March Madness: Picture Book Edition 2025

Are you looking for maximum engagement in your classroom this spring? Look no further! 

March Madness isn’t just for basketball—this year, it’s a celebration of books and brilliant teaching ideas! My March Madness resource is designed to energize your classroom by combining engaging stories with skill-building activities that connect to your students’ curiosity and creativity. From comprehension questions to hands-on extensions, these resources have everything you need to encourage deep thinking and meaningful connections. Plus, it’s structured to make planning easier for you [Hello, print and go!!], so you can focus on what matters most: your students’ love for learning.

Main March Madness Resource Example
Comprehension Companion Example

This year, there are two parts to my March Madness resource for you to enjoy! Part 1 is the traditional resource I have always made available to you. It includes all of the bracket directions, voting forms, and some questions to use with each book. It is the same great resource you know and love! Part 2 is the comprehension companion that is designed for you to provide students with response space to answer some questions and prompts that will extend their learning of the topic and/or allow for independent research or design!

Okay, let’s talk books! The heart of March Madness is its collection of inspiring, diverse stories. Each book is carefully chosen to spark your students’ curiosity while offering opportunities to strengthen critical thinking and comprehension skills. Whether it’s the hilarity of The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors or the heartwarming connections in Where Are You From, these books will leave your students talking long after story time ends.

Last year, I focused on fiction vs. nonfiction books about the same topic for each round. You can still grab that one here! This year is more rounded out with several topics and not tied to a genre. Here’s a quick taste of what’s inside:

Speaking of the books, not sure how to get started with planning? I GOT YOU! I made my own pacing calendar and want to share that with you today! Enjoy and Happy Reading!

One of my favorite parts of March Madness is seeing which books rise to the top of the bracket each year. In my classroom, we’ve had some unforgettable winners, with students eagerly voting for their favorites after engaging in discussions and activities that connect them to the stories.  I can’t wait to see which books your students will choose as their champions this year! Here’s my past winners:

Lastly, I’m excited to share a glimpse of how I bring March Madness to life in my own classroom! From the bracket setup on the wall to the activity stations for each book, my students get a hands-on experience that makes learning both fun and impactful. I’ve included some pictures to show how I organize everything and create an environment where students are encouraged to dive deep into each story. The setup has been a hit year after year, and I hope it inspires you to create a March Madness experience your students will never forget!

Teachers love March Madness because it’s adaptable, interactive, and exciting. Whether you’re looking for ways to expand students’ understanding of diverse stories or planning fun, themed activities that tie into the books, this resource has you covered. And with all the hard work done for you, it’s a win for both you and your students!

Ramona Recommends partners with affiliate platforms where commission may be earned based on clicks and or purchases, and I would love it if you decided to use the links above! Affiliate links help bloggers like me to fund the free content that we provide on our blogs.

 

Share this post:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Open the magic

Join my newsletter & gain access to the members only freebie library!

;