With classrooms closed, we took education to the streets. Seven words at a time.
Not Six. Not Eight. Seven-Word Lessons.
Why seven words?
Billboard headlines are usually seven words or less, since short-term memory holds, on average, seven items. That’s why we asked teachers in the U.S. to submit seven-word lessons, which we displayed on billboards visible from homes and apartments across the country.
When & Where
The project ran for 30 days in Boston, New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Kansas City, Denver, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. New five-minute lesson blocks appeared on billboards daily at 12pm EST.
Missed the lessons in person? View them online:
Frequently Asked Questions
+ Who’s behind this?
Seven-Word Lessons was created by WorkInProgress, an innovation and advertising agency in Boulder, Colorado. We believe every person should be a work in progress. That means ongoing learning, even when you’re stuck at home. Additional support comes from Outdoor Nation.
+ Do I need to be a teacher to submit a lesson?
At this point, yes. Part of our project’s mission is to support teachers while schools are closed. Since we’re providing payment for the lessons, it felt right to limit submissions to educators only. That said, we welcome anyone and everyone to create their own Seven-Word Lessons. Share them on social with a #sevenwordlessons hashtag so we can check them out.
+ What types of lessons are you looking for?
The program is designed to educate students in the K-8 school range. We welcome a broad range of subjects: math, history, art, science, language, geography, business, physical education, music and beyond. As long as your lesson is educational and seven words in length, we’d love to see it.
+ How many lessons can I contribute?
Teachers are welcome to submit as many lessons as they wish. We will pay $25 for each lesson we publish on billboards and social media. Teachers also have the option of donating their payment to DonorsChoose, an educational nonprofit that helps classrooms in need.
+ Do I need a Venmo account?
If you want to receive payment, yes. If you don’t have a Venmo account, no problem. We’ll be initiating payments by texting the mobile number you provide with your submission. You’ll be able to quickly set up a Venmo account at that time.
+ How can I help spread the word?
We’d welcome your help sharing the project with teachers and students in your community. Here's a sample post for Twitter, which you can cut and paste to share elsewhere, too.
+ How can I get a billboard in my city?
If you’re able to donate a digital billboard in your city, please reach out. We’d love to bring the project your way.
+ How can I get in touch?
If you have ideas, questions, or are a member of the media, please contact us at hi@sevenwordlessons.com.
Help Support Seven-Word Lessons
The project’s creators funded teacher payments and billboards for 30 days. We hope to extend Seven-Word Lessons and expand into additional cities. To achieve this, your support is welcome.
Seven-Word Lessons Archive
14 Lessons a Day. 30 Days. 8 Cities Across the USA.
Seven-Word Lessons made possible by:
