The sport of basketball has a huge cultural impact in Indiana. Now teachers can harness that culture into classroom lessons, thanks to a new project from doctoral student Mariah Pol.

Along with the Indiana Historical Society, Pol wrote a set of lesson plans in conjunction with the IHS’s Legacy and Legend: Indiana Basketball exhibit. After working with the IHS as a curriculum writer, she saw the project as a meaningful opportunity to explore her state’s history from a new angle.

“To be honest, I’ve never been athletic—I didn’t grow up playing basketball. But you can’t ignore how deeply basketball is woven into Indiana’s culture,” Pol said. “I think sports can be an excellent medium to engage students in both the celebrations and the complexities of history. I wanted these lessons to go beyond just game stats and championships. My goal was to use basketball as a lens to highlight the experiences and contributions of women, racial and ethnic groups, and others whose stories are often underrepresented. I hoped the lessons would engage all students—not just sports fans—and encourage them to think critically about Indiana’s past, present, and future.”

One of Pol’s goals for the project was to design lessons that connect with both students who love basketball and those who might not be sports fans. These lessons tap into students’ familiarity with local history and their own communities, showing how something as seemingly simple as basketball can illuminate larger historical themes.

“When students see themselves or their hometowns reflected in the material, they’re more likely to engage deeply. Sports history offers a dynamic way to bridge academic disciplines with lived experiences, helping students see the relevance of history in their everyday lives. It’s about meeting students where they are and opening new pathways for critical thinking,” Pol added.

While the lessons were designed with high school courses about Indiana in mind, they’re flexible and adaptable. Pol explained teachers could easily incorporate them into U.S. History, Ethnic Studies, or even middle school classrooms. Each lesson addresses key themes— identity, economics, business, and civil rights—and is grounded in compelling questions that invite inquiry and analysis.

“Students will work with a variety of sources, including oral histories, political cartoons, newspaper articles, and photos,” Pol said, adding, “Educators can use the full set of lessons or select individual ones to complement their curriculum. Ultimately, these lessons are about helping students see how larger social issues played out in Indiana’s unique context—and how basketball both shaped and reflected that history.”