ÌÇÐ͝Âþvlog

Teaching

March Madness-Themed Lessons for Any Classroom

By Marina Whiteleather — April 01, 2025 1 min read
Vector illustration of a basketball going into a hoop. Blue sky and clouds in the background
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

Teachers are scoring big with students by bringing the spirit of March Madness into the classroom.

Every year, college basketball teams face off in the NCAA tournament where even fair-weathered viewers turn into die-hard spectators. Fans can join the competition, filling out brackets that predict the outcomes of each game.

This year, more than were submitted onto online platforms, such as ESPN and the NCAA website, and early games saw an average of viewers, giving teachers an opportunity to capitalize on the excitement.

Educators have long seen this cultural touchstone as a moment to engage students, such as this 2nd grade class that filled out a bracket last year and saw it emerge as one of the best in the country.

This year, Florida, Duke, Houston, and Auburn will compete for the championship prize on April 5 and April 7, so teachers spent March preparing for the big event with their students.

Teachers took to social media to share how they integrated March Madness into their lessons, no matter the subject.

Math

I created a Math March Madness Bracket! Hope someone finds this useful and uses my lesson plan! Share and tag me if you do! 😊

Reading

The hype from past students wanting to see who’s going to win is REAL!!

History

get students to buy-in to each lesson with a simple prediction.

Science

Just me orrrr

Social-emotional learning

March Madness for Classrooms! Perfect for SEL activities! Students LOVE these and their engagement is 🔥

Related Tags:

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
College & Workforce Readiness Webinar
Smarter Tools, Stronger Outcomes: Empowering CTE Educators With Future-Ready Solutions
Open doors to meaningful, hands-on careers with research-backed insights, ideas, and examples of successful CTE programs.
Content provided by 
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Reading & Literacy Webinar
Improve Reading Comprehension: Three Tools for Working Memory Challenges
Discover three working memory workarounds to help your students improve reading comprehension and empower them on their reading journey.
Content provided by 
Recruitment & Retention Webinar EdRecruiter 2026 Survey Results: How School Districts are Finding and Keeping Talent
Discover the latest K-12 hiring trends from EdWeek’s nationwide survey of job seekers and district HR professionals.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

Teaching Opinion My Fear of Public Speaking Makes Me a Better Teacher
Instead of viewing my nervousness as a weakness, I’ve learned it can connect me with my students.
Jewel Benty
2 min read
Illustration of woman with stage freight.
iStock
Teaching Opinion How These Teachers Are Solving Their Biggest Challenges
Rare is the teacher who doesn't face obstacles. Here are strategies for overcoming some.
12 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Teaching Spotlight Spotlight on Innovative Ways to Support Teaching & Learning
This Spotlight focuses on supporting teachers and learners navigating key issues in today's ever more complex learning environment.
Teaching Opinion Practical Tips for Creating a Safe and Supportive Space for Students
Student learning, engagement, and behavior are all affected by stress. Learn to recognize the signs.
14 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week