From simple addition and subtraction to advanced concepts in geometry and statistics, "Field of Dreams" serves as a great introduction to the combination of mathematics and baseball. Elementary school lesson plans can propose simple, pre-algebra concepts. Construct simple word problems around key points from the film such as, "If Ray sells a ticket to the baseball diamond for $20 -- yet he needs to raise $1000 dollars for the mortgage -- then how many tickets does Ray have to sell?" Teach students how to then solve for "x," with "x" being the number of tickets Ray has to sell. Junior high and high school students can learn to decipher box scores; they can compute the statistics for players featured in the film, such as "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and Buck Weaver.
During the 1919 Black Sox scandal, players from the Chicago White Sox were accused of intentionally losing the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds; it's one of the most well-known and hotly debated scandals in sports history. It plays a pivotal role in "Field of Dreams," as each of the eight players accused of rigging the game come to Ray Kinsella's baseball field for redemption. Give your class a brief history of the 1919 Black Sox scandal, then divide the class into two groups for a mock trial or debate. Have each side present arguments as to the player's innocence or guilt, then instruct each student to write a summation of both arguments and his own personal opinion about the verdict.
Physics is especially suited to the themes of "Field of Dreams." Fledgling physics students can examine issues pertaining to physics and baseball like acceleration and centrifugal force, or they can explore the scientific steps to stealing bases and hitting a home-run. Creativity meets science when you ask students to consider the disappearance of baseball players into the cornfields at the end of each day. Ask them what could possibly account for their dissolution; ask students to break into groups and write a paper exploring the possible science between such theories. Have them present their findings to the class in a group presentation.
Ray's wife, Annie, stands up to a close-minded mother at a PTA meeting and defends the books of a fictional banned writer named Terence Mann. This leads Ray to another epiphany, and he quickly recruits Terence to his cause. Explore the history of banned writers in the United States and discuss the intersection of censorship and art with your students. Pass out a list of the 100 Most Banned Books in America. Research which books have been banned by your county or school district; ask students to debate the merits and drawbacks of banning books. Terence Mann was based on author J.D. Salinger, and Salinger's 1947 short story, "A Girl in 1941 with No Waist at All," provided the name for Ray Kinsella, the "Field of Dreams" protagonist. Have students read the short story for extra credit.