What I do have, is a way to engage your students by linking in with something they are most likely familiar with and excited about.
I had no plans on playing PokemonGo until I learned about the company Niantic. Niantic is also the creator of an app called Field Trip. Field Trip is a locating app in that it gives you locations of places to visit based on where you are physically standing, including historically and culturally relevant landmarks. I also knew that my students would be into PokemonGo and I wanted to experience it so I could relate to my students.
So guess where the PokeStops and gyms are?
You guessed it! They are located at cultural and historical locations and landmarks.
I started playing in Alabama while I was attending Space Camp and was blown away by all the things I learned that I would not have been aware of had I not been playing.
That’s also when I had the idea to bring the concept off the screen and into real life.
Just as a warning, this was a pretty complicated process that required help from my new assistant!
Not really, he’s just precious. His name is Marty McMeow and he is about 6 weeks old!
I went to the local Mighty Dollar and found a bucket (red=my school color), printed a picture of my school’s mascot (bulldog), and dug my black glittery duct tape out of the craft box.
After laminating the picture, I used tape to attach it to the red bucket. I also used the glittery tape to create some lines on the bucket for decoration.
This will be used to play a game I call BullpupGo! Students will receive a small slip of paper with a problem or task on it. After solving the problem and having it checked for accuracy, students will crumple the paper into a ball and try to toss it into the bucket. If they get the ball in the bucket, the “catch” a prize- which will be a sticker, brag tag or pawbuck.
That’s my idea for incorporating popular culture into the classroom– what new ideas do you have? Tell me all about them in the comments!
