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NFeLementary, created by elementary school educator Mary Crippen, uses the Steelers season to supplement reading, writing, math, geography, research, and art. Students follow the team from Week 1 to Week 18, tracking results and stats, researching Pittsburgh history, building vocabulary, and creating their own designs. It runs 15 to 30 minutes at a time and fits into what you're already teaching. In addition, there are program tutorials and other resources for educators below!
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The curriculum has 6 parts and covers:
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FAQs
What is NFeLementary?
A project-based learning curriculum that uses the NFL season to bring learning to life. It runs alongside your core instruction, not in place of it, pulling reading, writing, math, geography, research, and art into one season-long project.
How do students benefit?
Students get invested in their own learning, and that engagement carries into everything else you teach. It also builds classroom community and teaches them to win with grace, lose with maturity, and keep going when things don't go as planned.
What grade level is it for?
Designed for 3rd through 5th grade and adaptable up or down. Younger grades run it as a whole group with more discussion and stat tracking, while older students take the research, writing, and math further.
Is it cross-curricular? What if I only teach one subject?
Yes. If you are departmentalized, the stat tracking and prediction sheets stand alone for math, and the research and writing templates stand alone for ELA and social studies.
What is included in the download?
Six printable worksheet packets, 13 pages total: season schedule, player tracking, history research report at two levels, football vocabulary, mascot and helmet design, and predictions. Resource videos for teachers are also available on this page.
Do I need to know football to teach this?
No. The teacher videos walk you through how the season works and how to run the weekly tracking.
How much time does it take?
Most teachers run it in 15 to 30 minute blocks. Weekly tracking is the anchor, and the research, writing, and art pieces can be spread out however your schedule allows.
What if we miss a week?
Nothing breaks. The tracking sheets are built to be caught up, and scores from a missed week are easy to fill in.
Who created it?
NFeLementary was cocreated by Mary Crippen. The Steelers built a team-specific version with her, making Pittsburgh the first professional sports organization to partner with the program on a custom curriculum.