A few years ago, right at the end of the winter blues, I discovered March Mammal Madness. March Mammal Madness (MMM) is a popular educational activity for middle and high school science classes. It is a bracket-style competition that is modeled after the NCAA basketball tournament and is used to teach students about different mammal species and the characteristics that make them unique. I signed up to participate (it’s free) and launched my seventh graders into one of those experiences kids talk about for YEARS!
March Mammal Madness, whose logo is “If you’re learning, you’re winning,” is designed as a bracket-style competition that is modeled after the NCAA basketball tournament. In this activity, students research 64 different species which compete in a tournament designed by Kr. Katie Hinde of Arizona State University in 2013. The species are divided into four regions (similar to the NCAA basketball tournament) and a bracket is created.
How March Mammal Madness works
The battles in MMM are based on the characteristics of the competing species. Each round, students research information about the characteristics of the competing species and must use this information to decide which species they believe is best suited to advance to the next round. These battles can include:
- Hunting and feeding habits;
- Reproductive strategies;
- Adaptation to different environments;
- Behavioral characteristics such as social behavior or communication methods;
- Overall survival strategy.
Throughout the month of March, battles are live-tweeted (#2023MMM) and video recaps are produced 2-3 times per week. Students follow along on their brackets and earn points for each battle they correctly participated. We kept an advancing bracket in the back of our classroom and it became quite the subject of discussion.
Benefits of participating in March Mammal Madness
These battles in MMM are meant to be a fun and engaging way to teach students about different mammal species and the characteristics that make them unique. It also helps students develop critical thinking skills, teamwork, and collaboration among students.
The MMM activity is not just a fun and engaging way to teach students about different mammal species, but also helps students develop critical thinking skills. By having to consider multiple factors and make decisions based on evidence, students are forced to think critically about the information they are presented with.
Additionally, the activity helps to promote teamwork and collaboration among students. Often, students will work in small groups to research and make decisions about which species to advance. This allows students to share their knowledge and learn from one another, which can be especially helpful for students who may be struggling with the material.
Last year, my kids love MMM so much that they created their own May Mammal Madness. They designed their own brackets, wrote the battles, and even made video recaps of each battle.
A freebie to get your class excited
I kicked off this year’s MMM tournament with a rousing game of animal kingdom trivia. Kids were so excited, and they are ready for the battles to begin!
If you’d like to play trivia with your students, click here to download my game! Just be sure to comment below and let me know what you thought!
How to Participate
Everything you need to know is on the official MMM website which can be found here.
Overall, March Mammal Madness is a fun and engaging way to teach middle school students about different mammal species and the characteristics that make them unique. I hope you participate this year!
For more information