Introduction

This Learning Activity Uses the Popular March Madness tournament to learn the hidden histories and untold stories of women trailblazers in math, science and politics.

Students research a woman whose contributions matter greatly today, but whose life is often omitted from textbooks and curriculum frameworks.

Students present the life and times of each woman using a March Madness tournament bracket format, proceeding through successive rounds of presentations to determine the most influential trailblazer.

In fact, everyone in the tournament is a memorable and consequential change-makers and students learn about many woman they would not have otherwise know about from their school classes.

Background

March Madness:  Using Tournament Brackets to Debate Academic Questions, The New York Times Learning Network (March 19, 2010)

March Madness brackets can be used in many different classes to promote many different types of learning.  Here is an example from science:

• Plant Madness:  A Classroom Game for Horticulture Plant Identification Courses