Looking for a some pop in your curriculum design? Picture this: You’re sitting in a professional development seminar, and the speakers are… a Pokémon trainer, Iron Man, and a guy who gives away millions on YouTube. Sounds crazy, right? But some of the most innovative teaching strategies are hiding in plain sight, camouflaged as entertainment and marketing. Today, let’s unpack five powerful lessons from unexpected sources to pump up your classroom.

Questions to ponder: “How on earth can Pikachu help me teach Shakespeare?” and “What does Mr. Beast know about literary analysis?” 

Well, these pop culture icons and brands have mastered the art of engagement, community-building, and long-term impact – all things we strive for in our classrooms.

In this post, we’re going to explore five lessons inspired by some of the biggest names in pop culture and branding. We’ll look at how Pokémon’s vast universe can help us create immersive learning experiences, how Marvel’s “What If…?” series can spark creativity in writing assignments, and how Mr. Beast’s high-concept hooks can make even the most challenging topics irresistible to our students.

But we can find inspiration everywhere. 

We’ll also dive into strategies inspired by fitness brands like Gymshark and Lululemon to foster a strong classroom community and implement a growth-oriented framework. 

So, grab your favorite beverage (in a Stanley cup, of course), get comfortable, and prepare to see your teaching practice in a whole new light. These five lessons might just be the superpower your classroom needs. Let’s dive in!

1. Create an Immersive Curriculum

Transform your curriculum into a rich, interconnected world of learning that captivates students’ imagination and curiosity.

Inspired by:

• Pokémon’s vast, interconnected world
• Marvel’s interconnected storytelling universe
• Mr. Beast’s high-concept hooks

Curriculum Design Ideas:

• Develop a “Literary Universe” where texts, themes, and characters from various works interconnect throughout your curriculum
• Create a class-wide “map” of literary works and concepts, similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline, to visualize your curriculum
• Frame units or projects as “missions” or “quests” within your curriculum
• Design unit introductions with unexpected or exciting hooks related to the content
• Encourage cross-unit projects that combine different texts or concepts, inspired by Marvel’s crossover events (like the one below)

2. Foster Community

Build a sense of belonging and shared purpose in your classroom by incorporating community-building elements into your curriculum design.

Inspired by:

• Gymshark‘s inclusive community building
• Lululemon‘s lifestyle branding
• Mr. Beast’s collaborative content creation

Curriculum Design Ideas:

• Create a “literary ambassador” program as part of your curriculum
• Develop class-specific challenges or movements that span across units
• Design a class brand that represents your shared learning journey and incorporate it into your curriculum
• Implement group projects that allow students to showcase different strengths within your curriculum
• Use social media or a class website to extend curriculum engagement beyond the classroom

3. Incorporate Unexpected Connections

Make challenging topics more approachable by presenting classic literature with modern twists and incorporating humor.

Inspired by: 

• Liquid Death’s unexpected juxtapositions and irreverent humor
• Marvel’s creative storytelling approaches

Curriculum Design Ideas:

• Create writing prompts that encourage students to make unexpected connections between texts or concepts
• Design assignments that combine seemingly unrelated topics from different parts of your curriculum
• Use memes or social media-style content to discuss complex themes within your curriculum design

4. Implement a Growth-Oriented Curriculum Framework

Visualize and celebrate student progress by incorporating growth-oriented elements into your curriculum design.

Inspired by:

• Pokémon’s evolution system
• Gymshark’s focus on continuous improvement
• Mr. Beast’s data-driven content iteration

Curriculum Design Ideas:

• Create a leveling system for different skills within your curriculum
• Implement goal-setting exercises as part of your curriculum design
• Develop a “fitness plan” for academic skills with progressively challenging tasks across your curriculum
• Use formative assessments to guide and adjust your curriculum design
• Implement A/B testing for different teaching methods within your curriculum

5. Design Curriculum for Long-Term Impact

Develop a curriculum design that provides enduring, foundational learning experiences, focusing on timeless skills while applying them to contemporary situations.

Inspired by:

• Stanley’s reputation for durability and long-lasting products

Curriculum Design Ideas:

• Focus on developing transferable skills across your curriculum
• Create a “core skills” framework that underpins your entire curriculum design
• Regularly revisit and update your curriculum to ensure continued relevance
• Design projects that require students to apply timeless skills to current issues

By incorporating these pop culture-inspired strategies into your curriculum design, you can balance innovation with tried-and-true methods to create a more engaging, community-oriented, and growth-focused learning environment. Use these ideas as a springboard to rethink your approach to curriculum design and let me know what you come up with!