Author: John S. Mead

I am the Eugene McDermott Master Teacher of Science at St. Mark's School of Texas. I share the wonder of Biology and especially evolution through a love of fossils, microscope explorations, and nature photography. I am also a passionate believer that K-12 teachers shoudl be encouraged to expand our horizons and network widely with others who can enhance the education we provide to our students.
Classroom Ideas, Main, News from Nat Geo

MARCH MAMMAL MADNESS – Fun Lessons from the First Round

Greetings to everyone who has an interest in the amazing “Performance Science” event of the springtime: March Mammal Madness. In my previous post, I shared the history of this six year old event and how you could get in in on the ground floor of this year’s tournament. More than 1,500 educators responded to March Mammal Madness creator Dr. Katie Hinde’s offer for early brackets! … Continue reading MARCH MAMMAL MADNESS – Fun Lessons from the First Round

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Creature Feature, Main, News from Nat Geo

MARCH MAMMAL MADNESS – The Power of the Bracket

I’ve been a biology teacher for 28 years. Every year, I find myself looking at my curriculum with an eye toward how I can keep both a.) the content of my course fresh and b.) the delivery of that content enticing to a generation of young minds who are maturing in a world of social media, screens, and digital literacy. Add to this a very … Continue reading MARCH MAMMAL MADNESS – The Power of the Bracket

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Main, News from Nat Geo

Talking Evolution: Darwin Day 2018

  This week, I am heading to the beautiful and historic city of Savannah, Georgia, to present about “Challenges and Successes in Teaching Evolution” at the Southeastern Evolutionary Perspectives Society Conference (SEEPS). The timing of this conference is no mistake. As science teachers and university researchers gather in Savannah, we do so on the weekend closest to Charles Darwin’s birthday on February 12. This year … Continue reading Talking Evolution: Darwin Day 2018

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Classroom Ideas, Main, News from Nat Geo

Talking Evolution – The Challenge of Influenza – Part 2

In my previous post, I detailed the nature of the influenza virus and its impact on personal health. In this post, we’ll look at how and why this virus is such a challenge for humanity. Despite prodigious advancements in medical care as well as vaccine technology, we still face yearly health hazards from seasonal influenza, as well as the generational threat from occasional influenza pandemics. … Continue reading Talking Evolution – The Challenge of Influenza – Part 2

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Main, News from Nat Geo

Talking Evolution: The Challenge of Influenza – Part 1

It’s that time of year again. It’s “Flu Season”—and those words mean different things to different people. For some of us, “flu season” is synonymous with the idea that we might come down with a “cold” and feel crummy for a few days. For a smaller group, it means that we are at risk of a life-threatening illness. As a teacher of middle school students, … Continue reading Talking Evolution: The Challenge of Influenza – Part 1

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