February/March 2009

Real People. Real Stories. For kids!

This issue of Kaleidoscope explores our state's long history basketball. Readers will discover our tradition of top ranked teams, athletes, and coaches with Kansas connections.

For Parents and Teachers:

For this issue we chose the University of Kansas basketball program because of its 2008 national championship and its storied history with the sport. The issue supports reading standards for fourth grade, Standard 1, Benchmark 4, student comprehends a variety of texts (expository); and Benchmark 4, Indicator 7, student compares and contrasts information. The issue also touches on history standards for fourth grade, Benchmark 1, Indicator 1, student researches the contributions made by notable Kansans in history; and Benchmark 4, Indicator 1, uses historical timelines. Don’t forget to check out the online worksheets for this issue at kshs.org/publicat/kaleidoscope.

March Madness

What does the month of March mean to you? For some it’s spring break and St. Patrick’s Day. But for many in Kansas and beyond it brings thoughts of March Madness, and that means basketball!

Countdown to Statehood

The word Jayhawk came into use during the 1850s when Kansas was still a territory. People were fighting each other over whether Kansas would be a slave state.

What’s All the Hoopla?

Kansas has a long history with the sport of basketball. After all, the inventor of the game, James Naismith, brought it to Kansas only a few years after he wrote the rules.

The Phog

Forrest C. Allen is best known as “Phog” Allen. He is one of the most famous college basketball coaches of all time. Allen came to the University of Kansas as a student in 1904.

Courting the Sport

By the 1930s basketball was one of the most popular sports at Kansas colleges. Games at Kansas State University [KSU] and the University of Kansas [KU] were attracting big crowds.

The Cradle of Coaches

Everywhere you look in Allen Fieldhouse, basketball’s strong tradition is clear. The court is named for James Naismith, the “father of basketball.”

John McLendon: Breaking the Color Barrier

Throughout his lifetime John McLendon, or Coach Mac as he was known, broke through many racial boundaries. His “firsts” made history and opened doors for future African Americans.

The Secret Game

During the 1940s John McLendon coached in Durham at the North Carolina College for Negroes [now known as North Carolina Central University]. Durham was a city in the South and segregation was strictly enforced.

Miracles on the Court

Not everyone in Kansas is a KU basketball fan. But most Kansans today know that the Jayhawks won the 2008 NCAA Championship. The game was dubbed “Mario’s miracle” after KU’s Mario Chalmers.

Kids can help improve the environment. This is what I’ll do . . .

Read what students have written for Story Starters for this issue.

In This Issue:

Teacher Supplement