Mini Lesson
THEME: GETTING STARTED AND STAYING ENGAGED
Lesson: Sqord: Tips for keeping students engaged- Adpated from Tom Davis,
Sqord Teacher Ambassador, Beverly Elementary, Edmonds Washington
Lesson Objective:
To keep players motivated and engaged while participating in Sqord.
Equipment/Staff:
1. Sqord packet, permission slip, and Booster.
2. Device for syncing, smart phone, tablet, or Bluetooth enabled laptop.
3. Admin portal for recording names of players wearing booster.
Tom Davis’ Tips & Tricks to Getting Started
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Print permission slips as soon as inventory arrives and distribute to players.
Promote the value and importance of Sqord when you hand out permission slips.
Hang Sqord related posters and banners in common space for all players to see. This generates
excitement and camaraderie.
Have past participating students help new participants on board.
Show players how to access their account and navigate the various parts of the Sqord site on a
common big screen as introduction.
Activity: Promote Internal Challenges and Rewards
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Consult with various school staff to have sync stations located throughout the school ( i.e
library, classrooms, lunchroom and gym).
Encourage syncing during lunch: Does not disrupt class time and have all students of that
grade together at once.
Have players sync before school: Does not disrupt class time and have all students of that
grade as they are lined up waiting for school to start.
Sync at Recess: Does not disrupt class time but may be difficult to track players down.
Any player averaging a target per week will receive 10 free Sqoins.
Benefits: Students use Sqoins to buy things in their account, and the booster is used as a tool
and not just a fad.
Additional Activities and Benefits:
1. Have Players sync their pods- often!
a. Ensures players know how to sync.
b. Allow players to see their points and who is in the lead.
c. Players can see how engaged they are per week.
d. Players can see how many high fives they receive.
e. Players can check battery level.
f. Players can track their position in their group.
2. Players create personalized Username/Password:
a. Once an account is established the player can change their password and user
name.
b. The player can monitor their position in the class or group.
c. The player can monitor their activity chart and usage.
d. The player can adapt and change their character.
3. Encourage students to set up Player Account at school:
a. If possible, reserve the computer lab when you introduce Sqord to students.
b. Have students access their account show them how to challenge other students.
c. Players can navigate their account and understand different aspects of Sqord
including: Activity tagging, .
d. Send a note home to parents and guardians, encouraging them to join and
participate through the family portal.
4. Demonstrate for players how to set up personal challenges:
a. Demonstrate how players can choose
i. Student vs. student(s).
ii. Student vs. other friends at other schools.
iii. Class versus teacher
5. Get Creative! Because Admin have access to all accounts, players can win rewards for
anything you can think of i.e most creative Power Me design (students character).
Notes from Tom: “Our school has many families with limited resources and special needs. Not all
students have the opportunity to sync at home. At the start of the school year, I make sure that
participating classrooms, library, and gym/lunchroom have places where players can sync. This year, I
would like to add sync stations in the main office or out at recess. The more students sync and receive
feedback, the more they are inspired to move. Lastly, the most important part of the Sqord program is
the person leading the students, and how active they are in the program. Have fun, and be active… The
universe is unlimited, and the ability for students to be active and engaged will depend on the
challenges they are given.”
This mini- lesson addresses:
Sqord’s 5 pillars: 1, 3, 4
National PE Standards: 3 & 5