Do you know what your special talent is and how you can use it to make the world a better place? Series One of HCCTA Elementary Reads is about five champion athletes who overcame many obstacles, set records, and made the world better. Read how these athletes did it and discover how you can do it, too. Arthur Ashe Tennis James Blake Tennis Billie Jean King Tennis Gale Sayers Football George Taliaferro Football Hamilton County Community Tennis Association is teaching young people about education, diversity, and community service through tennis. To make a tax-deductible contribution or to learn more about HCCTA, please visit www.hccta.org.

George was the first black man drafted into the NFL and the only NFL player to play seven positions. He was a member of the 1945 undefeated Indiana University football team. Read how George overcame not being able to eat or sleep on campus because of his skin color to becoming one of the most-loved professors on campus. Keywords: Champion, Citizen, Athlete, Overcome, Persevere, Football, First Black Man, NFL, George Taliaferro, Leadership, Strength

Gale was the first NFL player to score seven touchdowns in a game. He was the youngest player ever inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. He played for the Chicago Bears. Keywords: Champion, Citizen, Athlete, Overcome, Persevere, Football, NFL, Hall Of Fame, Gale Sayers, Leadership, Strength

Champion Citizen Teacher Guides are Common Core aligned and cover six subject areas: art, fitness, geography, history, math, and language arts. Ready-to-copy student worksheets and the teacher answer keys are provided. The Teacher Resource page lists web sites, movies, books and other materials that supplement the sport or athlete in the Champion Citizen book or challenges more advanced students. The short stories in these two books will entertain and inspire third-grade readers nationwide with an insight into how these well-known athletes (change to: Amercians who happen to be champion athletes) overcame big obstacles, reached impossible goals, and then worked to guarantee equal opportunity and fair treatment to all people. At some time while growing up, children will face being left out of a group, losing someone they love, not having enough money, moving to a new school, having their feelings hurt, or making a big mistake. Athletes in our HCCTA Champion Citizen® book series inspire children to find the champion in themselves to succeed in sports and in life. The entire Champion Citizens® series includes seven books and lesson plans (change to teacher guides) that are flexible enough to be an independent reading program or an intensive six-week reading program in the classroom. Appropriate for after-school programs, home-school students, scout troops, religious groups, youth sports teams or a child who enjoys reading.

Champion Citizen Teacher Guides are Common Core aligned and cover six subject areas: art, fitness, geography, history, math, and language arts. Ready-to-copy student worksheets and the teacher answer keys are provided. The Teacher Resource page lists web sites, movies, books and other materials that supplement the sport or athlete in the Champion Citizen book or challenges more advanced students. Keywords: Champion, Citizen, Athlete, Overcome, Persevere, Gale Sayers, Football, NFL, Hall Of Fame, Leadership, Strength