Use these cards to design your

daily lessons and to maximize your

presentations to make learning
more engaging. These questions are
meant for you to generate and jot
down presentation ideas that work
for your individual teaching style.
Eventually, you will have a set of
hooks that work for you!
Teach Like a Pirate
Teacher R esource
Hooks 2

Kinesthetic Hook

How can I incorporate movement into

this lesson?
Move It! Can we throw something, roll
something, or catch something inside
or outside of class?
Can we get up or act something out?
Can we incorporate gestures and
motions that students could
do at their desk?

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 Kinesthetic Hook Kinesthetic Hook

Can we turn the room into a giant My Exam ples :_____ _____ _____
opinion meter and have the students
move to one side or the other based ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
on the statement? ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
Can I change the structure of this
lesson from a seated activity to a ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
walk around activity?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
___ _____ _____ _____
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The P eople P rop Hook

The P eople P rop Hook
Can some students in the class be
How can I use students as props, props and the rest of the class prop
inanimate objects, or concepts? movers?
Can we create a human graph, chart My Exam ples :___ _____ _____
or equation?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ___
Can students be assigned a specific
step in the process or and event and ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ___
then have to order themselves
sequentially? ___ _____ _____ _____ ___
___ _____ _____ _____ ___
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 The Safari Hook The Safari Hook
How can I get my class outside my
four walls for this lesson? My Exam ples :___ _____ _____ _
Where would be the best place on
campus to deliver the content? ___ _____ _____ ____ _____ ____
Is there an area in the school that ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ___
serves as the perfect backdrop?
Can I plant key items outside for us ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ___
to discover?
Can we leave the campus to ___ _____ _____ _____ ___
the ultimate location to
teach this material? ___ _____ _____ _____ ___
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The P icasso Hook

How can I incorporate art into this
lesson?
What can my students draw or make
The Arts that would help them understand or
retain this information?
Can they make some kind of non-
linguistic representation of the
material?
Can I create an art- based option
that students could choose instead
of another assignment?
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 The Mozart Hook
The P icasso Hook
How can I use music to aid my
presentation?
My Exam ples :___ _____ _____ _ What would be the perfect song or
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ___ type of music to create the right
mood?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ___ What songs have lyrics that relate to
this lesson?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ___ How can I most effectively use music
____ _____ _____ _____ __ as they enter the room?
What should we listen to as students
are working independently or
___ _____ _____ _____ ___
cooperatively?
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The Mozart Hook The Mozart Hook

Can I allow students to create My Exam ples :___ _____ _____ _

songs/raps that demonstrate their
understanding of the content? ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ___
Can students change lyrics to
popular songs to reflect course ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ___
content? ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ___
Can I use music to make my
transitions smoother? ___ _____ _____ _____ ___

___ _____ _____ _____ ___

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 Dance and Dram a Hook Dance and Drama Hook
Can I provide opportunities for my Can they reenact historical events?
students to do skit or videos related Can they write a script and create a
to what we are learning? video to play for the class?
Can they learn and perform a My Exam ples :_____ _____ ____
relevant dance?
Can some of the students teach a ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
dance to the class?
Can they impersonate key people ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
from history in a panel discussion or ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ _
interview?
___ _____ _____ _____ ___
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The Craft Store Hook The Craft Store Hook

How can I incorporate a craft into
this lesson? Could there be a craft skill my
What can my students make that students already possess that could
relates to this material? enhance my curriculum and provide
Is there an origami fold that I can them with the chance to be experts?
teach to the class for this content?
Can I provide basic supplies and give My Exam ples :_____ _____ ____
them an open-ended creative project ___ _____ ______ _____ _____ ___
and turn them loose?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ _
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___ _____ _____ _____ ___
 The Stud ent Hobby Hook
How can I incorporate the hobbies
and outside interests of my students
All about Me into this material? (Find out their
hobbies and interests first)
How can I harness the power of
connecting my content to what
students are already interested in?
My Exam ples :_____ _____
___ _____ _____ _____ ____
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The Real-World Application The Real-World Application

Hook Hook
How can I show my students why Can they crate something real that
learning this content is important in will be more than a classroom
the real world? project but actually allow them to
How will possibly apply this in their interact with the world in an
life? authentic way?
Can we increase motivation and My Exam ples :_____ _______ __
engagement by offering reasons to
learn that go beyond ___ _____ _____ _____ ____
because its on the test? ___ _____ _____ _____ ____

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The Life-Chang ing Less on Hook The Life-Chang ing Less on Hook

How can I use this lesson to deliver

an inspirational message? My Exam ples :___ _____ _____ _
What type of life-changing lesson can ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ___
be incorporated into the content?
What type of essential questions can ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ___
I ask that allow students the
opportunity for personal reflection ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ___
and growth? ___ _____ _____ _____ ___

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The Stud ent-Directed Hook The Stud ent-Directed Hook

How can I provide opportunities for
autonomy and choice in this
unit/lesson? My Exam ples :___ _____ _____ _
Can I allow student interest to ___ ____ _____ _____ _____ ____
dictate our direction and learning
while still covering what we need to ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ___
address?
How can I release some of my ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ___
control and provide students the ___ _____ _____ _____ ___
chance to be the experts and
directors of this subject?

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 The Opportu nis tic Hook The Opportu nis tic Hook
What current events are related to Can I put intriguing images of
this lesson? current events on the walls with QR
Is there a hot topic in the news or on codes underneath that link to more
campus that I can use to capture information?
student interest? My Exam ples :_____ _____ ____
In what ways can I incorporate
currently popular trends, fads, TV ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
shows, and movies in order to make ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
this relevant and engaging in the
class? ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ _

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Interior D esign Hook

How can I transform my room to
create the ultimate atmosphere for
the lesson?
Set the Stage Can I change the lighting for mood?
Can I decorate the walls, ceiling, or
the floor?
How can I rearrange the desks for
this lesson to be most effective?
Can I create more desks by
removing desks?

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 Interior D esign Hook
The Board Mess ag e
Is there a theme party I can I have What can I write on the board or
for this subject? have projected on my screen that
My Exam ples :_____ _____ ___ will immediately spark curiosity and
interest as the students enter the
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ room?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ What type of message will create a
buzz?
___ _____ _____ _____ ___ _____ _ What can I write that will be
intriguing and mysterious and will
compel students to ask a question?

33 34

The Board Mess ag e The Costume Hook

What can I wear as an outfit or
Can I use a QR code? costume for this lesson?
Can I have an intriguing image Is there an exciting character that I
projected that will tie into my can impersonate?
content? Can I create a character that is
My Exam ples :_____ _____ ___ relevant?
Can I invent a superhero or super
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ villain for this subject?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ What accessory can I wear to
enhance my presentation?

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 The Costume Hook The P rops Hook
What physical item can I bring to add
My Exam ples :_____ _____ ___ to my presentation?
Instead of just talking about a book,
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ can I bring it?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ Instead of just talking about a
person, can I show them a picture?
___ _____ _____ _____ ___ _____ _ What can I bring that my students
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ can actually hold in their hands?

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The P rops Hook The Involved Au dience Hook

How can I consistently keep the
My Exam ples :_____ _____ ___ audience feeling involved?
Can I cue them to make certain
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ motions or sounds at key points?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ Can I incorporate call and response
into this lesson?
___ _____ _____ _____ ___ _____ _ Can I, secretly, cue certain students
to play a pre-arranged role?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ Can I bring students to the front of
the room as volunteer?

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 The Involved Au dience Hook The Mystery Bag Hook
Can I have a closed box or package
My Exam ples :_____ _____ ___ in the front of the class?
Can I cut a hole in the box where
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ students can reach inside and feel
the contents?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
Can I give hints and open the floor
___ _____ _____ _____ ___ _____ _ for guesses?
What can I put in the mystery box to
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ tie to my lesson?

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The Mystery Bag Hook

How can I get students to try to
figure out relationship between
object and lesson?
My Exam ples :_____ _____ ___ Stand and Deliver
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____

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 The Storytelling Hook The Storytelling Hook
What story can I tell that will draw
students into the lesson? How can I use facial expressions,
Can I create a high-interest story to gestures, dramatic pauses to
fit the lesson? improve the power of my lecture?
Would speaking in character, using
an accent, changing intonation,
varying volume have an impact on the
My Exam ples :_____ _____ ___
class? ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
___ _____ _____ _____ ___ __
44 45

The Swimming with the Sharks Hook The Taboo Hook

How can I break doe the barrier How can I position my topic so that it
between teacher and class? seems like a little-known secret?
Can I participate in the activity? How can I present my lesson as if its
Can I walk the room and use the something they are not suppose to
whole room as my platform? know?
Is there a different place or multiple
places I can present from? My Exam ples :_____ _____ ___
My Exam ples :_____ _____ ___
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ __
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
___ _____ _____ _______ ___ _
___ _____ _____
46_______ ___ _ 47
 The Mime Hook The Mime Hook
How can I use silence to spark
interest?
Can I use written messages to My Exam ples :_____ _____ ______
deliver my lesson or opening hook? ___ _____ _____ _______ _____ __
Can I use mime techniques to get my
point across? ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
Can I incorporate charades or
Pictionary? ___ _____ _____ _____ ___ _____ _
Can the students share messages ___ _____ _____ _____ _____
without words?

48 49

The Teas er Hook The Teas er Hook

How can I spark interest in the
lesson by promoting it ahead of
time? My Exam ples :_____ _____ ______
What aspect can I share beforehand ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
to promote curiosity?
If I were to create a movie trailer ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
for this lesson what would it include?
If I were planning a marketing ___ _____ _____ _____ ___ _____ _
promotion for this lesson what ___ _____ _____ ______ ____
would I do?

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 The Backwards Hook The Backwards Hook
How can I gain an advantage by
presenting the material out of My Exam ples :_____ _____ ______
sequence?
Can I tell the end of the story and let ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
them figure out and discover the
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
beginning and middle?
Can I show them an end product that ___ _____ _____ _____ ___ _____ _
will make them want to learn the skill
presented? ___ _____ _____ _____ _____

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The Mission Impossible Hook

How can I design my lesson so that
students are trying to solve a
mystery?
Advanced Tactics How can I incorporate clues that can
be decoded by learning or
researching the subject?
Can they be provided a treasure map
or sent on a scavenger hunt through
your content?
What fictitious character or role
can they play?

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 The Mission Impossible Hook The Reality TV Hook
What crisis must they present? How can I design my lesson to take
Can I change this from a standard advantage of the popularity of
assignment to a daring and reality TV?
impossible mission? Can I create a Survivor-style
My Exam ples :_____ _____ _____ _ challenge and divide the class into
tribes?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ Can this be configured as an
Amazing Race partner lesson?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
How can I incorporate a Fear Factor
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ type of challenge?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____
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The Reality TV Hook The Techno Wh iz Hook

How can I tap into the technological
prowess of my students?
My Exam ples :_____ _____ _____ _ Can I give my students the option to
___ ____ _____ _____ _____ _____ create projects and turn in
assignments digitally?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ Can I create a paperless lesson?
How can I take advantage that most
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ phones now have a camera, video,
___ _____ _____ _____ _______ __ and internet capability?

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 The Techno Wh iz Hook
How can I use social media to
engage students beyond the school
day?
How can technology help me connect Around the Edges
my students to people from all over
the world to gain global perspective?
How can I use the latest apps to
create a more powerful and
interactive lesson?

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The Contest Hook The Contest Hook

How can I include a contest in this
lesson to build motivation?
What type of review game can I My Exam ples :_____ _____ _____ _
design to ramp up the entertainment ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
level?
What kind of in-class challenge can I ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
create?
Can I be part of the challenge or ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
contest? ___ _____ _____ _____ _______ __

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 The Magic and The Amazing The Chef Hook
Hook How can I enhance this lesson by
What amazing principle can I adding food or drinks?
demonstrate as part of this lesson? Can I cook something for the class?
Is there a magical effect that could What type of food would be a perfect
help deliver this message? match for this lesson?
Can I teach my students an amazing How can I use food or drinks to
skill that they will go home and show demonstrate a point, serve as an
others? incentive, or help create a positive
atmosphere?

64 65

The Chef Hook

The Mnemonic Hook
My Exam ples :_____ _____ _____ _ Are there key bits of information I
want my students to know cold?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
Is there a pattern to point out?
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ Can the point of the lesson be tied to
previous knowledge?
___ _____ ___ _____ _____ _____ _ Does a mnemonic exist for the
___ _____ _____ _____ _______ __ material?
Can I design my own mnemonic?

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 The Mnemonic Hook The Extra-Credit Challeng e
How can I embed a mnemonic theme Hook
throughout my presentation to aid What high-interest and motivating
retention? challenges can I create that relate
My Exam ples :_____ _____ _____ _ to this unit?
What intriguing mission can I send
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ students on to allow them to extend
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ their learning in a unique way?

___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____

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The Extra-Credit Challeng e

Hook Be Daring!
How can I provide my students the
opportunity for an experience that
will create life-long memories?
My Exam ples :_____ _____ _____ _
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____
___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____

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