Lesson Plan - History Makers: Billie Jean King

Watch a Video: Billie Jean King: Athlete and Activist
After watching, discuss: What kind of difference has King made in the world?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• discrimination 
• legislation

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them identify at least one way that King changed the world of women’s sports.

1. Describe a time when King experienced discrimination.
King experienced discrimination when she was left out of a team photo because she was wearing shorts instead of a skirt. She experienced it again later when she was the world’s top female tennis player but earned less money than top male players.
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2. Why does the article say there was “still work to do” in the early 1970s, and how did Title IX help?
At that time, few schools had girls’ sports teams, and those that did gave more funding to boys’ sports. Title IX helped by requiring public schools to give equal opportunities to male and female athletes.
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3. What advice does King give to kids?
King tells kids not to worry about being too young to make a difference. She says, “If you have a dream, go for it.”
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FEATURED SKILL: Text Evidence Graphic Organizer
Use the skill builder “All About Billie Jean King” to have students find details in the text to describe King and her achievements.
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