Have you ever considered the math skills that go into each three-pointer AJ Green shoots at a Milwaukee Bucks game? Students from Bruce-Guadalupe Community School and Frank Lloyd Wright Elementary School sure have.
NBA Math Hoops is a fast-paced board game and mobile app that teaches students fundamental math skills through the basketball statistics of their favorite NBA and WNBA players. The Math Hoops curriculum has been shown to improve students’ grasp of statistics and interpersonal skills. An understanding of math sets students up for success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
In January, Executive Vice President Chief People, Culture and Customer Officer Lori Lorenz and other ATC staff attended a Math Hoops Live session, hosted by the Milwaukee Bucks, to promote STEM education in an exciting way that students can connect to basketball. Held at the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Sports Science Center where the Bucks practice, the students split into two teams and faced off to see who had the better math skills. Students rolled the numbered dice, completed a basic math problem, and directed Bucks guards AJ Green and Stanley Umude to the correct “answer” on the court to shoot the basket from.
This year, ATC and the Bucks focused on women in STEM. Some of ATC’s female engineers and employees led a panel discussing careers in energy and even featured a STEM Jeopardy game for the students to play.
“This event was an extraordinary opportunity for ATC to inspire and empower young girls, showcasing the vital role women play in STEM fields. Seeing their enthusiasm and potential reminds us how important it is to foster these talents,” said Lori. “Community events like these strengthen our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive future, and I am incredibly proud of the role ATC plays in enriching our communities through meaningful programs such as NBA Math Hoops.”
Meanwhile on the court, a few ATC staff members supported the girls as they practiced their quick math skills and then went to shoot a basket with AJ and Stanley.
The Buck’s NBA Math Hoops, powered by ATC, aligns with ATC’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics education focus. This is our third year partnering with the Bucks for their Math Hoops initiative. Last season, Math Hoops improved math fluency by 27 percent across 134 locations. Over 10,000 students got involved in this program, playing 258,552 NBA Math Hoops games.
If you know any teachers that may be interested in bringing the program to their school, reach out to them! Educators and after-school coordinators can register for virtual training sessions to gain free access to the NBA Math Hoops curriculum and program materials and learn best practices for implementing the game. To register for a session, visit www.nbamathhoops.com/training.