From Kickoff to Critical Thinking: Using Super Bowl LX as a High-Engagement Hook in theClassroom
Every year, that final Sunday in winter becomes a shared cultural moment that students bring with them into school. Super Bowl LX (60), taking place Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, offers teachers a powerful opportunity to transform pop culture into purposeful, standards-aligned learning.
When used intentionally, the Super Bowl becomes more than a game—it becomes a gateway to math, literacy, history, media analysis, and meaningful discussion
The Game: Teams, Players, and Storylines
Super Bowl LX Matchup
Seattle Seahawks
Head Coach: Mike Macdonald
Quarterback: Sam Darnold
4th Super Bowl appearance
1 Super Bowl win (2013)
New England Patriots
Head Coach: Mike Vrabel
Quarterback: Drake Maye (2nd youngest starting QB in Super Bowl history)
12th Super Bowl appearance (most of any team)
6 Super Bowl wins (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018)
This game marks:
The 10th Super Bowl rematch in NFL history (rematch of Super Bowl XLIX, 2014)
The second time Levi’s Stadium has hosted the Super Bowl (previously Super Bowl 50 in 2016)
A historic opportunity for Mike Vrabel, who could become the first person to win a Super Bowl as both a player and coach for the same team
These storylines naturally support classroom conversations about leadership, perseverance, teamwork, and legacy, while offering rich material for data analysis and historical comparison
Music, Culture, and Performance
Super Bowl entertainment is not just spectacle—it is cultural text.
Pregame Performances
Before kickoff, students will see a diverse and meaningful lineup:
Coco Jones performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Notably, her father, Mike Jones, was a former NFL linebacker who played for multiple teams and made the game-saving tackle in Super Bowl XXXIV.
Charlie Puth performing the National Anthem, with ASL interpretation by Fred Beam
Brandi Carlile performing “America the Beautiful”, with ASL interpretation by Julian Ortiz
Green Day is opening the event with a performance featuring past Super Bowl MVPs
The band’s Bay Area roots connect directly to the game’s host city.
These moments invite discussion around representation, accessibility, musical traditions, and
the role of performance in national events.
Halftime Show Spotlight: Bad Bunny
The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show is headlined by Bad Bunny, marking a historic moment. He is:
The first artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show entirely in Spanish
A previous Super Bowl performer, having appeared during the 2020 Shakira’s and Jennifer Lopez’s halftime show
Expected to center his performance on Puerto Rican heritage and Latin trap/reggaeton
This performance opens the door to conversations about:
Music and identity
Cultural representation on global stages
How artists use language and symbolism to tell stories
For educators, this is a valuable opportunity to analyze culture through music, rather than passively consuming it.
Get to know more about Bad Bunny with this educational video.
Age-Appropriate Classroom Use
Elementary (Grades K–5)
Focus on team colors, mascots, and basic statistics
Discuss teamwork, fairness, and sportsmanship
Explore how music brings people together
Keep the discussion high-level and theme-based
Middle School
Analyze lyrics, imagery, and performance choices
Compare pregame performances
Explore the cultural significance of songs like Lift Every Voice and Sing
High School
Engage in media literacy: audience, intent, and reception
Examine representation and inclusion critically
Discuss social, historical, and economic contexts of major events
Across all grades, previewing clips and guiding discussion ensures learning stays thoughtful and aligned with instructional goals.
Cross-Curricular Teaching Connections
Math
Analyze game statistics and scoring trends
Create graphs from player data
Practice time and measurement conversions
ELA
Analyze player interviews or speeches
Write persuasive predictions
Explore theme and message in song lyrics
Social Studies
Map team geography
Chart team histories
Study the historical significance of selected songs
Media & Arts
Compare performance styles
Analyze audience response
Discuss cultural impact
Inclusivity Matters
Not every student watches football—and that’s okay.
Teachertainment’s approach:
Teach through events, not fandom
Offer student choice: statistics, music, storytelling, or media
Emphasize skills over sports knowledge
The Super Bowl becomes a lens, not a requirement
Practical Teacher Tips
Use short clips and excerpts
Anchor activities to clear objectives
Focus on transferable skills
Keep discussions respectful and structured
Always connect back to standards
Engagement without intention is entertainment.
Engagement with purpose is Teachertainment.
Final Whistle
The Super Bowl is one of the rare moments where student interest and curriculum goals naturally overlap. With thoughtful planning and age-appropriate framing, it becomes a bridge to deeper engagement, critical thinking, and joyful learning.
When we turn kickoff into curiosity, learning doesn’t just happen—it sticks.
