November has a Cornucopia of STEM Offerings

In 1990, President George H. W. Bush declared the month of November as National Native American Heritage Month. This commemorative month aims to provide a platform for Native people in the United States of America to share their culture, traditions, music, crafts, dance, and ways and concepts of life. This gives Native people the opportunity to express to their community, both city, county and state officials their concerns and solutions for building bridges of understanding and friendship in their local area.

Here are some resources that could help you and your students celebrate and learn more about Native American Heritage Month.

Native Americans have made many great contributions to the field of Science:


1) Mary Golda Ross - was the first Native American female engineer. She was one of 
    the 40 founding engineers of the Skunk Works, and was known for her work at 
    Lockheed Martin on preliminary design concepts for interplanetary space travel, 
    manned and unmanned earth-orbiting flights, the earliest studies of orbiting 
    satellites for both defense and civilian purposes.

Mary Golda Ross the first Native American female engineer.

  

2) John Herrington - Astronaut John Herrington was the first Native American to travel 
    to space. Herrington, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, spent over 330 hours in 
    space before retiring in 2005. 

John B. Herrington first enrolled Native American Tribe member to fly in space.

Let's see what STEM learning activities the Expanded Learning Program practitioners have been engaging the Region 3 students in.


Name of Expanded Learning Program Provider: Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center


Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District


Name of School Site: John Cabrillo Elementary


Grade Level of Activity: 1st and 2nd Graders


Number of Students who took part in the activity: 22 Students


Type of Activity: Marshmallow Towers


Learning Outcomes: Students were able to:

• Learn about the Engineering Design Process
• Learn about the stability of structures
• Learn how to make blue prints
• Learn how to work collaboratively
• Learn about the importance of base and foundation

Expanded Learning Program students at John Cabrillo testing their Marshmallow Tower designs.

For more information on this activity please contact Duc-Hanh Nguyen at duchanh@sccsc.org.

Name of Expanded Learning Program Provider: Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center


Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District


Name of School Site: A.M. Winn Elementary


Grade Level of Activity: 4th thru 8th


Number of Students who took part in the activity: 22


Type of Activity: Making Stress Bottles


Learning Outcomes: Students were able to:

• Learn about the Engineering Design Process
• Identify and discuss stressful situations, what causes them, the effects that they have on the body, and how to deal with them
• Learn about measurement
• Explore, test, and redesign their Stress Bottles
• Learn how to work collaboratively together
• Experience peer learning
• Learn about healthy ways to deal with stress

Expanded Learning Program students showing off their Stress Bottles.

For more information on this activity please contact Monik Vega at mvega@sccsc.org.




Name of Expanded Learning Program Provider: Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center


Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified School District


Name of School Site: Sierra View Elementary


Grade Level of Activity: 4th thru 6th Grade


Number of Students who took part in the activity: 20


Type of Activity: Demonstration / Experiment: Students use oil, water, and seltzer tablets to learn about the differing densities of liquids while eventually making their own lava lamps.


Learning Outcomes: Students were able to: 

• Explore the Engineering Design Process
• Create their own lava lamps using oil, water, food coloring, and seltzer tablets
• Explain the density of certain liquids
• Explore what ratio of oil and water creates the most effective lava lamps
• Collect and analyze data

Expanded Learning Program students at Sierra View Elementary exploring density and making lava lamps.

For more information on this activity please contact Ryan Mallory at ryan@sccsc.org.


Name of Expanded Learning Program Provider: Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center


Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified School District


Name of School Site: Noralto Elementary


Grade Level of Activity: 2nd Grade


Number of Students who took part in the activity: 13


Type of Activity: Rock Identification


Learning Outcomes: Students were able to:

• Learning the different between igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks
• Identifying 6 rocks by their features
• Seeing if the rocks react to saturated citric acid

Expanded Learning Program students at Noralto  classifying the different types of rocks.

For more information on this activity please contact Tanya Velasquez at tanya@sccsc.org.


Name of Expanded Learning Program Provider: Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center


Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District


Name of School Site: William Land Elementary


Grade Level of Activity: 4th Grade


Number of Students who took part in the activity: 26


Type of Activity: Taternauts Project


Learning Outcomes: Students were able to: 

• Understand the changes in the scientific method
• Understand the importance of budgeting in relation to project funding
• Understand the effects of mass and velocity on acceleration
• Collect, calculate, and input data to better their model via Project Based Learning 
• Understand why there is a need for space junk clean-up projects

Taternauts materials.

Expanded Learning Program students at William Land Elementary getting ready to test their Taternauts.

For more information on this activity please contact David Constancio at david@sccsc.org.



Name of Expanded Learning Program Provider: Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center


Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified School District


Name of School Site: Foothill Ranch Middle School


Grade Level of Activity: 7th and 8th Grade


Number of Students who took part in the activity: 10


Type of Activity: STEAM



Learning Outcomes: Students were able to:

• Students will study the structures of molecules 
• Build a molecule of their choice out of a styrofoam cup, toothpicks, and marshmallows
• Explain the structure of their molecule
• Students will be able to use correct scientific academic language when describing their molecule

Expanded Learning Program students creating their molecules at Foothill Ranch Middle School.

For more information on this activity please contact Jessica Jones at jessica@sccsc.org.



Name of Expanded Learning Program Provider: Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center


Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified School District


Name of School Site: Foothill Oaks Elementary


Grade Level of Activity: 4th and 5th Grade


Number of Students who took part in the activity: 21


Type of Activity: Learning about volcanoes



Learning Outcomes: Students were able to:

• Learn about volcanoes and how they affect us and the planet
• Different types of volcanoes that exist and how they are formed
• Create a volcano as a team and make it erupt

Expanded Learning Program students at Foothill Oaks learning about volcanoes.

For more information on this activity please contact Luis Ramirez at louis@sccsc.org.

STEM / Expanded Learning Program and other Pertinent Education Articles:

1) Culinary Programs Increase Student Appetites for Art, Science, Math, and Life Skills
    (The Journal of Expanded Learning Opportunities Project)

2) What do after school programs do for our youth?
    (The Journal of Expanded Learning Opportunities Project)

3) How a summer learning program helped one community's literacy problem
    (Afterschool Alliance Article by Jodi Grant, October 6, 2016)

4) Rainstorms and Symphonies: Performing Arts Bring Abstract Concepts to Life
    (Edutopia Article by Mary Gresock and Lisette Steinwald, October 5, 2016)

5) The New Focus on Children's Mental Health
    (The Atlantic Article by Emily Goldberg, October 17, 2016)

6) Kid Cudi's Mental Health Struggle has Inspired Black Men to Talk About Depression
   (Essence Article by Sydney Scott, October 6, 2016)

7) LA principal encourages students to be peacemakers, not peace breakers
    (EdSource Article by Michael Janofsky, September 25, 2016)

8) Learning In The Age of Digital Distraction
    (NPR Article by Eric Westervelt, November 5, 2016)

9) 5 Reasons Schools Should Measure Chronic Absence
    (NPR Article by Elissa Nadworny, November 3, 2016)

10) How a Happy School Can Help Students Succeed
      (NPR Article by Kat Lonsdorf, November 1, 2016)

11) Trump Brings Uncertainty To Big Education Issues
      (Education Week Article by Andrew Ujifusa, November 9, 2016)

12) 3 Ways Schools Can Be Supportive of Students' Mental Health
      (MindShift Article by Meg Anderson, September 26, 2016)

13) Feeling they are part of a group increased preschoolers' interest, success in STEM
      (University of Washington Article by Molly McElory, September 7, 2016)

14) Next Generation Science Opportunities in Expanded Learning 
      (The Journal of Expanded Learning Opportunities Project)

  
STEM (and other interdisciplinary core content) Activities / Videos / Websites: 

1) Resources to Fight Bullying and Harassment at School (Edutopia)

2) The Kindness Game Activity (Edutopia)

3) Farm to School Resources  (Farm to school, Articles, Toolkits, etc.)

4) Garden Activities (Kids Gardening, Activities)

5) Garden Lesson Plans  (Kids Gardening, Lesson Plans)

6) Build a Straw Hands-Free Holder (Design Squad, Activity)

7) Water Way Design Challenges (Design Squad, Activity)

8) How Slow Can You go? (Creativity Catapult, Activity)

9) Here's What Students Are Saying About The Election Results (NPR, Podcast)

10) College Is A 4-Year- Long Balancing Act For First-Generation Students
      (NPR, Podcast)

11) Freedom To Explore: 2 Schools Where The Students Call The Shots
       (NPR, Podcast)

12) National Science Test Scores Are Out, But What Do They Really Tell Us?
        (NPR, Podcast)


STEM / Educational Grants:

1) The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources
   (Edutopia, Updated on November 2, 2016)

2) The Impact Foundry (Grant Opportunities)

3) Walmart Foundation (Grant Opportunity)

4) Bank of The West  (Grant Opportunity)

5) Application for Free Computers (Ongoing)

6) Lowes Tool Box for Education 
    (Application opens December 18, 2016)



STEM / Misc. Professional Learning Sessions / Contests / Events:


1) How Kids Learn Conference (December 7, 2016 in SF)

    (Registration: $120 per participant)

2) 2017 Expanded Learning Symposium (February 23, 2017 in Berkeley)

     (Registration: $89 per participant)

3)  CASRC Online Profesional Learning Sessions (Free) 

     (Various Topics / Grade Levels)

4) CalSac Online Professional Learning Sessions (Free) 

      (Various Topics / Grade Levels)

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-Williams (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: Expanded Learning) mdrewes@scoe.net

October is full of STEM-azing Treats and Activities in Expanded Learning

October’s significance as Filipino American History Month is due to the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States when on October 18, 1587, “Luzones Indios” came ashore from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esparanza and landed at what is now Morro Bay, California.

Click here to read more about Filipino American History Month


Filipino Americans have made many great contributions to the field of Science:

1) Fe del Mundo - The first women admitted as a student to the
   Harvard School of Medicine, she also founded the first pediatric hospital
   in the Philippines.

Fe delo Mundo first female student admitted to Harvard School of Medicine.

2) Pedro Flores is a famous Filipino inventor who is widely accredited with being the
    first yo-yo maker in the United States.

Pedro Flores a famous Filipino inventor.

Click here to read more about other areas that Filipino Americans have made contributions in.

We just wanted to remind the Region 3 Expanded Learning Programs to submit STEM Blog posts that highlight the great STEM learning activities that you are engaging your youth in. Please take a look (please see the pdf below) at the information that we would like you to submit. Once you have gathered the following information, along with images of the STEM activity (any students in the images that you submit should have a signed media release form on file with your agency) please email them to Mark Drewes at mdrewes@scoe.net.

STEM / Expanded Learning Program and other Pertinent Education Articles:

1) "Destined for great things" : Low-income students as educators to believe
       that they can succeed (Jane Meredith Adams, Edsource, 11/17/15)

2) Physical fitness central to Sacramento district's focus on the "whole child"
     (Michael Collier, Edsource, 9/26/16)

3) Why the art of speaking should be taught alongside Math and Literacy
    (Mindshift, KQED, 10/3/16)

4) New Report: Participation in summer learning program yields positive outcomes
    (Erin Murphy, Afterschool Alliance, 9/15/16)

5) Why we desperately need to bring back vocational training in schools
    (Nicholas Wyman, Forbes, 9/1/15)

6) How to spark learning everywhere that kids go - starting with the grocery store
    (Anya Kamenetz, NPR, 10/3/16)

7) Talking to students about police violence and protests
    (Lauren Camera, US News, 9/27/16)

8) How schools can help notice and serve the "quiet kids"
    (Elisa Nadworny, KQED, 7/6/16)

9) The most important skill for the modern educator may be the "art of 
     turning it around" (Global Citizen, 9/27/16)

10) How mindfulness and storytelling help kids heal and learn
      (Juli Fraga, KQED, 9/26/16)

11) This school replaced detention with meditation
      (James Gaines, Upworthy, 9/22/16)


STEM (and other interdisciplinary core content) Activities / Videos / Websites:

1) NPASS Activities (Design-It Free Activities)

2) NPASS Activities (Explore - It Free Activities)

3) Sensational Summarizing Strategies (Resource)

4) October Homework: Full STEM Ahead (Free Activities for Grades 1-5)

5) After School Science Activities (Free Exploratorium Activities)

6) Math Explorer: Searchable Math Games (Free Exploratorium Activities)

7) After School Science Activities (Free Science Net Links Activities)

8) After School Exchange Science Activities (After School Exchange Activities)

9) Climate Kids (Free NASA Climate Activities)

10) Kid Sustainability Videos (Videos)

11) Earth Day Activities for Kids (Resources)

12) Ultimate Guide to Sustainability and Recycling for Kids (Resource)



STEM / Educational Grants:

1) The Big List of Educational Grants
    (Edutopia Updated on October 12th, 2016)

2) Afterschool Alliance (Grants Resource Page)

3) The Impact Foundry (Grants Resource Page)

4) Captain Planet Foundation (Grants ranging from $500 to $2,500
    for activities that are project-based, performed by youth and have
    a real environmental impact. (Deadline: 1/31/17)

5) KaBOOM! Grants for outdoor play (Deadline: Ongoing)

6) Fender Music Foundation Grants (Deadline: Ongoing)

7) Walmart Foundation Grants (Deadline: Ongoing)

8) Bank of the West Charitable Grants (Deadline: Ongoing)



STEM / Misc. Professional Learning Sessions / Contests / Events:

1) GEMs Spooky Science of Energy Transformation (Free) (Grades 5-12)
    (SMUD Workshop) (Date: 10/19/16) (Time: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

2)  Engineering Design Challenges (Free) (Grades 5-12)
    (SCOE Workshop) (Date: 10/25/16) (Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) 

3) Making a Solar Powered Emergency Preparedness Kit (Free) (Grades 8-12)
    (SMUD Workshop) (Date: 11/02/16) (Time: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

4) The How Kids Learn Conference (December 7, 2016 in SF)

    (Registration: $120 per participant)

5) Crocker Art Museum: Art Projects Workshop (Free) (Grades K-12)

     (SCOE Workshop) (Date: 12/13/16) (Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) 

6) CASRC Online Profesional Learning Sessions (Free) 
    (Various Topics / Grade Levels)

7)  CalSac Online Professional Learning Sessions (Free) 
      (Various Topics / Grade Levels)

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-Williams (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: Expanded Learning) mdrewes@scoe.net

September is National Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month is the period from September 15 to October 15
in the United States, when people recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino
Americans to the United States and celebrate the group's heritage and culture.

Hispanic Heritage Week was established by legislation sponsored by Rep. Edward R. Roybal (D- Los Angeles) and first proclaimed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968. The commemorative week was expanded by legislation sponsored by Rep. Esteban E. Torres (D- Pico Rivera) and implemented by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30 - day period.

September was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. All declared independence in 1821. In addition, Mexico, Chile, and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16, September 18, and September 2, respectively.

Here are a few Hispanic and Latino Americans who have made contributions in various
STEM fields:

a) Dr. Helen Rodriguez-Trias (First Latina President of the American Health 
   Association)

b) Severo Ochoa (Chemist: Co-awarded Nobel Prize in 1959 for his studies on 
    RNA)

c) Mario Molina (Chemist: Discovered Ozone Hole in Antarctic)

d) Jaime Escalante (Math Educator: Well known for working with struggling 
    math students)

e) Ellen Ochoa (Astronaut)

f) Adriana Ocampo (Planetary Geologist at NASA)

Here are a few additional resources for you and your expanded learning staff to
access:

a) 5 Latina Scientist that Make It Happen (LA Times)

b) Hispanic Heritage Month Resources (Website)

c) Latinos in History (Website)

Ellen Ochoa Astronaut

Jaime Escalante Math Educator

We will not be highlighting any STEM learning activities this month. Some expanded learning programs have been open for for roughly three weeks and some just re-opened right after Labor Day. With that being stated we just wanted to remind the Region 3 Expanded Learning Programs to submit STEM Blog posts that highlight the great STEM learning activities that you are engaging your youth in. Please take a look (please see the pdf below) at the information that we would like you to submit. Once you have gathered the following information, along with images of the STEM activity (any students in the images that you submit should have a signed media release form on file with your agency) please email them to Mark Drewes at mdrewes@scoe.net.

STEM Blog Post Submission Form

 STEM / Expanded Learning Program and Other Pertinent Education Articles:

1) "Destined for great things": Low-income students ask educators to believe 
      they can succeed (EdSource, Jane Meredith Adams, November 2015)

2) Prof. Chris Emdin Busts Classroom Myths, Talks "White Teachers in the Hood"
    (the74million.org, August 2016)

3) STEM Education (NY Times, Op. Ed., August 2016)

4) Why the Arts Are Essential in a STEM Education 
     (Edutopia, Mary Beth Hertz, February 2016)

5) Summer programs help prepare minority students for college STEM
    (LA Times, Nina Agrawal, August 2016)

6) For Teenage Brains, The Importance of Continuing To Learn Deeply
    (KQED, Shankar Vedanta, September 2013)

7) Uncomfortable Conversations: Talking About Race in The Classroom
    (NPR, Elissa Nadworny, April 2015)

8) How to Teach Your Kids to Love Art When You're Not An Artist (Cultivate Blog)

9) Researchers develop preschool STEM education curriculum
      (Eschool News, July 2016)

10) How Teens Benefit From Reading About the Struggles of Scientist
      (KQED, Deborah Farmer Kris, May 2016)

11) What does moderate to vigorous physical activity mean for kids?
      (Philly.com, Rachel Dehaven, August 2016)

12) State board poised to take new direction in school accountability
      (EdSource, September 2016)


STEM (and other interdisciplinary core content) Activities / Videos / Websites:

1) After School Webinars (Afterschool Alliance: Webinars)

2) Lights On After School 2016 Resources (Afterschool Alliance)

3) Top 10 Family Fitness Strategies to strengthen bodies and family bonds
     (Super Healthy Kids Blog)

4) Be enlightened! 25 Things to Know About Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
    (Dr. Patricia Fioriello)

5) These 3 Benefits will Motivate you to Eat Together as a Family
      (Super Healthy Kids Blog)

6)  6 Opening and Closing Routines for New Teachers
      (Edutopia, Rebecca Alber, August 2016)

7) Why Emotional Learning May Be As Important As The ABCs
    (NPR, Maanvi Singh, December 2014, Podcast)

8) 14 Books that Connect Students With Valuable Scientists' Struggles
    (KQED, Deborah Farmer Kris, May 2016)

9) Back to School Barbershop: New Goals, Homework and Parental Supervision
    (NPR Podcast, August 2016)

10) STEAM Design Challenge: Kinetic Wind Sculptures
      (Education Closet, Lauren Hodson, August 2016)

11) Science Activities (Creativity Catapult Website)


STEM / Educational Grants:

1) The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources
    (Updated on September 30, 2016)

2) Target Field Trip Grants ($700)  (August 1 through September 30, 2016)

3) Afterschool Alliance (Grant Resource Page) 

4) Impact Foundry (Grant Resources Page)

5) An Insider's Guide to Funding Afterschool: Connecting Donors to Your Mission
    (Afterschool Alliance)


STEM / Misc. Professional Learning Sessions / Contests / Events:

1) Electricity Fair a Family Event (Free) (Grades Pre K - 12) (SMUD Event)
    (Date: 9/10/16) (Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)

2) Understanding Trauma in the Context of Juvenile Justice Systems
    (Free) (Webinar) (9/16/16) (Time: 12:30 p.m. PT)
    

3) GEMs Electric Circuits (Free) (Grades 3 thru 9) (SMUD Workshop)
    (Date: 9/24/16) (Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)

4) RAFT 101: STEM Learning Activities (Free) (Grades 3-12)
    (SCOE Workshop) (Date: 9/28/16) (Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)

5) CA STEM Symposium ($310 per participant until 9/1/16) (Conference)
    (Date: 10/9 - 10/11) (Anaheim, CA)

6) GEMs Spooky Science of Energy Transformation (Free) (Grades 5-12)
    (SMUD Workshop) (Date: 10/19/16) (Time: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

7) Engineering Design Challenges (Free) (Grades 5-12)
    (SCOE Workshop) (Date: 10/25/16) (Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) 

8) Making a Solar Powered Emergency Preparedness Kit (Free) (Grades 8-12)
    (SMUD Workshop) (Date: 11/02/16) (Time: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

9) CASRC Online Profesional Learning Sessions (Free) 
    (Various Topics / Grade Levels)

10) CalSac Online Professional Learning Sessions (Free) 
      (Various Topics / Grade Levels)

11) Expanded Learning Symposium (February 23, 2017)
      (UC Berkeley 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

12)  CASRC Online Profesional Learning Sessions (Free) 
        (Various Topics / Grade Levels)

13) CalSac Online Professional Learning Sessions (Free) 
      (Various Topics / Grade Levels)

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-Williams (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