The New York Yankees now allow players to have beards. Before, players couldn’t have beards for almost 50 years. The rule started in 1976 by a man named George Steinbrenner. His son, Hal Steinbrenner, decided to change the rule. He thinks beards are okay and wants to make players happy.

Hal talked to players like Aaron Judge about this change. He wants more players to join the team. Some players didn’t want to join because they couldn’t have beards. Now, players can have well-groomed beards. This change makes the team more modern and friendly.

Original news source: New York Yankees drop ban on beards, 49 years after it was imposed by owner George Steinbrenner (AP News)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out “beard” and “Yankees” related terms without speaking, while the other groups guess the words. Encourage students to use gestures and expressions.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Ask students if they think beards should be allowed in sports. Have them stand on one side of the room if they agree and on the other side if they disagree. Afterward, ask a few students to share their reasons.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Write key vocabulary words from the article (like “beard,” “Yankees,” “players,” “team,” etc.) on cards. Students will take turns drawing a word from the card and illustrating it on the board while others guess the word.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Ask students to think about how they feel about the change in the Yankees’ beard policy. Have them pair up to discuss their thoughts, then share their partner’s opinion with the class.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: In small groups, students will create a catchy headline for the article. They can use a few words to summarize the main idea and present it to the class. Encourage creativity!

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the team that now lets players have beards?
2. How long did players not have beards?
3. Who made the rule that said players couldn’t have beards?
4. Who changed the rule about beards?
5. Why did Hal want to change the rule?
6. Who did Hal talk to about the new beard rule?
7. How do players feel about being able to have beards now?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The New York Yankees now allow players to (1)______ beards. Before, players couldn’t have beards for almost 50 (2)______. The rule started in 1976 by a man (3)______ George Steinbrenner. His son, Hal Steinbrenner, decided to change the rule. He thinks beards are (4)______ and wants to make players happy.

Hal talked to (5)______ like (6)______ Judge about this change. He wants more players to join the team. Some players didn’t want to join because they couldn’t have beards. Now, players can have well-groomed beards. This change (7)______ the (8)______ more modern and friendly.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. Do you like beards? Why or why not?
2. What is a beard?
3. How would you feel if you could not have a beard?
4. Do you think beards are cool? Why?
5. What is your favorite thing about baseball?
6. Do you think players should have rules about their looks? Why or why not?
7. How would you feel if you could change a rule?
8. Do you like to see players happy? Why?
9. What do you think makes a team friendly?
10. Have you ever wanted to change a rule? What was it?
11. Do you think more players will join the team now? Why?
12. What is your favorite sport? Do you like the players’ looks? Why?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. allow
2. players
3. beards
4. rule
5. change
6. happy
7. join
8. team
9. modern
10. friendly

Meanings:
(A) Feeling good and smiling
(B) To become part of a group
(C) Nice and kind to others
(D) People who play a game or sport
(E) A group of people working or playing together
(F) Something you must follow or do
(G) To let someone do something
(H) New and up-to-date
(I) Hair that grows on a man’s face
(J) To make something different
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is the owner of the New York Yankees?
(a) Hal Steinbrenner
(b) George Steinbrenner
(c) Aaron Judge
(d) Babe Ruth

2. What did the Yankees change about players?
(a) They can wear hats
(b) They can wear gloves
(c) They can change their names
(d) They can have beards

3. How long could players not have beards?
(a) Almost 50 years
(b) 10 years
(c) 20 years
(d) 30 years

4. Who started the rule about beards?
(a) Hal Steinbrenner
(b) Aaron Judge
(c) George Steinbrenner
(d) A player

5. Why did Hal Steinbrenner change the rule?
(a) To sell more tickets
(b) To change the team name
(c) To make players happy
(d) To make the team lose

6. Who did Hal talk to about the beard change?
(a) His father
(b) Aaron Judge
(c) The fans
(d) The coach

7. What kind of beards can players have now?
(a) Long beards
(b) Funny beards
(c) No beards
(d) Well-groomed beards

8. How does the change make the team feel?
(a) Old and boring
(b) More modern and friendly
(c) Sad and angry
(d) Big and strong

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Hal thinks beards are okay for players.
2. Hal Steinbrenner is George Steinbrenner’s grandson.
3. Some players wanted to join the team but did not like the beard rule.
4. George Steinbrenner made the rule about beards.
5. Now, players can have messy and unkempt beards.
6. The New York Yankees let players have beards now.
7. The rule about beards started in 1967.
8. Before, players could have beards for almost 30 years.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. Who is the man that made the rule about beards a long time ago?
2. Who changed the rule so players can have beards now?
3. Why did Hal Steinbrenner change the beard rule?
4. What did some players think about the old rule about beards?
5. How does Hal want the team to feel with the new beard rule?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who is the team that now lets players have beards?
The team is the New York Yankees.

2. How long did players not have beards?
Players did not have beards for almost 50 years.

3. Who made the rule that said players couldn’t have beards?
A man named George Steinbrenner made the rule.

4. Who changed the rule about beards?
Hal Steinbrenner changed the rule.

5. Why did Hal want to change the rule?
Hal wanted to make players happy.

6. Who did Hal talk to about the new beard rule?
Hal talked to players like Aaron Judge.

7. How do players feel about being able to have beards now?
Players feel happy about having beards now.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) have
(2) years
(3) named
(4) okay
(5) players
(6) Aaron
(7) makes
(8) team
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. allow
Answer: (G) To let someone do something

2. players
Answer: (D) People who play a game or sport

3. beards
Answer: (I) Hair that grows on a man’s face

4. rule
Answer: (F) Something you must follow or do

5. change
Answer: (J) To make something different

6. happy
Answer: (A) Feeling good and smiling

7. join
Answer: (B) To become part of a group

8. team
Answer: (E) A group of people working or playing together

9. modern
Answer: (H) New and up-to-date

10. friendly
Answer: (C) Nice and kind to others
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is the owner of the New York Yankees?
Answer: (a) Hal Steinbrenner

2. What did the Yankees change about players?
Answer: (d) They can have beards

3. How long could players not have beards?
Answer: (a) Almost 50 years

4. Who started the rule about beards?
Answer: (c) George Steinbrenner

5. Why did Hal Steinbrenner change the rule?
Answer: (c) To make players happy

6. Who did Hal talk to about the beard change?
Answer: (b) Aaron Judge

7. What kind of beards can players have now?
Answer: (d) Well-groomed beards

8. How does the change make the team feel?
Answer: (b) More modern and friendly
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Hal thinks beards are okay for players. (Answer: True)
2. Hal Steinbrenner is George Steinbrenner’s grandson. (Answer: False)
3. Some players wanted to join the team but did not like the beard rule. (Answer: True)
4. George Steinbrenner made the rule about beards. (Answer: True)
5. Now, players can have messy and unkempt beards. (Answer: False)
6. The New York Yankees let players have beards now. (Answer: True)
7. The rule about beards started in 1967. (Answer: False)
8. Before, players could have beards for almost 30 years. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧