FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY AND USE THE NEWS
ANNOUNCE “CIRCUS WORKS” NEW NIE MATERIALS FOR ELEMENTARYAND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS

(San Francisco, CA, April 4, 2000) New educational materials that explore the history and tradition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® have been announced. Created in partnership with Use The News, Inc. and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, the Student Supplements and Teacher Resource Guide bring students and teachers closer to the excitement of the circus through newspaper activities and stories about circus life and lore.

The educational materials offered through the Educational Outreach Department of Feld Entertainment are provided to schools in partnership with Newspaper in Education (NIE) programs in communities nationwide. Created by Use The News, the premier provider of NIE curriculum resources, the materials are designed for elementary and middle school students.

“The ‘CIRCUS WORKS’ program brings students into excitement of the center ring,” says Peggy Williams, Educational Outreach Manager for Feld Entertainment. “Teaching students about Ringling Bros. is an important part of teaching about American heritage. Students throughout the country are eager to learn through educational materials that highlight the thrill of the circus.”

The educational materials in the “CIRCUS WORKS” NIE program include two 16-page newspaper-style Student Supplements and a comprehensive Teacher Resource Guide for use with the Student Supplement or as stand-alone curriculum.

The Student Supplements — one each for the 129th Red and 130th Blue units — explore such circus-related topics as circus history, Asian elephants and their conservation, animal care and training, circus performers, clowns and behind-the-scenes support teams. The supplement features photos of Ringling Bros. circus acts as well as its Center for Elephant Conservation. Also included is a three-tiered time line covering circus history, world history and United States presidents. Newspaper activities direct students to utilize their local newspapers. The supplement may be used in conjunction with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performances in your town or it can be used as a stand-alone curriculum guide.

The 24-page Teacher Resource Guide makes connections between circus-related topics and the real world through newspaper activities. The guide includes detailed teacher pages and reproducible student activity pages. The Teacher Resource Guide may be used independently or in conjunction with the Student Supplement.

“The circus is an important part of American culture,” says Dr. Betty L. Sullivan, President of Use The News. “We know that teachers will enjoy using the excitement of the circus to propel learning in the classroom. Use The News is proud to be a part of this important project.”

“The educational segments in the ‘CIRCUS WORKS’ materials engage students with reading, writing and research skills, and encourage them to develop a knowledge of community resources,” says Dr. Sherrye Dee Garrett, Executive Editor of Use The News. “The activities satisfy local and state standards and can be incorporated into a teacher’s existing educational objectives.”

Use The News is one of the nation’s fastest-growing educational services companies. It publishes a variety of distinguished educational resources for middle and secondary school curriculums.

For further information on the use of the Ringling Bros. materials, contact Peggy Williams, Manager of Feld Entertainment’s Educational Outreach Department, at
(703) 448-4000 x7098, or via the Ringling Bros. Web site at www.ringling.com.