Rice men’s basketball to host 4,100 grade-schoolers for ‘School House Mania’

MEDIA ADVISORY

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

Rice men’s basketball to host 4,100 grade-schoolers for ‘School House Mania’

HOUSTON – (Dec. 12, 2016) – Rice University’s Athletics Department will host more than 4,100 local elementary school children for its fourth annual “School House Mania” when the Owls men’s basketball team tips off against St. Edward’s University in a special weekday matinee game at 11:45 a.m. Dec. 15 at Tudor Fieldhouse.

Prior to the game, the Rice University School Mathematics Project (RUSMP) will provide students opportunities to participate in math and science activities from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.

In conjunction with Friendswood-based nonprofit Light House Charity, New York Life Insurance Co. is providing each of the 4,100 students with lunch as part of its Volunteers for Good program.

“School House Mania” brings local elementary students to Rice’s campus for an educational field trip along with having fun watching a basketball game. The event promotes education and challenges students to learn in a fun way.

Who: More than 4,100 students in third, fourth and fifth grades from Houston, Fort Bend, Katy, Alief, Aldine, Cy-Fair and Spring Branch independent school districts.

What: “School House Mania” will feature a men’s basketball game between Rice University and St. Edward’s University, a pregame presentation by the Rice University School Mathematics Project, lunch for students and a Kids’ Day workbook with educational activities connecting basketball with math, science and reading.

The pregame math and science program will include:

• A “Welcome to Rice” slideshow, which includes math facts to introduce students to the campus.
• A “Sammy Says” activity in which students use their bodies, hands and fingers to answer math questions in a “Simon Says” format. A “What’s My Number?” activity in which students will be given clues to determine the jersey number of Rice basketball team members.
• A “Transformation Shuffle” dance, which introduces students to geometric transformations.
• A “Tour of Houston” slideshow that incorporates math and science.

When: Thursday, Dec. 15. Pregame event from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m., student lunch at 11:20 and the basketball game at 11:45.

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

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. This is RUSMP’s third year to collaborate with Rice’s Athletics Department on “School House Mania,” which brings STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — education from Rice University to Houston-area students.

Each year New York Life develops and helps coordinate hundreds of volunteer projects through their Volunteer for Good Program that offer the company’s employees and agents opportunities to get involved by making a difference in their communities.

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

Representatives from the Rice Athletics Department, Rice University School Mathematics Project, New York Life and area teachers will be available for interviews during the event.

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