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Interpreting the Evidence

Children Play Baseball in Central Park, New York City, c. 1900

Student View

About this Activity

  • Documents in this Activity:
  • Historical Eras:

    Turn of the Century and WWI (1890 - 1930)

  • Thinking Skill:

    Historical Analysis & Interpretation

  • Grade Level:

    Lower Elementary
    Upper Elementary
    Middle School
    High School
    College University

  • Topics:

    Community
    Environment

  • Primary Source Types:

    Photograph

  • Regions:

    New York City
    New York State

  • Creator:

    NYS Archives Partnership Trust Education Team

  1. Load Children Play Baseball in Central Park, New York City, c. 1900 in Main Image Viewer

Suggested Teaching Instructions

Document Description
Boys playing baseball in Central Park, New York City, c. 1900.
Historical Context
Central Park had no playgrounds when it was first constructed.  Whole families would gather at the park on Sunday afternoons, and the children had to make their own play areas.
 
Essential Question
What do people do with their free time?
 
Check for Understanding
Describe what is happening in the photograph and compare it to how you spend your free time.
Historical Challenges
Write about how baseball equipment, clothing, and rules have changed since the early 1900s.
 
Interdisciplinary Connections
Math: Create your own baseball cards, including the statistics on the back.
Science: Find out how baseballs are made. Find out what bats are made of.
English Language Arts: Research the lives of some famous New York baseball players.
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