Take Me Out To The Ball Game: 3rd Annual After School Fantasy Baseball Tournament at Raley Field

On May 3, 2014 Raley Field was once again filled with energetic players and cheering fans, but the action was academic instead of athletic. Region 3's Third Annual Fantasy Baseball Math Tournament was held at the minor league ballpark of the Sacramento River Cats. 

The 2014 Fantasy Baseball Math Tournament was sponsored by the City of Sacramento Department of Parks and Recreation, Elk Grove Unified School District, Folsom Cordova Unified School District, PSAApparel, Raley Field, Sacramento City Unified School District, Sacramento County Office of Education, Sacramento START, Subway, Twin Rivers Unified School District, West Sacramento Parks, Roberts Family Development Center, Center for Fathers and Families, Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center, Fantasy Baseball by Action Math, The Sacramento River Cats and Wilson Trophy Company.

Mike Osborn, on-field emcee for the River Cats fired up the crowd with a motivational speech before the tournament began. Then an a cappella version of the National Anthem was sung over the loud speaker by a very talented young after school student, as the children and their families saluted the flag. Once the pomp and circumstance was over it was time to play ball; fantasy baseball.

The exciting tournament featured 36 teams of fifth to eighth grade students representing school districts from the Sacramento area. In the competition, students used statistics from specially designed baseball cards to analyze data, compare players, complete circle graphs, and ultimately play simulated baseball games where they may even lead their team to a Fantasy Baseball World Series Championship.

The event was an end of the year activity for students who have participated in local tournaments held at their after-school programs. At the end of the challenging competition, the following team finished with a record of 10-1 in the tournament and was crowned Fantasy Baseball Champion of 2014:

Samuel Jackman Middle School

The following schools after school programs participated in the 3^rd Annual Fantasy Baseball Math Tournament:

•   Elk Grove Unified School District: David Reese, Edward Harris Middle School, 

     Samuel Jackman, Middle School, Cordova Gardens

•   Folsom Cordova Unified School District: Peter J. Shields Elementary School, 

     Rancho Cordova, Cordova Villa, Mitchell Middle School, White Rock, 

     Mills Middle School

•   Sacramento City Unified School District: Pony Express, Golden Empire

•   Twin Rivers Unified School District: MLK Jr. Technology Academy, Foothill Ranch, 

     Orchard Elementary

•   Washington Unified School District: Elk Horn Club West, Stonegate Club West, 

     Westmore Club West, River Club West

If your after school site is interested in participating in the 4th Annual Fantasy Baseball Tournament please email Ken McCulloch at KMcCulloch@cityofsacramento.org. League activities start in the Fall of 2014.

Raley Field

2014 Tournament Trophy

Russell greeting the participants.

Mike Osborn giving an inspirational speech.

                                   

                                                          National Anthem



                                                                     

Tournament Time

Championship Game

Samuel Jackman's Fantasy Baseball Team = 2014 Tournament Champions

STEM and Other Pertinent Articles:

1) Math Program a Hit with Pine - Richland Middle Schoolers

2) Project Based Learning and STEAM a Natural Fit in Education

3) K-12 Students are urged to get with the program

4) Quality Standards for Expanded Learning Programs

5) Learnings from a Study of Science Offerings in After School Programs

6) New Report: State of Expanded Learning in California

7) Games in Mathematics Classrooms: There's an App for That!

8) What's Your Major? 4 Decades of College Degrees, in 1 Graph

9) Career Technical Education, A Pathway to Higher Wages

STEM (and other Integrated Core Content) Activities/Videos/Websites/Podcast:

1) Why Aren't Teens Reading Like They Used To?

2) Plenty of Women Enter Academic Science. They Don't Just Stay.

3) Chicago Art Institute Lessons for Educators (Pre K- 12) 

4) Engineering Adventures (Grades 3-5 lessons) 

5) NASA Educators page (Pre-K to Higher Education)

6) Twenty Ideas for Engaging Projects (Project Based Learning)

7) Intel Education Lesson Plan Idea Page 

8) Christopher Emdin: Teach Teachers how to create magic

STEM Profesional Development Opportunities:

1) Techbridge Summer Institute ($800 per person)

2) STEM Academy for Elementary School Teachers ($450 per person)

3) Steve Spangler Story Time Slime / Online Training ($199.00 per person)
    Connecting Science and Children's Literature

4) Click2Science Professional Development Program (Free)

5) Technical Writing for Science Class (Free)

6) Edge Up University Provides Online Professional Development (Free)
    Professional Development training for Informal After School Educators
    provided by Region 8

STEM / Misc. / Events / Grants / Contest:

1)  Teichert Foundation Grants (August 2014 Deadline)

2)  Batters Up USA (Baseball and Softball Gear) 

     (Applications available until equipment is gone)

3) Saucony Run for Good Foundation Website: Program: After School, 
    At-Risk/Character, General Education, Health/PE
    Maximum Grant: up to $10,000 (Deadline: June 13, 2014)

4) Best Buy Children's Foundation Program: After School, Arts, General Education, 
    Health / PE, Math, Reading, Science/Environmental, Social Studies, STEM, 
    Technology Maximum Grant: up to $6,000 (Deadline: July 1, 2014)

5) Innovation Corps Sites Program: After School, Arts, General Education, Health/PE, 
    Math, Reading, Science,/Environmental, Social Studies, STEM, Technology 
    Maximum Grant: up to $6,000 (Deadline July 1, 2014)

6) Procter and Gamble Educational Grants Program: After School, Early Childhood, 
      General Education, Health/PE Maximum Grant: up to $10,000 
      (Deadline September 26, 2014)

7) Lights on After School Poster Design Contest

    (Deadline: June 4, 2014)

8) California Arts Education Grants

Thanks again for all that you do in the field. Please keep us posted about STEM events/activities in your area. Please feel free to contact us at any time.

Monica Gonzalez-William (SCOE: Region 3: After School Regional Lead)
@ mgonzalez@scoe.net

Phil Romig: (SCOE: Science Curriculum Specialist) @ promig@scoe.net

Mark Drewes: (SCOE: Project Specialist II: After School) @ mdrewes@scoe.net