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Collegiate Football is one of the most popular sports in America. Did you know that the first collegiate football game was held in 1869, between two teams from New Jersey? Started as an American form of rugby, the rules have changed quite a bit over the years. Using the Sporting Geography theme, students can learn more about the sport and about their favorite teams. During this process, students connect with the curriculum using the five themes of geography (location, place, movement, regions, and human environment interaction). For example, by studying the history of football, students can learn where it started, how it spread, and where it is most popular today. Students can also learn more about sports that they might not be familiar with here in the United States. Have them find out where rugby is played today. In which countries is it most popular?

Use the Sporting Geography theme to connect to the five themes of geography using team names and mascots. When students at the elementary and middle school level are learning about Westward Expansion, a great tie-in would be to study how team names sometimes have a strong connection to the history or character of a region. For example, Brigham Young University is named after Brigham Young. Who was he and what was his connection to Utah? Students can also create timelines to help organizes key dates in history. For example, the first collegiate football game was held in 1869 ... the same year that the Transcontinental Railroad was completed.