Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Rags-to-Riches Biography”

Students will research a successful NBA or WNBA player who came from humble beginnings and create a media presentation to show parallels between this athlete and Lonnie.

Research an NBA or WNBA player who shared similar challenges in their childhood/upbringing as Lonnie. Use a media presentation app such as a slideshow to show parallels between Lonnie’s story and the early life of the basketball player you research. Use the questions below to guide your thinking.

• Where did the basketball player grow up, and how does that setting compare to Harlem?
• What was the basketball player’s home life like? How many siblings did they have?
• What were some unique struggles the basketball player faced growing up?
• What was the socioeconomic background of the basketball player?
• How did the player learn to play basketball?
• Did the basketball player have an extra job, finish high school, or face street violence?

·         their subject. You might also explain that WNBA players are a little more difficult to research because there is less information about them online, but students can use

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