How do they form? Safety (30:30 Rule) 3. Tornadoes / Waterspouts Florida is the waterspout capital of the United States and ranks 3rd in the nation for tornadoes. How do tornadoes and waterspouts form? Safety 4. Extreme Heat Safety 5. Hurricanes Florida is the hurricane capital of the United States. How do hurricanes form? Safety and Preparedness 305.480.2523 GROUPS@MARLINS.COM 11
FUNDRAISING SCHOOL SPIRIT GAMES Enjoy the excitement of Marlins baseball while raising money for your school! Tickets are made available to your school at a discounted rate, allowing its sale at face value to benefit your fundraising needs. The individuals or groups buying your tickets will be able to sit together at the game, creating a lasting memory. Your group name will be displayed on the MarlinsVision video board. For larger groups, we have additional benefits, such as singing the National Anthem or performing on our West Plaza! We will provide promotional materials such as customized flyers for your group to print and distribute, as well as posters to help promote your special group outing. The Marlins fundraising program is easy and profitable. Follow these steps to begin your fundraising today: Choose your game Select a seat category Estimate the number of tickets needed Give us a call! 305.480.2523 GROUPS@MARLINS.COM 12
STUDENT CLUB DAYS The Marlins understand the importance extracurricular activities play in contributing to the development of well-rounded students. We offer various gameday special events for the following clubs: DECA Key Club Fine Arts Leadership Math Music Showcase Robotics Speech & Debate For more information on how to customize your Club s outing and to purchase group tickets, contact: 305.480.2523 GROUPS@MARLINS.COM 13
marlins.com/thinktank Bring your group to Marlins Park! groups@marlins.com