A Free Lesson Plan for Building Classroom Culture

A free guide to creating classroom culture-building events in your own classroom!
By 
Brooke Dougherty
 | 
March 1, 2023

I am very proud of the culture we have built at FCA and in this article, I’ll be breaking down why that culture is so impactful, how we use events to improve the culture, and I’ll even be providing you with a free lesson plan you can use to create your own classroom culture building events!

Free March Madness Lesson Plan
Free March Madness Lesson Plan

But before we get into all of that…let’s start off with a typical day at FCA.

Freedom Crossing Academy isn’t Disney World...but it sure is close! Our day starts off in the morning with upbeat music playing on the intercom while students enter the building. We have “Falcon Fridays” every week and we wear our specific House-colored t-shirts. 

While students get off the bus, the PTO hands out toys for students wearing their House shirts to encourage them to keep wearing them every Friday. In addition, students are rewarded with quarterly incentives (popsicles, donuts, House parties, etc) to “cash out” their LiveSchool points. 

The LiveSchool cart rolls down the hallway often for students to purchase toys with their points. For middle school students, events such as NFL Jaguars games, Chic-fil-a days, Universal, and a Washington D.C. trip help promote school culture to ultimately improve behavior. 

FCA also participates in Rock Your School Day, a movement to encourage teachers to think of outside-the-box lessons and create room transformations.  

All of these events assist in celebrating the culture we have built here at Freedom Crossing. That culture is intentional, it is meant to enrich and immerse our students in an atmosphere of respect and belonging. In addition to culture, those events are also a great tool for mitigating and improving student behavior at FCA.

Classroom Culture Events at Freedom Crossing Academy

Freedom Crossing succeeds with the assistance of their grade-level PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support) team representatives. The PBIS team meets monthly to look over data for behavior trends through LiveSchool, discuss House competitions, and brainstorm upcoming events. We discuss increasing or decreasing behavior trends.

If we notice an increase in behaviors, we ask…what month? How many events? Are we using LiveSchool with fidelity? What subject(s) are these behaviors occurring in or are they contained to transitions? Our school is K-8 so also so we separate our elementary and middle school data. 

From there, we discuss events coming up and continue to think of ways that bring our school community together by leveraging those events to improve the behaviors we have identified as concerns.

Classroom Culture Event Example

One of my favorite events that enhance our culture is “March Book Madness”. It starts on the first school day of March. Modeled after March Madness in college basketball, it’s a single-elimination tournament where books go head-to-head, with the winner of each matchup decided by student votes. 

Winners advance until there is a champion. It begins as the “Sweet 16” leading to the “Elite 8”, “Final 4”, and finally, the “Championship round.” I love this because it is very adaptable. You can use this for both elementary and middle school students with any subject. 

For elementary, I use picture books with a variety of genres. For middle school, brief overviews of chapter books can be used. Display the books in your hallway or the classroom by printing pictures of each book and using black tape or magnets for the bracket. 

an example using events to build classroom culture

Get your students excited and dress up as basketball players, and cheerleaders, build a jumbo-sized bracket on your wall, or create a room transformation! The ideas are endless. 

The lesson begins by reading two books each day. Using the standards required each week, teachers can incorporate ANY reading standard they would like to meet the needs of their students (ex. identifying story elements, author's purpose, grade-appropriate vocabulary words, sequencing, etc). 

I use the March Madness worksheets (linked in the lesson plan) and complete one page per read-aloud. Once we have applied the standard, have your class vote on which book they would like to continue. 

After voting, each student gets a chance to shoot the basketball in the hoop. I like to award LiveSchool points for this portion of our basketball shooting! Students receive 5 points for effort and 25 points if they make it. 

In addition, I like to use the randomizer feature in LiveSchool to give one lucky student a second chance to shoot the ball again. The kids absolutely love this part. After each voting session, we tally up the votes and the winner continues on.

an example using events to build classroom culture

Towards the end of the unit, on the last day of March (the championship round), I invite the kids to dress up as basketball players and cheerleaders to root for their favorite book, while I dress up as the referee. 

I also give out LiveSchool points to the students who dress up on this day. March Madness improves behavior, increases engagement, and enhances the culture of our school because of the simple fact that students absolutely love coming to school because of this event. 

For many, their love for reading develops because of this unit!

an example using events to build classroom culture

Using Classroom Culture Events to Make an Impact

As a teacher, we have those “all-time” favorite lessons–you know, the ones you do year after year because your students love them so much. 

The lessons that get us out of bed faster in the mornings, the lessons that make us excited to come to work, the lessons that give us pure bliss knowing your kids are learning in a unique and fun way. 

The lesson that makes you realize your students are enjoying learning because of YOU! The lesson that gives you the “WHY” of your job.  This is my “why.”

My name is Brooke Dougherty and I am a 2nd-grade teacher and PBIS team member at Freedom Crossing Academy, a K-8 school in St. Johns County, Florida.

I am very proud of the culture we have built at FCA and in this article, I’ll be breaking down why that culture is so impactful, how we use events to improve the culture, and I’ll even be providing you with a free lesson plan you can use to create your own classroom culture building events!

Free March Madness Lesson Plan
Free March Madness Lesson Plan

But before we get into all of that…let’s start off with a typical day at FCA.

Freedom Crossing Academy isn’t Disney World...but it sure is close! Our day starts off in the morning with upbeat music playing on the intercom while students enter the building. We have “Falcon Fridays” every week and we wear our specific House-colored t-shirts. 

While students get off the bus, the PTO hands out toys for students wearing their House shirts to encourage them to keep wearing them every Friday. In addition, students are rewarded with quarterly incentives (popsicles, donuts, House parties, etc) to “cash out” their LiveSchool points. 

The LiveSchool cart rolls down the hallway often for students to purchase toys with their points. For middle school students, events such as NFL Jaguars games, Chic-fil-a days, Universal, and a Washington D.C. trip help promote school culture to ultimately improve behavior. 

FCA also participates in Rock Your School Day, a movement to encourage teachers to think of outside-the-box lessons and create room transformations.  

All of these events assist in celebrating the culture we have built here at Freedom Crossing. That culture is intentional, it is meant to enrich and immerse our students in an atmosphere of respect and belonging. In addition to culture, those events are also a great tool for mitigating and improving student behavior at FCA.

Classroom Culture Events at Freedom Crossing Academy

Freedom Crossing succeeds with the assistance of their grade-level PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support) team representatives. The PBIS team meets monthly to look over data for behavior trends through LiveSchool, discuss House competitions, and brainstorm upcoming events. We discuss increasing or decreasing behavior trends.

If we notice an increase in behaviors, we ask…what month? How many events? Are we using LiveSchool with fidelity? What subject(s) are these behaviors occurring in or are they contained to transitions? Our school is K-8 so also so we separate our elementary and middle school data. 

From there, we discuss events coming up and continue to think of ways that bring our school community together by leveraging those events to improve the behaviors we have identified as concerns.

Classroom Culture Event Example

One of my favorite events that enhance our culture is “March Book Madness”. It starts on the first school day of March. Modeled after March Madness in college basketball, it’s a single-elimination tournament where books go head-to-head, with the winner of each matchup decided by student votes. 

Winners advance until there is a champion. It begins as the “Sweet 16” leading to the “Elite 8”, “Final 4”, and finally, the “Championship round.” I love this because it is very adaptable. You can use this for both elementary and middle school students with any subject. 

For elementary, I use picture books with a variety of genres. For middle school, brief overviews of chapter books can be used. Display the books in your hallway or the classroom by printing pictures of each book and using black tape or magnets for the bracket. 

an example using events to build classroom culture

Get your students excited and dress up as basketball players, and cheerleaders, build a jumbo-sized bracket on your wall, or create a room transformation! The ideas are endless. 

The lesson begins by reading two books each day. Using the standards required each week, teachers can incorporate ANY reading standard they would like to meet the needs of their students (ex. identifying story elements, author's purpose, grade-appropriate vocabulary words, sequencing, etc). 

I use the March Madness worksheets (linked in the lesson plan) and complete one page per read-aloud. Once we have applied the standard, have your class vote on which book they would like to continue. 

After voting, each student gets a chance to shoot the basketball in the hoop. I like to award LiveSchool points for this portion of our basketball shooting! Students receive 5 points for effort and 25 points if they make it. 

In addition, I like to use the randomizer feature in LiveSchool to give one lucky student a second chance to shoot the ball again. The kids absolutely love this part. After each voting session, we tally up the votes and the winner continues on.

an example using events to build classroom culture

Towards the end of the unit, on the last day of March (the championship round), I invite the kids to dress up as basketball players and cheerleaders to root for their favorite book, while I dress up as the referee. 

I also give out LiveSchool points to the students who dress up on this day. March Madness improves behavior, increases engagement, and enhances the culture of our school because of the simple fact that students absolutely love coming to school because of this event. 

For many, their love for reading develops because of this unit!

an example using events to build classroom culture

Using Classroom Culture Events to Make an Impact

As a teacher, we have those “all-time” favorite lessons–you know, the ones you do year after year because your students love them so much. 

The lessons that get us out of bed faster in the mornings, the lessons that make us excited to come to work, the lessons that give us pure bliss knowing your kids are learning in a unique and fun way. 

The lesson that makes you realize your students are enjoying learning because of YOU! The lesson that gives you the “WHY” of your job.  This is my “why.”

I am very proud of the culture we have built at FCA and in this article, I’ll be breaking down why that culture is so impactful, how we use events to improve the culture, and I’ll even be providing you with a free lesson plan you can use to create your own classroom culture building events!

Free March Madness Lesson Plan
Free March Madness Lesson Plan

But before we get into all of that…let’s start off with a typical day at FCA.

Freedom Crossing Academy isn’t Disney World...but it sure is close! Our day starts off in the morning with upbeat music playing on the intercom while students enter the building. We have “Falcon Fridays” every week and we wear our specific House-colored t-shirts. 

While students get off the bus, the PTO hands out toys for students wearing their House shirts to encourage them to keep wearing them every Friday. In addition, students are rewarded with quarterly incentives (popsicles, donuts, House parties, etc) to “cash out” their LiveSchool points. 

The LiveSchool cart rolls down the hallway often for students to purchase toys with their points. For middle school students, events such as NFL Jaguars games, Chic-fil-a days, Universal, and a Washington D.C. trip help promote school culture to ultimately improve behavior. 

FCA also participates in Rock Your School Day, a movement to encourage teachers to think of outside-the-box lessons and create room transformations.  

All of these events assist in celebrating the culture we have built here at Freedom Crossing. That culture is intentional, it is meant to enrich and immerse our students in an atmosphere of respect and belonging. In addition to culture, those events are also a great tool for mitigating and improving student behavior at FCA.

Classroom Culture Events at Freedom Crossing Academy

Freedom Crossing succeeds with the assistance of their grade-level PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support) team representatives. The PBIS team meets monthly to look over data for behavior trends through LiveSchool, discuss House competitions, and brainstorm upcoming events. We discuss increasing or decreasing behavior trends.

If we notice an increase in behaviors, we ask…what month? How many events? Are we using LiveSchool with fidelity? What subject(s) are these behaviors occurring in or are they contained to transitions? Our school is K-8 so also so we separate our elementary and middle school data. 

From there, we discuss events coming up and continue to think of ways that bring our school community together by leveraging those events to improve the behaviors we have identified as concerns.

Classroom Culture Event Example

One of my favorite events that enhance our culture is “March Book Madness”. It starts on the first school day of March. Modeled after March Madness in college basketball, it’s a single-elimination tournament where books go head-to-head, with the winner of each matchup decided by student votes. 

Winners advance until there is a champion. It begins as the “Sweet 16” leading to the “Elite 8”, “Final 4”, and finally, the “Championship round.” I love this because it is very adaptable. You can use this for both elementary and middle school students with any subject. 

For elementary, I use picture books with a variety of genres. For middle school, brief overviews of chapter books can be used. Display the books in your hallway or the classroom by printing pictures of each book and using black tape or magnets for the bracket. 

an example using events to build classroom culture

Get your students excited and dress up as basketball players, and cheerleaders, build a jumbo-sized bracket on your wall, or create a room transformation! The ideas are endless. 

The lesson begins by reading two books each day. Using the standards required each week, teachers can incorporate ANY reading standard they would like to meet the needs of their students (ex. identifying story elements, author's purpose, grade-appropriate vocabulary words, sequencing, etc). 

I use the March Madness worksheets (linked in the lesson plan) and complete one page per read-aloud. Once we have applied the standard, have your class vote on which book they would like to continue. 

After voting, each student gets a chance to shoot the basketball in the hoop. I like to award LiveSchool points for this portion of our basketball shooting! Students receive 5 points for effort and 25 points if they make it. 

In addition, I like to use the randomizer feature in LiveSchool to give one lucky student a second chance to shoot the ball again. The kids absolutely love this part. After each voting session, we tally up the votes and the winner continues on.

an example using events to build classroom culture

Towards the end of the unit, on the last day of March (the championship round), I invite the kids to dress up as basketball players and cheerleaders to root for their favorite book, while I dress up as the referee. 

I also give out LiveSchool points to the students who dress up on this day. March Madness improves behavior, increases engagement, and enhances the culture of our school because of the simple fact that students absolutely love coming to school because of this event. 

For many, their love for reading develops because of this unit!

an example using events to build classroom culture

Using Classroom Culture Events to Make an Impact

As a teacher, we have those “all-time” favorite lessons–you know, the ones you do year after year because your students love them so much. 

The lessons that get us out of bed faster in the mornings, the lessons that make us excited to come to work, the lessons that give us pure bliss knowing your kids are learning in a unique and fun way. 

The lesson that makes you realize your students are enjoying learning because of YOU! The lesson that gives you the “WHY” of your job.  This is my “why.”

quote icon

I am very proud of the culture we have built at FCA and in this article, I’ll be breaking down why that culture is so impactful, how we use events to improve the culture, and I’ll even be providing you with a free lesson plan you can use to create your own classroom culture building events!

Free March Madness Lesson Plan
Free March Madness Lesson Plan

But before we get into all of that…let’s start off with a typical day at FCA.

Freedom Crossing Academy isn’t Disney World...but it sure is close! Our day starts off in the morning with upbeat music playing on the intercom while students enter the building. We have “Falcon Fridays” every week and we wear our specific House-colored t-shirts. 

While students get off the bus, the PTO hands out toys for students wearing their House shirts to encourage them to keep wearing them every Friday. In addition, students are rewarded with quarterly incentives (popsicles, donuts, House parties, etc) to “cash out” their LiveSchool points. 

The LiveSchool cart rolls down the hallway often for students to purchase toys with their points. For middle school students, events such as NFL Jaguars games, Chic-fil-a days, Universal, and a Washington D.C. trip help promote school culture to ultimately improve behavior. 

FCA also participates in Rock Your School Day, a movement to encourage teachers to think of outside-the-box lessons and create room transformations.  

All of these events assist in celebrating the culture we have built here at Freedom Crossing. That culture is intentional, it is meant to enrich and immerse our students in an atmosphere of respect and belonging. In addition to culture, those events are also a great tool for mitigating and improving student behavior at FCA.

Classroom Culture Events at Freedom Crossing Academy

Freedom Crossing succeeds with the assistance of their grade-level PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support) team representatives. The PBIS team meets monthly to look over data for behavior trends through LiveSchool, discuss House competitions, and brainstorm upcoming events. We discuss increasing or decreasing behavior trends.

If we notice an increase in behaviors, we ask…what month? How many events? Are we using LiveSchool with fidelity? What subject(s) are these behaviors occurring in or are they contained to transitions? Our school is K-8 so also so we separate our elementary and middle school data. 

From there, we discuss events coming up and continue to think of ways that bring our school community together by leveraging those events to improve the behaviors we have identified as concerns.

Classroom Culture Event Example

One of my favorite events that enhance our culture is “March Book Madness”. It starts on the first school day of March. Modeled after March Madness in college basketball, it’s a single-elimination tournament where books go head-to-head, with the winner of each matchup decided by student votes. 

Winners advance until there is a champion. It begins as the “Sweet 16” leading to the “Elite 8”, “Final 4”, and finally, the “Championship round.” I love this because it is very adaptable. You can use this for both elementary and middle school students with any subject. 

For elementary, I use picture books with a variety of genres. For middle school, brief overviews of chapter books can be used. Display the books in your hallway or the classroom by printing pictures of each book and using black tape or magnets for the bracket. 

an example using events to build classroom culture

Get your students excited and dress up as basketball players, and cheerleaders, build a jumbo-sized bracket on your wall, or create a room transformation! The ideas are endless. 

The lesson begins by reading two books each day. Using the standards required each week, teachers can incorporate ANY reading standard they would like to meet the needs of their students (ex. identifying story elements, author's purpose, grade-appropriate vocabulary words, sequencing, etc). 

I use the March Madness worksheets (linked in the lesson plan) and complete one page per read-aloud. Once we have applied the standard, have your class vote on which book they would like to continue. 

After voting, each student gets a chance to shoot the basketball in the hoop. I like to award LiveSchool points for this portion of our basketball shooting! Students receive 5 points for effort and 25 points if they make it. 

In addition, I like to use the randomizer feature in LiveSchool to give one lucky student a second chance to shoot the ball again. The kids absolutely love this part. After each voting session, we tally up the votes and the winner continues on.

an example using events to build classroom culture

Towards the end of the unit, on the last day of March (the championship round), I invite the kids to dress up as basketball players and cheerleaders to root for their favorite book, while I dress up as the referee. 

I also give out LiveSchool points to the students who dress up on this day. March Madness improves behavior, increases engagement, and enhances the culture of our school because of the simple fact that students absolutely love coming to school because of this event. 

For many, their love for reading develops because of this unit!

an example using events to build classroom culture

Using Classroom Culture Events to Make an Impact

As a teacher, we have those “all-time” favorite lessons–you know, the ones you do year after year because your students love them so much. 

The lessons that get us out of bed faster in the mornings, the lessons that make us excited to come to work, the lessons that give us pure bliss knowing your kids are learning in a unique and fun way. 

The lesson that makes you realize your students are enjoying learning because of YOU! The lesson that gives you the “WHY” of your job.  This is my “why.”

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About the Event

I am very proud of the culture we have built at FCA and in this article, I’ll be breaking down why that culture is so impactful, how we use events to improve the culture, and I’ll even be providing you with a free lesson plan you can use to create your own classroom culture building events!

Free March Madness Lesson Plan
Free March Madness Lesson Plan

But before we get into all of that…let’s start off with a typical day at FCA.

Freedom Crossing Academy isn’t Disney World...but it sure is close! Our day starts off in the morning with upbeat music playing on the intercom while students enter the building. We have “Falcon Fridays” every week and we wear our specific House-colored t-shirts. 

While students get off the bus, the PTO hands out toys for students wearing their House shirts to encourage them to keep wearing them every Friday. In addition, students are rewarded with quarterly incentives (popsicles, donuts, House parties, etc) to “cash out” their LiveSchool points. 

The LiveSchool cart rolls down the hallway often for students to purchase toys with their points. For middle school students, events such as NFL Jaguars games, Chic-fil-a days, Universal, and a Washington D.C. trip help promote school culture to ultimately improve behavior. 

FCA also participates in Rock Your School Day, a movement to encourage teachers to think of outside-the-box lessons and create room transformations.  

All of these events assist in celebrating the culture we have built here at Freedom Crossing. That culture is intentional, it is meant to enrich and immerse our students in an atmosphere of respect and belonging. In addition to culture, those events are also a great tool for mitigating and improving student behavior at FCA.

Classroom Culture Events at Freedom Crossing Academy

Freedom Crossing succeeds with the assistance of their grade-level PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support) team representatives. The PBIS team meets monthly to look over data for behavior trends through LiveSchool, discuss House competitions, and brainstorm upcoming events. We discuss increasing or decreasing behavior trends.

If we notice an increase in behaviors, we ask…what month? How many events? Are we using LiveSchool with fidelity? What subject(s) are these behaviors occurring in or are they contained to transitions? Our school is K-8 so also so we separate our elementary and middle school data. 

From there, we discuss events coming up and continue to think of ways that bring our school community together by leveraging those events to improve the behaviors we have identified as concerns.

Classroom Culture Event Example

One of my favorite events that enhance our culture is “March Book Madness”. It starts on the first school day of March. Modeled after March Madness in college basketball, it’s a single-elimination tournament where books go head-to-head, with the winner of each matchup decided by student votes. 

Winners advance until there is a champion. It begins as the “Sweet 16” leading to the “Elite 8”, “Final 4”, and finally, the “Championship round.” I love this because it is very adaptable. You can use this for both elementary and middle school students with any subject. 

For elementary, I use picture books with a variety of genres. For middle school, brief overviews of chapter books can be used. Display the books in your hallway or the classroom by printing pictures of each book and using black tape or magnets for the bracket. 

an example using events to build classroom culture

Get your students excited and dress up as basketball players, and cheerleaders, build a jumbo-sized bracket on your wall, or create a room transformation! The ideas are endless. 

The lesson begins by reading two books each day. Using the standards required each week, teachers can incorporate ANY reading standard they would like to meet the needs of their students (ex. identifying story elements, author's purpose, grade-appropriate vocabulary words, sequencing, etc). 

I use the March Madness worksheets (linked in the lesson plan) and complete one page per read-aloud. Once we have applied the standard, have your class vote on which book they would like to continue. 

After voting, each student gets a chance to shoot the basketball in the hoop. I like to award LiveSchool points for this portion of our basketball shooting! Students receive 5 points for effort and 25 points if they make it. 

In addition, I like to use the randomizer feature in LiveSchool to give one lucky student a second chance to shoot the ball again. The kids absolutely love this part. After each voting session, we tally up the votes and the winner continues on.

an example using events to build classroom culture

Towards the end of the unit, on the last day of March (the championship round), I invite the kids to dress up as basketball players and cheerleaders to root for their favorite book, while I dress up as the referee. 

I also give out LiveSchool points to the students who dress up on this day. March Madness improves behavior, increases engagement, and enhances the culture of our school because of the simple fact that students absolutely love coming to school because of this event. 

For many, their love for reading develops because of this unit!

an example using events to build classroom culture

Using Classroom Culture Events to Make an Impact

As a teacher, we have those “all-time” favorite lessons–you know, the ones you do year after year because your students love them so much. 

The lessons that get us out of bed faster in the mornings, the lessons that make us excited to come to work, the lessons that give us pure bliss knowing your kids are learning in a unique and fun way. 

The lesson that makes you realize your students are enjoying learning because of YOU! The lesson that gives you the “WHY” of your job.  This is my “why.”

Register Now

About the Event

I am very proud of the culture we have built at FCA and in this article, I’ll be breaking down why that culture is so impactful, how we use events to improve the culture, and I’ll even be providing you with a free lesson plan you can use to create your own classroom culture building events!

Free March Madness Lesson Plan
Free March Madness Lesson Plan

But before we get into all of that…let’s start off with a typical day at FCA.

Freedom Crossing Academy isn’t Disney World...but it sure is close! Our day starts off in the morning with upbeat music playing on the intercom while students enter the building. We have “Falcon Fridays” every week and we wear our specific House-colored t-shirts. 

While students get off the bus, the PTO hands out toys for students wearing their House shirts to encourage them to keep wearing them every Friday. In addition, students are rewarded with quarterly incentives (popsicles, donuts, House parties, etc) to “cash out” their LiveSchool points. 

The LiveSchool cart rolls down the hallway often for students to purchase toys with their points. For middle school students, events such as NFL Jaguars games, Chic-fil-a days, Universal, and a Washington D.C. trip help promote school culture to ultimately improve behavior. 

FCA also participates in Rock Your School Day, a movement to encourage teachers to think of outside-the-box lessons and create room transformations.  

All of these events assist in celebrating the culture we have built here at Freedom Crossing. That culture is intentional, it is meant to enrich and immerse our students in an atmosphere of respect and belonging. In addition to culture, those events are also a great tool for mitigating and improving student behavior at FCA.

Classroom Culture Events at Freedom Crossing Academy

Freedom Crossing succeeds with the assistance of their grade-level PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support) team representatives. The PBIS team meets monthly to look over data for behavior trends through LiveSchool, discuss House competitions, and brainstorm upcoming events. We discuss increasing or decreasing behavior trends.

If we notice an increase in behaviors, we ask…what month? How many events? Are we using LiveSchool with fidelity? What subject(s) are these behaviors occurring in or are they contained to transitions? Our school is K-8 so also so we separate our elementary and middle school data. 

From there, we discuss events coming up and continue to think of ways that bring our school community together by leveraging those events to improve the behaviors we have identified as concerns.

Classroom Culture Event Example

One of my favorite events that enhance our culture is “March Book Madness”. It starts on the first school day of March. Modeled after March Madness in college basketball, it’s a single-elimination tournament where books go head-to-head, with the winner of each matchup decided by student votes. 

Winners advance until there is a champion. It begins as the “Sweet 16” leading to the “Elite 8”, “Final 4”, and finally, the “Championship round.” I love this because it is very adaptable. You can use this for both elementary and middle school students with any subject. 

For elementary, I use picture books with a variety of genres. For middle school, brief overviews of chapter books can be used. Display the books in your hallway or the classroom by printing pictures of each book and using black tape or magnets for the bracket. 

an example using events to build classroom culture

Get your students excited and dress up as basketball players, and cheerleaders, build a jumbo-sized bracket on your wall, or create a room transformation! The ideas are endless. 

The lesson begins by reading two books each day. Using the standards required each week, teachers can incorporate ANY reading standard they would like to meet the needs of their students (ex. identifying story elements, author's purpose, grade-appropriate vocabulary words, sequencing, etc). 

I use the March Madness worksheets (linked in the lesson plan) and complete one page per read-aloud. Once we have applied the standard, have your class vote on which book they would like to continue. 

After voting, each student gets a chance to shoot the basketball in the hoop. I like to award LiveSchool points for this portion of our basketball shooting! Students receive 5 points for effort and 25 points if they make it. 

In addition, I like to use the randomizer feature in LiveSchool to give one lucky student a second chance to shoot the ball again. The kids absolutely love this part. After each voting session, we tally up the votes and the winner continues on.

an example using events to build classroom culture

Towards the end of the unit, on the last day of March (the championship round), I invite the kids to dress up as basketball players and cheerleaders to root for their favorite book, while I dress up as the referee. 

I also give out LiveSchool points to the students who dress up on this day. March Madness improves behavior, increases engagement, and enhances the culture of our school because of the simple fact that students absolutely love coming to school because of this event. 

For many, their love for reading develops because of this unit!

an example using events to build classroom culture

Using Classroom Culture Events to Make an Impact

As a teacher, we have those “all-time” favorite lessons–you know, the ones you do year after year because your students love them so much. 

The lessons that get us out of bed faster in the mornings, the lessons that make us excited to come to work, the lessons that give us pure bliss knowing your kids are learning in a unique and fun way. 

The lesson that makes you realize your students are enjoying learning because of YOU! The lesson that gives you the “WHY” of your job.  This is my “why.”

About the Presenter

Brooke Dougherty is a 2nd-grade teacher at Freedom Crossing Academy, one of the newest K-8 schools in St. Johns County, Florida. After graduating from college with a dual major in Early Childhood and Special Education in 2020, she accepted a job in one of St. John’s “A” rated schools—FCA. 

FCA stood out because of its strong stance on school culture and student/staff relationships. Prior to being hired, her principal at the time engraved this very familiar line into her brain: “here at Freedom Crossing Academy we do three things and three things well: LiveSchool, Capturing Kids’ Hearts, and the PLC process.” 

The best description of FCA’s school culture is like walking into Disney. The faculty are always brainstorming creative ways to enhance student learning and school culture. Freedom Crossing Academy is truly a special place to be.

My name is Brooke Dougherty and I am a 2nd-grade teacher and PBIS team member at Freedom Crossing Academy, a K-8 school in St. Johns County, Florida.

I am very proud of the culture we have built at FCA and in this article, I’ll be breaking down why that culture is so impactful, how we use events to improve the culture, and I’ll even be providing you with a free lesson plan you can use to create your own classroom culture building events!

Free March Madness Lesson Plan
Free March Madness Lesson Plan

But before we get into all of that…let’s start off with a typical day at FCA.

Freedom Crossing Academy isn’t Disney World...but it sure is close! Our day starts off in the morning with upbeat music playing on the intercom while students enter the building. We have “Falcon Fridays” every week and we wear our specific House-colored t-shirts. 

While students get off the bus, the PTO hands out toys for students wearing their House shirts to encourage them to keep wearing them every Friday. In addition, students are rewarded with quarterly incentives (popsicles, donuts, House parties, etc) to “cash out” their LiveSchool points. 

The LiveSchool cart rolls down the hallway often for students to purchase toys with their points. For middle school students, events such as NFL Jaguars games, Chic-fil-a days, Universal, and a Washington D.C. trip help promote school culture to ultimately improve behavior. 

FCA also participates in Rock Your School Day, a movement to encourage teachers to think of outside-the-box lessons and create room transformations.  

All of these events assist in celebrating the culture we have built here at Freedom Crossing. That culture is intentional, it is meant to enrich and immerse our students in an atmosphere of respect and belonging. In addition to culture, those events are also a great tool for mitigating and improving student behavior at FCA.

Classroom Culture Events at Freedom Crossing Academy

Freedom Crossing succeeds with the assistance of their grade-level PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support) team representatives. The PBIS team meets monthly to look over data for behavior trends through LiveSchool, discuss House competitions, and brainstorm upcoming events. We discuss increasing or decreasing behavior trends.

If we notice an increase in behaviors, we ask…what month? How many events? Are we using LiveSchool with fidelity? What subject(s) are these behaviors occurring in or are they contained to transitions? Our school is K-8 so also so we separate our elementary and middle school data. 

From there, we discuss events coming up and continue to think of ways that bring our school community together by leveraging those events to improve the behaviors we have identified as concerns.

Classroom Culture Event Example

One of my favorite events that enhance our culture is “March Book Madness”. It starts on the first school day of March. Modeled after March Madness in college basketball, it’s a single-elimination tournament where books go head-to-head, with the winner of each matchup decided by student votes. 

Winners advance until there is a champion. It begins as the “Sweet 16” leading to the “Elite 8”, “Final 4”, and finally, the “Championship round.” I love this because it is very adaptable. You can use this for both elementary and middle school students with any subject. 

For elementary, I use picture books with a variety of genres. For middle school, brief overviews of chapter books can be used. Display the books in your hallway or the classroom by printing pictures of each book and using black tape or magnets for the bracket. 

an example using events to build classroom culture

Get your students excited and dress up as basketball players, and cheerleaders, build a jumbo-sized bracket on your wall, or create a room transformation! The ideas are endless. 

The lesson begins by reading two books each day. Using the standards required each week, teachers can incorporate ANY reading standard they would like to meet the needs of their students (ex. identifying story elements, author's purpose, grade-appropriate vocabulary words, sequencing, etc). 

I use the March Madness worksheets (linked in the lesson plan) and complete one page per read-aloud. Once we have applied the standard, have your class vote on which book they would like to continue. 

After voting, each student gets a chance to shoot the basketball in the hoop. I like to award LiveSchool points for this portion of our basketball shooting! Students receive 5 points for effort and 25 points if they make it. 

In addition, I like to use the randomizer feature in LiveSchool to give one lucky student a second chance to shoot the ball again. The kids absolutely love this part. After each voting session, we tally up the votes and the winner continues on.

an example using events to build classroom culture

Towards the end of the unit, on the last day of March (the championship round), I invite the kids to dress up as basketball players and cheerleaders to root for their favorite book, while I dress up as the referee. 

I also give out LiveSchool points to the students who dress up on this day. March Madness improves behavior, increases engagement, and enhances the culture of our school because of the simple fact that students absolutely love coming to school because of this event. 

For many, their love for reading develops because of this unit!

an example using events to build classroom culture

Using Classroom Culture Events to Make an Impact

As a teacher, we have those “all-time” favorite lessons–you know, the ones you do year after year because your students love them so much. 

The lessons that get us out of bed faster in the mornings, the lessons that make us excited to come to work, the lessons that give us pure bliss knowing your kids are learning in a unique and fun way. 

The lesson that makes you realize your students are enjoying learning because of YOU! The lesson that gives you the “WHY” of your job.  This is my “why.”

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Learn more about the author, 
Brooke Dougherty
 

My name is Brooke Dougherty and I am a 2nd-grade teacher and PBIS team member at Freedom Crossing Academy, a K-8 school in St. Johns County, Florida.

I am very proud of the culture we have built at FCA and in this article, I’ll be breaking down why that culture is so impactful, how we use events to improve the culture, and I’ll even be providing you with a free lesson plan you can use to create your own classroom culture building events!

Free March Madness Lesson Plan
Free March Madness Lesson Plan

But before we get into all of that…let’s start off with a typical day at FCA.

Freedom Crossing Academy isn’t Disney World...but it sure is close! Our day starts off in the morning with upbeat music playing on the intercom while students enter the building. We have “Falcon Fridays” every week and we wear our specific House-colored t-shirts. 

While students get off the bus, the PTO hands out toys for students wearing their House shirts to encourage them to keep wearing them every Friday. In addition, students are rewarded with quarterly incentives (popsicles, donuts, House parties, etc) to “cash out” their LiveSchool points. 

The LiveSchool cart rolls down the hallway often for students to purchase toys with their points. For middle school students, events such as NFL Jaguars games, Chic-fil-a days, Universal, and a Washington D.C. trip help promote school culture to ultimately improve behavior. 

FCA also participates in Rock Your School Day, a movement to encourage teachers to think of outside-the-box lessons and create room transformations.  

All of these events assist in celebrating the culture we have built here at Freedom Crossing. That culture is intentional, it is meant to enrich and immerse our students in an atmosphere of respect and belonging. In addition to culture, those events are also a great tool for mitigating and improving student behavior at FCA.

Classroom Culture Events at Freedom Crossing Academy

Freedom Crossing succeeds with the assistance of their grade-level PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support) team representatives. The PBIS team meets monthly to look over data for behavior trends through LiveSchool, discuss House competitions, and brainstorm upcoming events. We discuss increasing or decreasing behavior trends.

If we notice an increase in behaviors, we ask…what month? How many events? Are we using LiveSchool with fidelity? What subject(s) are these behaviors occurring in or are they contained to transitions? Our school is K-8 so also so we separate our elementary and middle school data. 

From there, we discuss events coming up and continue to think of ways that bring our school community together by leveraging those events to improve the behaviors we have identified as concerns.

Classroom Culture Event Example

One of my favorite events that enhance our culture is “March Book Madness”. It starts on the first school day of March. Modeled after March Madness in college basketball, it’s a single-elimination tournament where books go head-to-head, with the winner of each matchup decided by student votes. 

Winners advance until there is a champion. It begins as the “Sweet 16” leading to the “Elite 8”, “Final 4”, and finally, the “Championship round.” I love this because it is very adaptable. You can use this for both elementary and middle school students with any subject. 

For elementary, I use picture books with a variety of genres. For middle school, brief overviews of chapter books can be used. Display the books in your hallway or the classroom by printing pictures of each book and using black tape or magnets for the bracket. 

an example using events to build classroom culture

Get your students excited and dress up as basketball players, and cheerleaders, build a jumbo-sized bracket on your wall, or create a room transformation! The ideas are endless. 

The lesson begins by reading two books each day. Using the standards required each week, teachers can incorporate ANY reading standard they would like to meet the needs of their students (ex. identifying story elements, author's purpose, grade-appropriate vocabulary words, sequencing, etc). 

I use the March Madness worksheets (linked in the lesson plan) and complete one page per read-aloud. Once we have applied the standard, have your class vote on which book they would like to continue. 

After voting, each student gets a chance to shoot the basketball in the hoop. I like to award LiveSchool points for this portion of our basketball shooting! Students receive 5 points for effort and 25 points if they make it. 

In addition, I like to use the randomizer feature in LiveSchool to give one lucky student a second chance to shoot the ball again. The kids absolutely love this part. After each voting session, we tally up the votes and the winner continues on.

an example using events to build classroom culture

Towards the end of the unit, on the last day of March (the championship round), I invite the kids to dress up as basketball players and cheerleaders to root for their favorite book, while I dress up as the referee. 

I also give out LiveSchool points to the students who dress up on this day. March Madness improves behavior, increases engagement, and enhances the culture of our school because of the simple fact that students absolutely love coming to school because of this event. 

For many, their love for reading develops because of this unit!

an example using events to build classroom culture

Using Classroom Culture Events to Make an Impact

As a teacher, we have those “all-time” favorite lessons–you know, the ones you do year after year because your students love them so much. 

The lessons that get us out of bed faster in the mornings, the lessons that make us excited to come to work, the lessons that give us pure bliss knowing your kids are learning in a unique and fun way. 

The lesson that makes you realize your students are enjoying learning because of YOU! The lesson that gives you the “WHY” of your job.  This is my “why.”

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Grades K-12
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Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
School Supplies & Merch
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Meet the Teacher
Grades K-8
School
Event
Free

All Event Ideas for Schools

💰
🎨
Career Day
💰
🎨
Art Contest
💰
🎨
Movie Night
💰
🎨
Bonfire
💰
🎨
Final Fridays
💰
🎨
Meme Party
💰
🎨
Fake The Funk
💰
🎨
Glow Party

All Free Reward Ideas for Schools

🎉
👑
🎁
Locker Choice
🎉
👑
🎁
Class Jobs
🎉
👑
🎁
Partner Work
🎉
👑
🎁
Teacher Q&A
🎉
👑
🎁
Dance Party
🎉
👑
🎁
The Big Ticket
🎉
👑
🎁
Talk Time
🎉
👑
🎁
Extra Recess
🎉
👑
🎁
Seating Choice
🎉
👑
🎁
Tutor
🎉
👑
🎁
Be a Comedian.
🎉
👑
🎁
Parking Spots
🎉
👑
🎁
Blood Drive
🎉
👑
🎁
Drop Lowest Quiz

All Reward Ideas for High School Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Passing Period Music
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Karaoke Night
Grades 9-12
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
The Love Soiree
Grades 6-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Dress Up or Down Day
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Silent Disco
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Operate Equipment.
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Game-Based Simulation Learning
Grades 9-12
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Special Screening
Grades K-12
School
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Uber by a Principal
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Host a Virtual Party. 🎶
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Free Dress
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Books
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Food-Themed Party
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Holiday Delivery
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Fake The Funk
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
“Let's Make A Difference Week"
Grades 9-12
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY

All Reward Ideas for Middle School Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Partner Work
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
House Induction
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Teacher v Student Competition
Grades 6-12
School
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Glow Party
Grades 6-12
School
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Board Game Party
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Sweatshirt
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Books
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Loudspeaker Shoutout
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Assist the Custodian.
Grades 6-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Teacher Serenade
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Student Messenger
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Brain Break
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Get-to-Know-You Bingo
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Tech Time
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Technology
Grades 6-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Classroom DJ
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free

All Student Reward & Incentive Ideas

💰
🎨
Toys
Grades K-8
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Locker Choice
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Books
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Color a Teacher’s Hair
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Digital Escape Rooms
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Deluxe
💰
🎨
School Assembly
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Extra Recess
Grades K-5
Class/House
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Student Messenger
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
School Spirit Day
Grades K-12
School
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Create the Seating Chart
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Lunch Fast Pass
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Silly School Leader
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Assist the Custodian.
Grades 6-8
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Morning Meeting Leader
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Backpack
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
💰
🎨
Video Game Rewards
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY

All Virtual Reward Ideas for Schools

🎉
👑
🎁
Virtual Field Trip
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Virtual Talent Show. 🎤
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Podcast
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Donate $1
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Digital Escape Rooms
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Classroom DJ
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Extra Computer Games
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Host a Virtual Party. 🎶
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Social Media Reporter
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Stickers
Grades K-5
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Teacher Q&A
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Brain Break
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Morning Meeting Leader
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Show & Tell
Grades K-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Positive Note or Call Home
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Certificate of Achievement
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
See all Rewards

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Learn more about the author, 
Brooke Dougherty
 

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