The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Expansion Teams in the NFL

Creating a New Major League Football Team

A 7th-8th Grade STEM Lesson

James Kinney

February 2024

Notes for Teachers

• Context: This lesson will take 2-3 class days to plan and draw.
• Introduce teams currently in the National Football League. Where geographically there are teams currently.
• Research places that could potentially support a NFL Team.
• Design a football team name and logo for a new team, this done individually or in a duo.

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List of Materials

• New Team Research Form
• New Team Football outfit template
• Paper
• Pencil
• Chromebooks
• colored pencils
• Football Team Slides

Standards

Media Arts Standard

11. Relate Artistic Ideas and Works with Societal, Cultural, and Historical Context to Deepen Understanding

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Technology Standard

6-8.3.a. Students practice and improve research strategies to locate information and other resources for their intellectual or creative pursuits.

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Math Standard

7.SP.C.6 Approximate the probability of a chance event by collecting data on the chance process that produces it and observing its long-run relative frequency, and predict the approximate relative frequency given the probability.

ELA Standards

7.W.7 Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation.

7.SL.4 Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with pertinent descriptions, appropriate vocabulary, facts, details, and examples; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation

Objectives:

Today will look at the logos of National Football League Teams and learn the history behind the names.

Today we will create our own logos based on researched cities to reflect the culture and history of the city assigned/chosen.

Agenda (3-5 days of 45 minute classes)

What are the mascots/logos of National Football League?

Create a mascot/logo of a newly formed team for NFL.

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Current National Football League Teams

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Current Teams

• What are the current teams of National Football League?
• How long has each team been around?
• Discuss why they have those names/mascots.
• Why do you think some have changed in the past few years?
• Do any others need to be changed?

Materials Needed:

• Current list of National Football League Teams
• Map showing where the current teams play

Creating a New Football Team

Locating a New City

• Where in the United States is there no football franchise?
• Choose a city where no team exists currently.
• Have they ever had a team?
• If they had a team, why don’t they play there anymore?

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Research

• Conduct a research about the city/state.
• What names/mascots would be appropriate for this new team.
• Be able to explain why you chose the name.

Designing a Uniform

• Design a logo/mascot for the team
• Will you put the team name or city on the front of the jersey?
• What font will you use?
• Where will you put the mascot?
• What are the colors (can be significant to the city/state or to the mascot itself).

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NFL Logos

Current Location of Teams

Assessment: Present the New Teams

Present

• Students will present their new team to the class.
• Explain why they chose the name for the team.
• Explain why they chose the mascot/logo.
• Explain why they chose the colors for the team.

Differentiation

For students who need help in researching, these students can be given a current team and redesign their logo and/or mascot. What improvements can they make to it to make it a more current brand?

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Students can redesign the Super Bowl Trophy. How can the new trophy incorporate a more modern feel for the current and new teams to the league? Can make an illustration of the trophy and/or they can make a 3D model of the trophy.