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Alpha Stage
Da Bears
January 22, 2007
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Newspapers around the country are reporting on the fact that the
Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts will play against one
another in the Superbowl, two weeks from yesterday.

The Detroit Free Press reports, Chicago Bears' coach, "Lovie
Smith's arrival in Miami will make him the first black head coach to
reach the marquee game in its 41 years. Indianapolis' Tony Dungy
joined him in the game later Sunday night."

Two African American coaches competing against each other in the
Superbowl. It certainly won't be the first time that two African
Americans have competed against each other on the Superbowl
field.

Discussion-Starters for Younger Children

  • Ask your students if they can think of anybody different
    than them. Who? How are they different?
  • You might write a list of different characteristics of
    people on the board. On the other hand, students
    could draw pictures of the different types of people in
    their community.

  • Can your students think of anybody who is exactly like
    them? How does this make them feel? Why?
  • Consider asking students to draw a picture of things
    that they like to do. Even better, if they have access
    to cameras they might make a picture collage of
    things they enjoy doing.

  • Ask your students to name one person that they would like
    to meet. Why would they like to meet this person?
  • Students might write stories about meeting their
    chosen person.

  • Ask: If your mommy or daddy does something really good,
    can you feel proud of them? Why/why not? What if your
    friend does something really good?


Discussion-Starters for Older Students

  • Vocabulary terms to discuss: Memorable; Historic;
    Franchise; and, Electrifying.

  • Do your students think that professional football in the
    United States is more important than two teams playing
    against each other on the field? Explain!
  • Students might create news editorials, perhaps
    television editorials, in which they explain the
    importance of football to the United States.

  • The article discusses the fact that Rex Grossman, the
    Chicago Bears' quarterback, does not have a reputation as
    being exceptional. What lesson can be drawn from the fact
    that his team is going to the Superbowl?
  • You might ask students to write quick-writes in
    response to this question.
  • The NFL has already played 40 Superbowls What does it say
    about American culture that no African American has ever
    coached in the Superbowl before and this year two African
    Americans are coaching in it? Encourage your students to be
    thoughtful with their answers.

  • Consider asking students to interview others with this
    question as the center piece of the interview.
  • Ask your students to write a question about this article that
    they would like to find the answer to.
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