Mupal Madness - a basketball March Madness inspired Evolution Lesson

Get ready to witness the ultimate showdown of genetic proportions with our latest creation, Mupal Madness! Designed to engage and excite students about evolutionary biology, this unique lesson package offers not just one, but four thrilling activities packed into one unbeatable deal!

For the price of a single lesson, you'll unlock a treasure trove of educational excitement. Dive into the full digital and paper versions, where a whopping 16 Mupals battle through four intense rounds of evolutionary challenges. From genetic traits to environmental adaptations, students will explore the intricacies of natural selection like never before.

But that's not all – we've also included shorter digital and paper versions for a quick dose of Mupal Madness. With eight Mupals facing off over three rounds, these condensed versions are perfect for classroom engagement on the fly.

And here's the kicker: in the full version, we delve into the fascinating realm of sexual selection, adding an extra layer of complexity and intrigue to the evolutionary mix. It's an opportunity for students to explore the nuances of mate choice and competition, taking their understanding of evolution to new heights.

So why settle for one activity when you can have four? Bring the excitement of Mupal Madness to your classroom today and ignite a passion for science that will last a lifetime!

To preview this product, highlight the link below and paste the address into your web browser.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1eWVAuQpiEAfZCT0F1mzGeuYtFaQbH2IalR7TKMQkKhg/edit?usp=sharing

To watch a video preview of this product, highlight the link below and paste the address into your web browser.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EGwAB5t8Vc&t=9s

Grade & Course Recommendation:

• Middle School: Grades 7–8, simulation-based ecology or adaptation unit.

• High School: Grades 9–10 Biology, modeling selection pressures and evolution.

Cross-Curricular Connections (Optional)

• Math Integration: Students use dice rolls and point modifiers to model probability, random variation, and quantitative comparisons between traits. This supports ratio reasoning and interpreting statistical outcomes.
  

• ELA Integration: Students construct written explanations of their results, supporting literacy in science practices (claim–evidence–reasoning).
  

• Art/Design Integration: The digital “build-a-creature” component lets students express visual creativity while maintaining scientific accuracy about adaptive traits.

Extension Ideas:

• Have students graph trait frequencies across multiple rounds to visualize changes over “generations.”

• Incorporate discussions of real-world examples of natural selection (e.g., peppered moths, antibiotic resistance) to connect simulation to reality.

Join the Lesson Laboratory and Teach for Tomorrow!

NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)

Middle School NGSS Alignment

• MS-LS4-4: Construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals’ probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment.
  Students observe which Mupals thrive under particular environmental pressures (temperature, light, water, predators) and use evidence to explain survival outcomes.

• MS-LS4-6: Use mathematical representations to support explanations of how natural selection may lead to increases and decreases of specific traits in populations over time.
  Students compare environmental conditions and trait advantages, using numerical modifiers and elimination rounds to represent selective pressure.

• MS-LS3-2: Develop and use a model to describe why sexual reproduction results in genetic variation of offspring.
  The dice-roll trait assignment simulates random genetic variation and inheritance patterns.

High School NGSS Alignment

• HS-LS4-2: Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of evolution primarily results from four factors: potential for a species to increase, heritable genetic variation, competition for resources, and proliferation of the most fit.
  Students simulate competition and observe how specific traits provide advantages in environmental contexts.

• HS-LS4-3: Apply concepts of statistics and probability to support explanations that organisms with advantageous heritable traits tend to increase in proportion to those lacking the traits.
  Dice-rolling and point modifiers represent random chance and trait frequency shifts in populations.

Science & Engineering Practices:

• Developing and using models

• Analyzing and interpreting data

• Constructing explanations

• Using mathematical and computational thinking

Crosscutting Concepts:

• Cause and effect

• Patterns

• Systems and system models

Common Core Standards 

Grades 6–8 / 9–10:

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.3 / RST.9-10.3: Follow precisely a multistep procedure for constructing and testing Mupals under different conditions.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.7 / RST.9-10.7: Integrate quantitative and visual information (digital charts, survival data) with textual directions.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.2 / WHST.9-10.2: Write informative explanations describing how environmental factors influence Mupal survival.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.9 / WHST.9-10.9: Draw evidence from simulation data to support explanations about natural selection.