Level Up U: Leveling Up Character Education

If improv teaches us anything, even as Game On facilitators, it's that we need to be open and ready for possibilities and opportunities, and embrace the new that may come our way. Over the last few years, Game On has had the awesome opportunity to test something new-ish*: how does our improv-based curriculum used with professional athletes, Fortune 100 corporations, military organizations, and beyond fit in a conventional middle school classroom?

The answer: organically and with awesome impact.

And that's where Level Up U comes into play.

About Level Up U
In this one-semester elective course, students participate in a series of dynamic, teacher- and student-led improv exercises aimed at developing key resiliency and leadership skills including character development, personal responsibility, mentorship and citizenship, and critical thinking and problem solving. This course is aligned with Florida Standards in grades 6-8 focused on Resiliency, reinforcing concepts around empathy, perseverance, grit, gratitude, and responsibility while amplifying skills around critical thinking, problem solving, and responsible decision-making.

Through experiential learning students learn about empathy, trust, collaboration, goal-setting, and other essential leadership skills. But more than that, they get practice in applying these skills through improv-based exercises, discussing what “good” looks like, and developing a personal plan of action to bring these skills to life in the real world.

In its first implementations at a local middle school, Level Up U showed impactful returns:
- Students who experienced the program performed better in the classroom based on student GPAs.
- There was a decrease in student referrals for behavioral concerns among students in the program.
- There was an increase in attendance for students in the program.

Training for Teachers
Our team of skilled facilitators will be providing a hands-on learning experience for teachers at all levels through the Level Up U Teacher’s Institute later this month. During this four-day training, teachers will experience:
- Top-tier training and instruction in the Level Up U methodology and curriculum
- Fundamentals of improv-based training and its impact on the learning environment
- Best practices in classroom engagement and management strategies

*What Do You Mean By New-ish?
Many of you know that Game On got its start with junior athletes at IMG Academy, so we had a great case study to know that this methodology would be impactful. The newness of this project is in the approach of empowering classroom teachers to implement Game On's curriculum as part of the regular school day and in the development of step-by-step teachers' guides and engaging student journals.

What's Next for Level Up U?
We are currently piloting the semester-long implementation in Manatee County Middle Schools during the 2025-2026 school year, with an opportunity to expand the program and training for the 2026-2027 school year to other schools - both public and private.


Developed by teachers and life-long learners, this program was intentionally crafted for impact in how we approach character education. Needless to say, we are PUMPED to see where this program goes and the incredible impact it can have on middle school students.

Level Up U On!

Interested in Level Up U? Contact Erin Watson, Director of Content and Programs, at [email protected] to learn more about how to bring Level Up U to your school community!