It all started when Bryson Pingor suggested 4th grade participate in March Mammal Madness as part of their Science curriculum. Ms. Titmus was immediately on board, and the whole class dove into the challenge.

Students researched 65 different animal species, exploring their habitats, predators, place in the food chain, diet, and much more. Each student carefully filled out their brackets, trying to predict which species would survive in the tournament-style competition.

Over the past few weeks, we watched the exciting video battles provided by Arizona State University. While some participants were quickly knocked out (including Dr. Shaughnessy!), we all had a great time learning about animals that we had never heard of before. The competition not only sparked our curiosity about the natural world, but it also made science come to life in a really fun and engaging way.

All in all, it was a fantastic learning experience that brought out our competitive spirit and love for animals. We’re already looking forward to next year’s March Mammal Madness!