March Madness Hits North Hills Junior High, But It's Not What You Think

March Madness with an educational angle has arrived at North Hills Junior High School. Over the next few weeks, eighth-grade American History students are taking part in a unique bracket contest to determine “The Most Influential American of All Time” in U.S. history.  

Competitors were picked from all walks of life including politics, military, sports and popular culture. Though their professions may vary, each person has had a profound impact on America, both now and throughout the past. 

To see a full bracket, click the linked file below. Winners of each round are posted on numerous brackets in the junior high school. 

Favorites include top seeds George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt. But like any good bracket, lower-ranked underdogs like Jonas Salk, Sam Walton, Frederick Douglas and Jackie Robinson could be this year’s Cinderella story. Interesting matchups include FDR versus Marilyn Monroe, Teddy Roosevelt versus Michael Jackson and Steve Jobs versus Muhammad Ali among others.

For each round, students will work alone or in pairs to complete an activity that will be presented to their classmates, who will vote to determine who will advance to the next round. The activities include a slideshow highlighting the influences of their selected person, a rhyming poem displaying knowledge of the individual, a 30-second television advertisement and a persuasive letter to the editor.  

The project was created by eighth-grade American History teachers Larry Dorenkamp, Rich Texter and Joe Welch.

Click on the image in the photo box to enlarge the brackets and tell us your choice. (there are buttons at the bottom of the .pdf to zoom into the names). Who do you think is the most influential American of all time and why? Share your picks and the reason behind them in the comments box below. 

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