Sammy Sosa acknowledges the crowd while the Maris family look on.
Photo:Antonio Pérez
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Many people say that every picture tells a story and that a picture is worth a thousand words. Photographs are pictures and they too tell a story.
It is easy and fun to learn from photographs. The secret is to learn how to "read" a photograph. When you learn to "read" a photograph you will be developing a skill known as visual literacy.
Activity
You can prepare to practice visual literacy by talking to someone such as a classmate, a family member, or your teacher about paintings, drawings, and photographs.
Talk about the answers to these questions:
What is a painting?
What is a drawing?
What does an artist use to create a drawing or a painting?
What is a photograph?
What does an artist use to create a photograph?
What can you learn by looking at a photograph?
The work of the artist and the photographer is similar. The major difference between them is the tools they use in their art.
Activity
You probably already know many things about baseball.
Share your knowledge with someone by answering these questions:
Do you like to play baseball?
What team do you play on?
What position do you play?
What is a home run?
Are home runs hard or easy to hit? Why?
What do you think it feels like to hit a home run?
Can you name a professional baseball team?
Can you name a famous baseball player?
You can practice reading a photograph by looking at a photograph of a professional baseball player.
Activity
Look at the photograph quietly for one minute, and then tell someone what you saw. You may not realize it, but you probably only saw what the photographer wanted you to see.
Were you aware that the photographer focused your attention on the baseball player? Do you know who this person is? You are right! It is Sammy Sosa.
Activity
Continue talking to someone about what Sammy Sosa is doing. Explain what Sammy might be thinking about in this photograph. How would you know? Explain where the event is happening and how you know.
Now imagine that you are the photographer.
Tell why you took this photograph.
Explain what you want your audience to know about the event or about Sammy. Why is this important?
Activity
In order to help you better understand the photograph, it is important to have some information about Sammy Sosa. Did you know:
Sammy Sosa was born on November 12, 1968.
How old is he now?
Sammy plays for the Chicago Cubs. Name two other professional baseball teams.
Sammy Sosa's uniform number is 21. He chose the number because his hero, Roberto Clemente, the first Latino to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame, wore the number 21. Do you have a hero?
Sammy Sosa once hit two home runs in the same inning. Why is this impressive?
Sammy Sosa has hit 57 home runs in one season as a Cub.
Why is this impressive?
Activity
Sammy Sosa grew up in the Dominican Republic, which is in the Carribean Sea. What does this tell us about Sammy?
Many people say Sammy Sosa has a “heart of gold.” What does this mean?
Sammy Sosa started a program called The Sammy Sosa Foundation that works to help children all over the United States and the Dominican Republic. How could Sammy Sosa help children?
Sammy Sosa spends a lot of time visiting sick children in hospitals. How does this show a “heart of gold?”
Sammy Sosa gives baseball tickets to needy children. What is a needy child?
Every time Sammy Sosa hits a home run he gives 10 computers to schools in the Dominican Republic.
What does this tell you about Sammy?
Sammy Sosa gave food and money to the people in the Dominican Republic after a terrible hurricane.
What are some words you might use to describe Sammy Sosa?
Activity
Sammy Sosa is a positive role model. What does this mean?
Who is a positive role model in your life?
In 1999, Sammy Sosa came in second place in the home run race. Does coming in second mean he lost?
Why should Sammy Sosa feel proud of his accomplishments?
Sammy Sosa is a Latino Americano. What does this mean?
Do you know other Latino Americanos?
How might being a Latino Americano make life different for Sammy Sosa?
Activity
Look at the photograph of Sammy Sosa again. This time think about the information you learned about Sammy Sosa as you “re-read” the photograph.
What differences did you see when you re-read the photograph?
Using the information you have about Sammy Sosa, write an article for a newspaper. Use one of these topics "Sammy Sosa is a Hero", "Sammy Sosa - The Home Run Hitter", or your own topic. Remember to answer the questions; who, what, where, when, why, and how?
Look in the sports section of your newspaper. Find an article or photograph of:
1) Sammy Sosa
2) the Chicago Cubs
3) a Latino baseball player
4) another Latino athlete.
Share your findings with someone. |
