While many of you were following March Madness in basketball, Chatham High School Environmental Science, AP BIO, and Project-Based Science classes were competing in the March Mammal Madness (MMM) competition. MMM was created by Dr. Katie Hinde of Arizona State University and is now in its 10th year. Each year, Dr. Hinde and scientists from all over the world come up with 65 animal combatants who "compete" against each other in various habitats to earn the Championship title. CHS science teacher Sandy Fischer brought the competition to her classes, where students researched and prepared slides on all the combatants to help them complete their brackets. Through scientific information embedded in the bout descriptions, students learned about inter-species interactions, the importance of ecological context, how natural selection has shaped adaptations, and conservation of endangered species. Winners for each round were revealed in fun videos created by Dr. Hinde and her team. The students were very engaged in this month-long activity and shouts of success and defeat could often be heard in Mrs. Fischer's room! Pictured are our MMM bracket winners for each class, for whom Mrs. Fischer made special trophies.
Pictured top is Olive Mountain - Environmental Science
Ben Halpin - AP Bio
Ryan Wilson - Project-Based Science