With the crack of a bat, Marcenia Lyle rounds the bases with ease and slides into home. It’s the ballfield she knows and loves best. So when famous baseball manager Gabby Street comes scouting players for summer camp, Marcenia steps up to the plate to compete. She’s determined to pursue her passion and defy the naysayers who discourage her from following her dream because she’s a girl. Catching the Moon tells the spirited story of the Black girl who grew up to become “Toni Stone," the first woman to play for an all-male professional baseball team. This production is part of The Kindness Project.

Themes: Determination, Self-Esteem, Overcoming Odds, Kindness

1. Have you read the book "Catching the Moon: the Story of a Young Girl’s Baseball Dream" by Crystal Hubbard? If so, what differences can you identify between the play and the book?
2. What is your biggest dream for your future? 

  CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.(K-5).2:: Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.

Pick three words from the list and use them in an original sentence or paragraph. You can also draw a picture, illustrating the definitions.

• Postponed - put off to a later time
• Rarefied - very high
• Sacrifice Fly - when a batter hits a fly-ball knowing it will likely be caught (making him out), but which allows a runner to score
• Unconventional - out of the ordinary
• Pennant - a small pointed flag 
• Prospect - having a chance of happening
• Extraordinaire - impressive or extremely good
• Umpire - a baseball official who rules on plays
• Dugout - area where players and coaches sit when not on the field
• Cleats - athletic shoe with special bottoms to give players greater traction on the field

  CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.(K-5).4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases.

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Vocabulary Baseball
Use vocabulary from your classroom for this game, or you can use our vocabulary from the show above. Divide your class into two teams. As a class, identify locations in the classroom for first, second, third base, and home plate. It might be a good idea to label these locations with signs. A “batter” from one of the teams comes up to home plate and is given a definition. They need to provide the corresponding word. If the batter is wrong, they are out. If they are right, they go to first base. The next batter in that team comes up and attempts to move them over. After three outs, the other team is up. Teams earn points for each member who rounds the bases and makes it back to home base. The team with the most points wins!

  NCES-ELA.L.2.4: Determine and/or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 2 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of strategies: context clues, word parts, word relationships, and reference materials 

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Achievements Collage
The act of thinking about the times you have succeeded can help you build confidence in the times you are unsure of yourself. Have your students make a list of all of their “wins” or achievements. Once their list is complete, have them illustrate these achievements either with their own drawings or with images cut from magazines, photos from home, or other visual media.

  NCES-VisualArts.2.V.3: Create art using a variety of tools, media, and processes, safely and appropriately. NCES-VisualArts.2.V.1.2: Create original art that expresses ideas about people, neighborhoods, or communities.

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s production of Catching the Moon is based on a book by author Crystal Hubbard. Hubbard is a full time author and former sports journalist and has published over 20 books. Other titles she has written include "Who is LeBron James?", “Marvelous Mabel: Figure Skating Superstar”, and "Game, Set, Match: Champion Arthur Ashe". "Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl’s Baseball Dream" was her first children’s book.

1. How did our characters each show kindness throughout the show and how did their actions affect the other characters?
2. When did Mr. Street change his mind about Marcenia? What made him change his mind?
3. Describe a time when you have shown kindness to a friend, family member, or even a stranger. 

  CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.(K-5).2: Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media. NCES-TheaArts.2.TA.A.1.2: Analyze the relationships between events, characters, and settings.

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Kindness Challenge
Have your students list different ways they can show kindness every day and keep the list in a place that is visible like the board in the front of the room.  Challenge your students to do one kind thing every day for someone else.

  NCES.Health.2.ICR.1.5: Exemplify how to communicate with others with kindness and respect.

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Design your own Pennant
Pennants are used in a variety of ways. Sports fans can use them to show off their love of a team or a player.  Have your students design their own pennant for something they are a fan of.
Pennant Printable

  NCES.TheaArts.2.AE.1: Understand how to design technical theatre components, such as costumes, sets, props, makeup, lighting, and sound. NCES.VisArts.2.V.3: Create art using a variety of tools, media, and processes, safely and appropriately.

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Journal Time
Set a timer for 5-10 minutes and have your students journal about this prompt: “One day I will..." When they are finished, you can have them share their journals with the class to start a conversation about dreams, goals, and actions.

  CCSS-ELA-Literacy.W.(K-5).2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

Every play Children’s Theatre of Charlotte produces is created by a talented team of designers, technicians, actors, and a director. As a class, discuss what you experienced when you saw the performance.

1. Name three things you noticed about the scenery. Did the scenery help tell the story? What sort of scenery would you design?
2. What did you like about the costumes? Did the costumes help tell the story? What sort of costumes would you design?
3. What role did lighting play in telling the story? How did the lights enhance what you were seeing?
4. Talk about the actors. Were there moments you were so caught up in the story you forgot you were watching a play?
5. Were there any actors who played more than one character? What are some ways you can show you are a different character?

  NCES-TheaArts.(3-5).TA.A.1: Analyze literary texts and performances. NCES-TheaArts.(3-5).TA.AE.1.2: Understand how costumes [and technical elements] enhance dramatic play.

Learn more about the real Toni Stone

• MLB website
• Library of Congress
• Society for American Baseball Research

If you enjoyed the show, travel to ImaginOn or your local Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branch and check out these books. Check availability at cmlibrary.org.

• Mamie on the Mound: A Woman in Baseball's Negro Leagues by Leah Henderson
• A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson by Michelle Green
• Queen of the Diamond: The Lizzie Murphy Story by Emily Arnold McCully
• Remember My Name: My Story, from First Pitch to Game Changer by Mo'Ne Davis
• Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages