High Road School of Belvidere Tackles New Football Curriculum

Football Curriculum Brings the Game Into the Classroom

Football season is officially underway at High Road School of Belvidere. This year, students are bringing the excitement of the game directly into the classroom.

For the first time, elementary and middle school classrooms are participating in NFeLementary. The football curriculum connects math, social studies, and writing to activities inspired by the sport. Students take on the role of general managers and follow an NFL team throughout the season. They use their team’s performance as the basis for classroom assignments and discussions.

Draft Day Kicks Off the Experience

The excitement began with a schoolwide draft day event. Students walked a red carpet dressed in their favorite gear and enjoyed traditional game-day snacks. The draft featured a blind selection process. Students pulled numbered sticks from a bucket to determine when they would choose an envelope.

After revealing their teams, students had two options. They could keep their picks or practice persuasion skills by negotiating trades with classmates. Lead teachers Ms. Elay and Ms. Sandra, along with School Director Kristen Heine, have watched the excitement spread throughout the building. High school students have also joined in by helping younger students research their teams.

Football Curriculum Connects Learning Across Subjects

The football connection gives students a new way to practice skills across several subjects. In social studies, students locate their teams geographically. They also work with cardinal directions, time zones, and team history. Math lessons draw directly from player statistics. Students calculate averages and determine how many yards a player would need per game to reach season goals.

They also convert yards into feet and miles. This helps students better understand the distances players cover during games. In writing, students have composed letters to their teams. The letters introduce themselves and give students a chance to ask questions.

Weekly Games Become Learning Opportunities

At the beginning of each week, classes discuss the previous weekend’s games. Students review scores, injuries, and changes in the standings. They then complete game-day reports using number lines, score differences, and rushing and passing statistics.

For many students, the football curriculum has sparked a new interest in the sport. It has also given them something new to talk about with family members outside school.

“Students are sharing game highlights with their families at home, bringing what they are learning in school into conversations at home,” Heine said. “Everyone supports each other and the excitement when a student’s team wins is amazing.”

Building School Pride and Positive Behavior

The program also reinforces positive behavior throughout the school day. Students earn stickers for 3D-printed helmets by supporting classmates, helping staff, and demonstrating school pride. They also watch videos featuring current and former NFL players who have worked through challenges.

Those stories create opportunities for conversations about perseverance, resilience, and reaching goals. Students will continue following their teams and putting their academic skills to work throughout the NFL season. The school also plans to keep the football theme going with a spring draft and a Super Bowl celebration.