Literacy & Theatre Alignment by Gail Sehlhorst. Activities by Katie McKellar and Natasha Ransom. Design by Shannon Erickson Loys.

Based on STAT STANDING TALL AND TALENTED: HOME COURT by Amar’e Stoudemire, © 2012 by Amar’e Stoudemire Enterprises. Performed by permission of the author. All rights reserved. Illustrations by Tim Jessell from STAT STANDING TALL AND TALENTED: HOME COURT by Amar’e Stoudemire. Scholastic Inc./Scholastic Press. Illustrations copyright © 2012 by Scholastic Inc. Used by Permission.

Study Guide © 2014 Book-It Repertory Theatre. No parts of this guide may be reproduced without express permission.

HOW TO USE THIS STUDY GUIDEBook-It Repertory Theatre’s Arts and Education Program closely aligns its performances and learning materials with research-based reading instruction. The purpose of this study guide is to engage students in literacy objectives and hands-on activities that support the comprehension of Home Court.

• FIRST: READ THE BOOK As part of Book-It’s touring package, your school has received a copy of the story that serves as a permanent resource for your library.

• SECOND: SELECT ACTIVITIES Select one or all of the activities and adjust them to fit your students and classroom needs. Some activities are designed for teachers to lead students through an interactive process; directions and support materials are included for successful facilitation. Others are handouts for independent student work or to be used for whole-class instruction; these pages do not have directions for the teacher.

• THIRD: KEEP READING! Extend the joy of reading with the “Book-It Book List”—stories with similar themes for readers grades K-6.

Standards for the Study Guide and Performance: Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts*: R.CCR.1, R.CCR.2, R.CCR.3, R.CCR.4, R.CCR.6, RI.CCR.1, RI.CCR.5, L.CCR.4 Washington EALRs in Theatre: 1.1, 1.4, 3.1, 4.3*Exact standards depend upon grade level, reading the text, and instructional shifts to meet the standard.

Written byAmar’e Stoudemire

Illustrated byTim Jessell

Adapted byNick Edwards

Directed byStan Shields

L I T E R AC YO B J ECT I VE S

ACTIVATING PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

MAKING SELF-TO-TEXT CONNECTIONS

VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

BUILDING BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE

REFLECTING & EVALUATING

STAT—STANDING TALL AND TALENTED: HOME COURT

STUDY GUIDE

T H E M E S & CO N C E P T S

COURAGE, INTEGRITY, PERSEVERANCE, BULLYING,

TEAMWORK DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

HOME COURTSTAT - STANDING TALL AND TALENTED:

Book-It’s Arts and Education Program is dedicated to inspiring people of all ages to read. We tour a diverse range of stories to schools, libraries, and community venues throughout Washington State, conduct long-term residencies in schools, offer teacher professional development for school staff, and present low-cost student matinées of our mainstage shows. What you will see and hear at a Book-It performance is literature spoken by the characters as if it were dialogue in a play—actors speak both the narration and the dialogue. Book-It takes the written word back to its roots—storytelling!

INTRODUCTION TO BOOK-IT REPERTORY THEATRE’S ARTS & EDUCATION PROGRAM

Based on the life of Amar’e Stoudemire, Home Court tells the story of 11-year-old Amar’e. He struggles to balance his many extracurricular interests, school, and spending time with his friends Mike and Deuce. Amar’e finds a connection between his real-life problems and a school report on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when three high-schoolers take over the neighborhood basketball court and bully his friends. Amar’e, Mike, and Deuce pull together and stand tall in a winner-takes-all basketball game. This is the first of five books in Stoudemire’s slam-dunk fiction series, STAT.

Table of ContentsInformation on Book-It, the Story, and the Author Page 2Stand Up If... Activating Prior Knowledge Page 3Character Values Making Self-to-Text Connections Page 4 Bullying Making Self-to-Text Connections Page 5Basketball Vocabulary Development Page 6How do you STAT? Making Self-to-Text Connections Page 7What Will Happen Next? Reflecting and Evaluating Page 8Book-It Book List & Book-It’s Mainstage Season Pages 9-10

THE STORY: HOME COURT

Amar’e Stoudemire is a six-time NBA All-Star and a player for the New York Knicks. His career in the NBA began immediately after he graduated from high school in 2002 when he signed with the Phoenix Suns. At the same time he also started his own clothing line, acted in television and movies, and created a foundation to “help at-risk youth to succeed with the goal of eradicating poverty through education.” Stoudemire is a strong believer in encouraging kids to read and has a tattoo on his forearm that says “READ.” His hope in writing the STAT series is that it “creatively inspires a new generation to read.” Sources: www.amarestoudemire.com

THE AUTHOR: AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE

To provide an interactive relationship between youth and literature through diverse theatrical productions and educational programs that promote the joy of reading, enhance student and teacher learning, and inspire the imagination.

OUR MISSION

Author Amar’e Stoudemire

PAGE 2

STAND UP IF...

ACTIVATING PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Time: 10 minutes

Purpose: To activate prior knowledge of the characters, events, and concepts in the story—specifically: family, sports, success, and bullying.

Directions: To prepare, pre-select, adjust, and/or create statements that are appropriate for the level, age, and background of students.

To begin, students sit at their desks. Read aloud a series of statements and if the statement applies to the student they should stand, scan the room, and then sit for the next statement. Begin with simple statements to get everyone moving and then transition to statements related to the content that gradually get more sensitive as the activity progresses. After the activity, engage in reflection on how the statements relate to the story and students’ lives.

Dialogue: Just like good readers think about what they already know before reading, we’re going to think about our own experiences before seeing Home Court in an activity called Stand Up If...

I will say a series of statements starting with “Stand up if this statement is true for you...” and if the statement is true you will stand, look around the room to see who else is standing, then sit down and listen for the next statement. You can choose not to stand, even if the statement is true for you – that’s okay. No one comments or is allowed to say whether something is or isn’t true for another person – this is a silent activity. Let’s begin.

PRE-SHOW

PAGE 3

“Your greatest gift is just being you.”

HOW ARE YOU LIKE THE CHARACTERS IN THE STORY?

Stand up if this statement is true for you…

- I like chocolate.- I have a favorite sport.- I have seen a play before.- I have read (say the name of a book your students have read in class).

(Transition into content statements)

- I have a friend or family member who is very special to me.- I have a place I like to go that is very special to me.- I have been a part of a team (in the classroom, in a sport, at home…)- I have played a sport before.- I have lost a game.

- I have won a game.- I have felt proud.- I have felt left out before.- I have felt good about myself because of what some one else said or did.- I have felt bad about myself because of what someone else said or did.- I have teased someone so much it made them feel bad about themselves.- I have seen someone be bullied before.- I have stood up for someone being bullied before.- I like to help others.- I am really good at something.

Let’s Reflect!All of these statements relate to the play we’re about to see. How about you? What statements did you particularly relate to? Why? In the play we’re about to see the main character, Amar’e, must decide how to approach a group of bullies who have taken over a neighborhood basketball court. During the play, watch for his experiences.

INTEGRITYCOURAGE

PAGE 4

CHARACTER VALUES

MAKING SELF-TO-TEXT CONNECTIONSPRE-SHOW

“Dr. King stood up for what he believed was right against tough odds, and I’d sort of done that too.”

REPRESENTING OUR STRENGTHSIn Home Court, Amar’e has an assignment to write a paper on a historical figure. He chooses Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who organized peaceful protests and gatherings during the 1950s and ’60s to gain equal rights for African Americans. Amar’e finds connections between his own experiences and Dr. King’s.

They both show:• Courage: the ability to face a situation that is hard or dangerous.• Integrity: allowing your actions to show what matters to you. • Perseverance: the act of continuing to try to do something even if it is hard.

Think about a time you, like Amar’e and Dr. King, showed courage, integrity, and perseverance. Using the three basketballs below, write or draw a time when you showed these traits.

Sources: www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/the-power-of-non-violencewww.thekingcenter.org/king-philosophyhttp://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/enc_nonviolent_resistance

PERSEVERANCE

PAGE 5

BULLYING

MAKING SELF-TO-TEXT CONNECTIONSPRE/POST

SHOW

“They let us have it. They went all out, knocked into us, pushed us around, and didn’t give us any foul calls. It was ridiculous.”

BYSTANDERS, BECOME UPSTANDERS!In Home Court, the older kids on the playground bully Amar’e and his friends.

Look for the moments in the book and the play where bullying happens. Who is a bystander? Who is an upstander?

Bullying is constant verbal, physical or emotional abuse by one or more people.

Three types of bullying:Verbal—saying or writing mean things.

Social—hurting someone’s reputation or relationships.

Physical—hurting a person’s body or possessions.

A bystander is someone who witnesses bullying and doesn’t help the person being bullied. An upstander is someone who helps the person being bullied.

How to be an upstander:

• Don’t laugh • Don’t encourage the bully in any way• Help the person being bullied get away• Stand with the person being bullied and say something• Get other people to join in and stand up to the bully• Support the person being bullied in private• Tell an adult

Sources: www.stompoutbullying.org/index.php/information-and-resources/about-bullying-and-cyberbullying/bystanders-become-upstanderscapsli.org/kids/are-you-a-bystander-or-an-upstanderwww.kzoo.edu/psych/stop_bullying/for_kids/what_would_you_do.html

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?A smaller student in your class is often picked on by a larger student. One day, you are in the lunchroom. You see the bigger student trip the smaller student, causing them to fall and drop their tray of food. People start laughing. The smaller student is clearly upset and looks like they are going to cry…

What would YOU do? Write or draw in the space below.

BASKETBALL

VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENTPRE-SHOW

In Home Court, Amar’e and his friends play basketball. Some of the terms from basketball may be familiar to you, and others may be new. Basketball is played with two teams of five players each on a rectangular court. There is a metal hoop with a net on each end of the court, and points are scored by tossing the ball through the opponent’s basket.

Below are some terms and definitions that will help you better understand the story.

Sources: www.breakthroughbasketball.com/basics/basics.htmlwww.hoopsu.com/basketball-terminology/www.ducksters.com/sports/basketballglossary.php

“I sprinted over and took the ball at a full run. A few quick dribbles and I laid it up.”

BRICKA poor shot that bounces

hard off the rim or backboard.“We traded a few bricks.”

DEFENSEAlso called “D” for short,

keeping the other team from scoring.“I D’d up Carlos.”

DOUBLE-TEAMWhen two teammates guard one

person on the other team.“Or maybe we should double-team

him as soon as he gets it?”

DRIBBLEWhen a player runs while

bouncing the ball.“He started dribbling toward us.”

FOULWhen one player hurts another

player on purpose.“It was hard to miss the foul.”

FREE THROWWhen someone is fouled, they get to

take an unguarded shot from a line on the court called the “free throw line.”

He shot from “the free throw line.”

LAYUPWhen a player tries to make a basket

from close below the hoop, usually done with one hand.

“He knocked into Mike on his way to another layup.”

PASSThrowing the ball from

player to player.“He threw a quick pass.”

PICK / SCREENWhen one player gets between their teammate and the person

trying to guard them.“He clobbered Deuce on a moving pick.”

POSSESSIONTo be holding or in control of the ball.

“Carlos shot forward and took possession.”

PAGE 6

PAGE 7

HOW DO YOU STAT?

MAKING SELF-TO-TEXT CONNECTIONS

In the story, Amar’e’s father gives him the nickname STAT which means Standing Tall and Talented. You can “stand tall” with your body or with your actions by standing up for what you believe is right. “Talents” are skills or special abilities that you have.

“STAT was my dad’s nickname for me. It stood for Standing Tall and Talented. That’s how he wanted me to act and who he wanted me to be, so he called me that a lot.”

PRE/POST

SHOW

STANDING TALL AND TALENTED

What are some of your talents? How have they helped you in tough situations?Write or draw your answer below:

Amar’e uses his talents to stand tall in the story. Write or draw an example of how he stands tall.

PAGE 8

WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

REFLECTING & EVALUATINGPOSTSHOW

“It was Saturday, I was with my best friends, and the sun was still up. There was no way I was going to go home just yet.”

BECAUSE...

In Book-It’s performance of Home Court, the story isn’t resolved. It ends before the game has finished. What do you think will happen next and why?

STAT: STANDING TALL AND TALENTED

HOME COURTBOOK-IT BOOK LIST

I THINK THIS WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE...

WRITE OR DRAW THE END OF THE STORY

STAT: STANDING TALL AND TALENTED

HOME COURTBOOK-IT BOOK LIST

If you liked Home Court, you might also like…

KINDERGARTENLuke Goes to Bat by Rachel Isadora | Baseball Hour by Carol Nevius

1ST GRADECatching the Moon: A Young Girl’s Baseball Dreams by Crystal Hubbard

Long Shot: Never too Small to Dream Big by Chris Paul

2ND GRADEStrong to the Hoop by John Coy

Allie’s Basketball Dreams by Barbara Barber

3RD GRADEJulie Black Belt by Oliver Chin

Nothing But Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson by Sue Stauffacher

4TH GRADEMoon Runner by Carolyn Lynch | Kickoff! by Tiki and Ronde Barber

5TH GRADEGold Dust by Chris Lynch | Slam Dunk by Robert Hirschfeld

6TH GRADESports Shorts edited by Joseph Bruchac | Dragon Road by Laurence Yep

Book list prepared by Sara Lachm

an, Timberland R

egional Library System

Book-It was here!

I THINK THIS WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE...

Grades 3-6 might also enjoy the rest of the STAT series by Amar’e Stoudemire:

Standing Tall and Talented #2: Double TeamStanding Tall and Talented #3: Slam DunkStanding Tall and Talented #4: Schooled Standing Tall and Talented #5: Most Valuable

JUST FOR ADULTS!In addition to Book-It’s children’s touring stories, we offer a mainstage season of literature. For our Silver Jubilee Season we’re celebrating by giving everybody a discount! All tickets are just $25.*

Pride and Prejudice by Jane AustenNovember 25 - December 28, 2014

The Dog of the South by Charles PortisFebruary 11 - March 8, 2015

Little Bee by Chris CleaveApril 22 - May 17, 2015

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt VonnegutJune 9 - July 3, 2015

*except for our holiday presentation, Pride and Prejudice

TO BUY YOUR TICKETS…Contact Book-It’s box office: 206.216.0833 or visit our website: book-it.org.

All shows are at the Center Theatre at the Seattle Center Armory.

BOOK-IT.ORG | 206.216.0833 | CENTER THEATRE, SEATTLE CENTER | 305 HARRISON ST, SEATTLE, WA 98109

FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!Family Fun DaysBring the whole family to enjoy a live theatre performance of a great children’s book, book-themed crafts, live music, and an imaginative workshop where you jump into the world of the story.

• Crafts at 10:30 a.m.• Performance at 11:00 a.m• Workshop at 12:00 noon

STAT: Standing Tall and Talented by Amar’e StoudemireSaturday, February 28, 2015

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis CarrollSaturday, May 9, 2015

Get 50% off! D i s c o u n t C o d e : fundayR e g u l a r t i c k e t p r i c e s a r e $ 1 2 a d u lt s , $ 1 0 k i d s