1. “Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Lawrence Thayer

2. Baseball began in the United States in the mid-1800s. By the early 1900s the sport was so popular that people began calling it America’s national pastime. Thayer published “Casey at the Bat” on June 3,1888, as a staff writer for the San Francisco Examiner. In light of the nation’s continuing enthusiasm for baseball, it is small wonder that “mighty Casey” has remained a popular figure for more than 100 years. As you read this poem, think about what has changed in baseball since 1888, when the poem was written, and what has remained the same. Background Knowledge

3. Listen and follow along in your Interactive Reader on pages 176-180.

4. Re-read the poem to yourself. Use the Guide for Reading for help with unfamiliar words and difficult passages. Follow all directions and complete all exercises on pages 176- 181.

5. Watch the Disney version of “Casey at the Bat” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e rfSed2MUsA

6. Trading Card Creator Choose a character from “Casey at the Bat” and make a baseball card for him using the link below. The characters are: Casey, Cooney, Burrows, Flynn, and Blake. Refer to the poem, but you have the freedom to be creative as you develop this character. Have fun! http://www.readwritethink.org/files/r esources/interactives/trading_cards _2/