Jackie Robinson | BHM | Baseball | Readers Theater Script

This Jackie Robinson Historical Figure Readers Theater Script engages students in an interactive narrative instead of reading a dry history textbook. Abigail and Benjamin follow Jackie Robinson, the first Black player in Major League Baseball, who joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

Script Summary:

This script shows how Jackie faced prejudice both on and off the field but refused to strike back physically. With support from figures like Branch Rickey and his wife, Rachel, he rose to stardom while also speaking out for civil rights. His letter to President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958 demands immediate change rather than waiting for “patience.” The script ends with Jackie’s 1962 Hall of Fame induction speech, highlighting his sense of responsibility to help others. Through baseball and activism, Jackie Robinson pushed for equality and broke a major color barrier in sports and beyond.

This product includes a zip file consisting of:

1) Readers Theater Script

• ~9 Characters, 1650 words in editable DOCX Format (9 pages)
• Includes factual historical information, primary source quotes, and narrative storytelling
• Themes & Discussion Question Prompts

2) Comprehensive Script Worksheet

• Includes Student Copy and Answer Key in PDF & Google Slides Formats (4 Pages | 17 Slides)
• 10 Vocabulary Words: Definitions based on the context of the script to build historical literacy
• 10 Short-Answer Questions: Comprehension and recall questions based solely on the script, ensuring students can analyze the content without requiring additional research.
• 5 Long-Format Writing Questions: Encourage deeper reflection and analysis, using the full text of the included primary source.

3) Two Primary Source Documents

• Jackie Robinson’s Letter to President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1958)
• Jackie Robinson’s Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Speech (1962)
• 2 Primary Source Texts, DOCX Format (2 pages)

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Teaching Tips for Using the Script:

• For digital classrooms, upload the DOCX Script and convert to Google docs
• For More Students: Main character can be read by multiple students.
• For Less Students: Minor characters can be read by just one student.
• This script should take about ~25 minutes and depending on your classroom's level it may be suitable for other grade levels.
• An extra ~25 minutes for prep, discussion, vocabulary or short answer comprehension questions should also be planned.