Mini Lesson
THEME: Getting Started & Staying Engaged
Lesson: Sqord Surprise Check- Adapted by Sqord Teacher Ambassador Edna Felix, BSRT,
AE-C, Kadlec Academy, Kadlec, Washington
Lesson Objective:
To maintain player motivation, to earn activity points and keep moving throughout the school year.
Equipment/Staff:
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2.
3.
Consistent Admin/Champion that the players will get to know and can easily identify.
Device for syncing, smart phone, tablet, or Bluetooth enabled laptop.
Paper and pen/pencil for recording names of players wearing booster.
Lesson Activity:
Concept: Once Sqord has been introduced, players are excited and eager to earn points. The goal is to
sustain motivation and momentum throughout the school year.
Things to keep in mind in order to help sustain engagement:
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Make sure players have a good understanding on how to sync their booster & provide easy
access to a sync station (mobile device).
Provide a detailed training on how to log on to Sqord website and encourage frequent check
ins for students to create their powerme, purchase accessories using their earned sqoins or
provide messages of support to other players with “squawks”.
Keep a list of passwords and usernames if you can, just in case a player forgets.
Use the data on the Physical Activity Dashboard to help monitor activity levels in your
organization.
Activity: One way to keep players motivated and engaged is through Sqord Surprise Checks. The
basic premise is:
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2.
Announce to your group at the start of the year that there will be surprise guest appearances
throughout the school year that will be conducting “Sqord Checks”.
Schedule a Sqord coach or a supportive and enthusiastic staff member (such as a principal)
to make a surprise appearance. The surprise guest can change throughout the school year.
o Players will not be told when the check will occur, encouraging the Sqord pod to be
worn every day.
o Drop in times include but are not limited to
 Lunch: Does not disrupt class time and have all students of that grade
together at once.
 Before school: Does not disrupt class time and all same grade students are
lined up waiting for school to start.
Recess: Does not disrupt class time but may be difficult to track players
down.
 Scheduled time with individual teachers, may not reach all the students
wearing Sqord.
 At the start or end of PE class
Any player wearing his/her Sqord band will receive 10 free Sqoins, ( which can be give by
the Admin through the Admin portal), or other individual rewards.
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3.
Benefits: Surprise checks focus on developing healthy habits and responsibility. The goal is to
ensure that players wear their Sqord activity pods daily in order to earn more points and monitor
improvements and goals. Surprise checks encourage students to be self-reliant and promote
importance of frequently wearing their Sqord pods.
Additional Activity during Sqord checks ( if there is time):
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2.
3.
4.
Sync: Students can sync their device.
a. Ensures players know how to sync.
b. Allows players to see their points and who is in the lead.
Username/Password Reset:
a. Students who have forgotten his/her username or password can have an
opportunity to reset while the Sqord representative is there.
Ask Questions relating to Sqord, if Sqord Coach is present.
a. Easy way to answer questions from players and teachers about all things Sqord.
Challenges:
a. Remind players what the current challenge is.
b. Issue on-the-spot challenges:
i. i.e. One day challenge: whoever gets more points than the Surprise Guest
will receive an additional 10 Sqoins.
Note from Edna:
The more Sqord is brought to the attention of the players, the more players will engage. The more
enthusiastic the Admin and the Surprise Guest, the more motivated the players will be to continue wearing
their Sqord band and increasing activity levels.
*Note: Groups who have lost their motivation and do not have active participation from the school teachers
may be more difficult to motivate. Teacher engagement in the schools is crucial for maintaining player
motivation.
This mini lesson addresses:
Sqord’s 5 pillars: 1, 2, 3, & 4
National Physical Education Standards: 4 & 5