Five Ways to Build Momentum for Mix

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Submitted by Teaching Tolerance Staff on September 4, 2012
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Schools are busy places, with lots of things competing for attention. Based on input from hundreds of schools during the past decade of Mix It Up at Lunch events, success is best achieved when you can build momentum leading up to the day—and carry it forward through the rest of the school year.

But how do you build that momentum? Here are some ideas:

  1. Start with an air of mystery. Make posters that ask, “Are you ready to Mix It Up?” Post them around the school, a few at first, then more and more. Maybe even have a handful of key players make T-shirts that ask the same question; they can all wear them on the same day. Ask teachers to place the message on their classroom white boards. Then, after several weeks, start to reveal what Mix It Up is, involving more (and varied) students in the planning efforts.
  2. Mix up the planning group. If the theme for the day is to Mix It Up, imagine the power of having a “mixed up” planning group. Seek out unexpected student leaders, people who have influence with various groups at school. If a varied group of influential students are seen supporting the event, others will follow more readily.
  3. Use a multimedia, multi-pronged approach. YouTube, Twitter, Facebook. Video, audio and website announcements. Posters, poems and performance art. Announcements at school sports and music events. A skit about rigid lunch groups at a school assembly. The more ways you get the word out, the better participation you’ll have.
  4. Do something unexpected. One school actually changes the layout of the tables in the cafeteria for Mix It Up at Lunch Day, mixing the room up even before students Mix It Up. Going with the “air of mystery” theme, the day you put the “Are you ready to Mix It Up?” posters in the cafeteria, you could also rearrange the table layout—to get people thinking. Another idea? Plan a flashmob during lunch using a song tied to your Mix It Up theme and involving students from varied school groups.
  5. Bring Mix into the classroom. We offer dozens of lessons and activities geared to all grade levels and multiple subject areas that will help you gear up for the big day. Check them out on our website.

Mix It Up at Lunch Day is Oct. 30!
Questions about Mix It Up? Ideas for Mix It Up organizers at other schools? Other thoughts? We welcome feedback–and can respond to questions–on Facebook or Twitter. You can also browse our free Mix It Up resources online.