Rice men’s basketball to host 4,000 grade-schoolers for ‘School House Mania’

MEDIA ADVISORY

David Ruth
713-348-6327
david@rice.edu

Rice men’s basketball to host 4,000 grade-schoolers for ‘School House Mania’

HOUSTON – (Dec. 10, 2015) – Rice University’s Athletic Department will host more than 4,000 local elementary school children for its third annual “School House Mania” when the Owls men’s basketball team tips off against University of St. Thomas in a special weekday matinee game at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 17 at Tudor Fieldhouse.

“School House Mania” is designed to provide local elementary students the opportunity to visit Rice’s campus for an educational field trip along with having fun watching a basketball game. The event promotes education and a healthy lifestyle but also challenges students to learn in a fun way.

Who:        More than 4,000 students in third, fourth and fifth grades from Houston, Fort Bend, Katy, Alief and Sheldon independent school districts and from KIPP Schools and Amigos Por Vida.              

What:      “School House Mania” will feature the Rice University versus University of St. Thomas men’s basketball game, a healthy lunch for the students, a Kids’ Day workbook with educational components binding basketball with core subjects that are taught in the students’ schools, a pregame presentation by the Rice University School Mathematics Project, a halftime drone presentation by Rice’s Center for Engineering Leadership and Trumbull Unmanned.

When:     Thursday, Dec. 17. Pregame event at 10:45 a.m., game at 11:30 a.m.

Where:    Rice University, Tudor Fieldhouse, 6100 Main St.

Prior to the game, on the basketball court and in the stands, the Rice University School Mathematics Project (RUSMP) will provide students opportunities to participate in a presentation on the science behind parabolic motion (or motion due to gravity) and rectilinear motion (or straight-line motion). The game of basketball provides perfect examples of these motions in the shooting, dribbling and passing of the basketball.

RUSMP has been promoting Rice beyond the hedges in pre-K-12 education by providing support to precollege institutions across the state since 1987. It offers numerous programs for leaders, teachers and students to support schools and school districts. “School House Mania” is the latest collaboration to bring STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — education from Rice University to Houston-area students.

The halftime drone presentation is part of a partnership among Rice, BP and Trumball Unmanned. The Rice Center for Engineering Leadership developed and hosted the inaugural Rice Drone Camp in Aug. 2015. The camp supplements traditional classroom curriculum and standards by providing students with a real-world, project-based application of knowledge and skills.

Members of the news media who want to attend “School House Mania” must RSVP to David Ruth, director of national media relations at Rice, at david@rice.edu or 713-348-6327.

Rice Athletics Department representatives and teachers will be available for interviews during the event.

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