Better Than BingoActivity slides
Better Than Bingo · Classroom Edition
Last-Week Headlines
Imagine the headline this class earns by the end of the year, then reverse-engineer how to make it true.
18–30 min8–40 peoplePartners
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Teacher prep · Do not project yet
Set the room up for success.
Materials
- Paper or shared slides
- Markers
- Optional sticky notes
Before you begin
- Prepare a simple front-page template with headline, subheading, and ‘how it happened’ boxes
- Write one realistic example that focuses on community rather than grades or awards
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Teacher language · Do not project yet
What to say
“Imagine it is the last week of school and a tiny local newspaper writes one headline about how this class learned to work together. Keep it believable. Then tell us what we would have to do repeatedly—not perfectly—to earn it.”
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Teacher notes · Do not project yet
Keep it comfortable and useful.
Make room for everyone
- Allow students to contribute a headline, subheading, action, edit, or visual layout.
- Provide the template and example in writing.
- Keep sharing focused on the imagined class, not personal histories or future plans.
Watch out for
- Do not let the activity become a promise of perfect harmony.
- Avoid headlines centered on test scores, winning, or being the teacher’s favorite class.
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For students
Here’s what to do.
- 1
Show one sample headline and point out the difference between a hope and an action.
- 2
Give students two quiet minutes to draft possible headlines privately.
- 3
Pairs combine or choose an idea, then write one headline and a one-sentence subheading.
- 4
Pairs list two small repeatable actions that could make the headline true.
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For students
Keep going.
- 5
Post the headlines for a silent read. Students mark the one phrase or action they most want in the class.
- 6
Group the most-marked actions into three or four themes and identify one the class can begin this week.
- 7
Save the headlines and revisit them at the end of the first month.
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Prompt 01
What would make this a class people are glad they took?
Take a moment to think. Passing or writing instead is always okay.
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Prompt 02
What would be true about how people ask for help?
Take a moment to think. Passing or writing instead is always okay.
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Prompt 03
How would this class handle mistakes or awkward days?
Take a moment to think. Passing or writing instead is always okay.
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Prompt 04
What small action would need to happen more than once?
Take a moment to think. Passing or writing instead is always okay.
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Prompt 05
What headline sounds hopeful without sounding fake?
Take a moment to think. Passing or writing instead is always okay.
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Wrap it up
One last thought.
- Which action is completely within our control?
- How will we notice whether it is happening?
- What should we do when the class has a day that does not match the headline?