Teacher Implemented Football-Themed Learning in Morgantown
Ridgedale Elementary students are studying core subjects through the new NFeLementary curriculum.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Primary Education
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Fourth-grade teacher Lee Ann Harki has integrated the NFeLementary curriculum into her classroom at Ridgedale Elementary School in Morgantown. The initiative uses football-themed activities to teach core subjects like math, geography, and English.
Why it matters
The NFeLementary curriculum is designed to increase student engagement by connecting traditional classroom concepts to the structure and statistics of professional football.
The curriculum currently targets fourth-grade students at Ridgedale Elementary School. Students engage with the material by tracking NFL rushing and passing yards to practice math.
The players
Lee Ann Harki
She is a fourth-grade teacher at Ridgedale Elementary School who implemented the program.
Mary Crippin
She is the teacher who originally developed the NFeLementary lesson plan.
Ridgedale Elementary School
This is a primary education institution located on Goshen Road in Morgantown.
The details
Developed by teacher Mary Crippin, the program tasks students with writing letters to NFL teams to practice composition and study the geography of various football cities. Students also received NFL-themed backpacks as part of the initiative to support their learning.
Timeline
The inaugural season of the NFeLementary curriculum occurred in 2025.
The current lesson plan was implemented in the fall of 2026.
NFL-themed backpacks were distributed to students on October 7, 2026.
Culture Shift
This program aligns with the growing movement toward game-based learning, which seeks to boost student engagement by incorporating familiar interests into daily academic life. By leveraging sports to teach math and literacy, schools are moving away from purely abstract curriculum models.
Students at Ridgedale Elementary now incorporate sports statistics into their daily math drills and writing assignments. This shift requires families to support new types of homework focused on tracking NFL data and team geography.
The takeaway
Integrating student interests like sports into lesson plans can provide a practical framework for mastering foundational academic skills. Educators looking to boost participation may find success by mirroring the NFeLementary approach of linking abstract concepts to real-world data.
Further reading
For more information on local educational initiatives, visit our Primary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Dominion Post.
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