February's STEM-tastic Learning Opportunities

Kareem Abdul - Jabbar and Tom Torlakson

In October of 2012, CA State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson appointed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to be California's After School STEM Ambassador for the 2013 calendar year. At the time Tom Torlakson stated:

"Few things are more important to children's education and to California's economy than the STEM subjects, and few people have more vision and commitment to making an impact in kids' lives than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar," Torlakson said. "I've long admired Kareem as an athlete, and I'm delighted now to count him as an ally in giving California's kids every chance to succeed, not just in the classroom, but after school as well."   

But what stood out for me most during this October 2012 CA STEM Symposium are the following two items that Kareem shared with the audience:

"If America is to maintain our high standard of living, we must continue to innovate," said Abdul-Jabbar. "We are competing with nations many times our size, and STEM learning represents the engines of innovation. With these engines we can lead the world, because knowledge is real power."

To me the most powerful part of Kareem's speech came when he stated:

 " My 7' 2" inch frame predestined my future to that of an NBA basketball player. It wasn't only my body type that led me to believe this, but it was also the era that I grew up in. As a child, I did't know that people who came before me, who had my same color of skin had done great things in Science. It wasn't until I started my college career at UCLA that I started learning about all the wonderful, amazing contributions that African Americans had made in the field of Science. If I would have known this when I was younger, maybe this would have set me off on a different career trajectory."

It was also at this conference that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar revealed his children's book that he had just written entitled "What Color is my World? The Lost History of African 
American Inventors." He wrote this book in particular so that African American children of today and tomorrow could see that their ancestors have done great things in the past, continue to do great things, and that the students themselves can do great things in the future.

As educators, parents, community members we must make it our number one goal to unearth all of the hidden figures from the past so that no matter what ethnicity a child is that they can see that people that looked just like them have made tremendous contributions to the society that we all currently live in. We need to celebrate diversity day in and day out. We do not need to confine it to a month.


With the above being stated: Here are a few ways that you can celebrate Black History month not only in February, but all year long.


1) Black History Month Lessons and Activities for Grades K-5 (NEA)

2) Black History Month Lessons and Activities for Grades 6-8 (NEA)

3) Black History Month Lessons and Activities for Grades 9-12 (NEA)

4) 6 Teaching Tools for Black History Month (Edutopia)

5) Black History Month Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources K-8 (Scholastic)

6) Black History Month Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources K-12
   (Share My Lesson Plan)


Now lets check-in with Region 3 Expanded Learning Programs and see what STEAM
Learning activities they are engaging youth in.


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


Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified School District


Name of School Site: Dry Creek Elementary


Grade Level of Activity: 1st - 3rd Grade


Number of Students who took part in the activity: 50 students


Type of Activity: STEAM - Egg drop competition. Students were grouped into smaller teams and using only a few resources to design and engineer a contraption to protect their egg from impact.


Learning Outcomes - Students were able to:

• Collaborate and work towards a common goal
• Brainstorm an idea on paper before building their contraption
• Test the Engineering Design Process
• Compare and contrast their design versus their classmates

Dry Creek Elementary Expanded Learning Students working on their Egg Drop Contraption.

For more information about this activity please contact Program Manager Tiffany Chan at tiffany@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: Del Paso Heights Elementary


Grade Level of Activity: 4th Grade


Number of students who took part in the activity: 20 students


Type of Activity: Lego Education WeDo 2.0 Core Set


Learning Outcomes - Students were able to:

• practice team work and collaboration
• work on their fine motor skills 
• utilize their creativity
• develop their problem solving and mathematical skills
• develop their communication skills while working on various projects

Del Paso Heights Expanded Learning students working together on their Lego WeDo project.

For more information on this activity please contact Program Manager Julio Roman at julio@sccsc.org.


Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider:
Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center


Name of District: Natomas Unified School District


Name of School Site: American Lakes School


Grade Level of Activity: 1st Grade


Number of students who took part in the activity: 20


Type of Activity: Marble Obstacle Course


Learning Outcomes- Students were able to:

• Make a prediction 
• Create an obstacle course to navigate with a marble
• Understand that changes in angles and height can cause objects to move at different speeds
• Observe, discuss, compare, and contrast results
• Describe and present findings

Expanded Learning students at American Lakes Elementary school presenting their Marble Run obstacle courses.

For more information about this activity please contact Program Manager Rebecca Bonton at rebecca@sccsc.org.



Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider:
Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center


Name of District: Elk Grove Unified School District


Name of School Site: Franklin Elementary


Grade Level of Activity: K-6


Number of Students who took part in the activity: 99 students


Type of Activity: STEAM


Learning Outcomes - Students were able to:

• Science: Learn about the Science of Colors and the color Wheel
• Technology: Learn about Color Schemes, Complimentary, Analogous, Primary, Secondary, Warm and Cool Colors: How they affect one another
• Engineering: Learning to Engineer Secondary Colors and Neutral Colors by Mixing Primary Colors and Complimentary Colors together
• Art: Study and Learn about Colors in Art and color schemes
• Math: Learn the correct ratios of paint mixtures to make a variety of secondary colors, neutral colors and custom colors through scientific experimentation

Franklin Elementary School Expanded Learning Students engineering their color wheels.

For more information on this activity please contact Program Manager Christopher Lloyd at christopher@sccsc.org.


Name of Out-of-School - Time Provider:
Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center


Name of School Site: Twin Rivers Unified School District


Name of School Site: D.W. Babcock


Grade Level of Activity: K-6th


Number of students who took part in the activity: 25


Type of Activity: Engineering Marshmallow Towers


Learning Outcomes - Students were able to:

• Create towers using only marshmallows and toothpicks
• Create a solid structure with a strong base to help support the tower
• Collaborate and develop team chemistry
• Utilize the Engineering Design Process

D.W. Babcock Expanded Learning students showing off their marshmallow towers.

For more information on this STEAM activity please contact Program Manager DeMarcus Wooten at demarcus@sccsc.org.




STEAM / Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Articles:

1) Sparking Curiosity About STEM 
    (Edutopia article by Alessandra King, July 11, 2018)

2) Using Science to Bring Literature to Life
   (Edutopia article by Amy Schwartzbach-Kang 
   and Edward Kang February 22, 2018)

3) 10 Powerful Community- Building Ideas
    (Edutopia article by Emelina Minero, February 5, 2019)

4) Understanding a Educator's Long-Term Impact
     (Edutopia article by Youki Terada, February 4, 2019)

5) Teachers Decorating Doors for Black History Month Say Representation Matters
   (Edweek article by Sarah Schwartz, February 15, 2019)

6) Want Students to Attend School Every Day? Make Sure They Feel Safe on the Way
    (Edweek article by Sarah D. Sparks, February 13, 2019)

7) In the Field: Stand-out examples of quality STEM programming
    (Afterschool Alliance by Leah Silverberg, February 14, 2019)




STEAM (other core content) Activities / Websites / Podcast:

1) Starting your podcast. A guide for students (NPR)

2) Ph. D. Student Breaks Down Electron Physics Into A Swinging Musical
    (NPR Podcast)

3) 5 STEM Lessons to Celebrate Black History Month (Grades 3-12) 
   (Scholastic)

4) Classroom Ready STEM Lessons for Black History Month (Grades 3-12)
    (Bright Ideas Blog)




STEM / Non-STEM Educational Grants:


1)  Afterschool Alliance Grant Page

2)  Bank of the West Grant Page

3) CAN Funding Opportunities Webpage

4) The Impact Foundry Grant Page




STEAM / Non-STEAM Professional Learning Sessions / Contest / Events:

1) Region 3 Winter Conference for Expanded Learning Practitioners
    (Date: March 12, 2019) (Time: 8:30 am to 1:00 pm) (Cost: Free)

2) Exploring Creativity Through Theatrical Writing in Expanded Learning Programs
     (Date: March 20, 2019) (Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm) (Cost: Free)

3) STEM Kit Explorations: Exploring SCOE's STEM Learning Library
    (Date: April 8, 2019) (Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm) (Cost: Free)

4)  Mixed Media Collage Activities for Expanded Learning Programs
    (Date: April 11, 2019) (Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm) (Cost: Free)

5) Making the Most of Read Alouds in Expanded Learning Programs

    (Date: May 14, 2019) (Time: 9:30 am to 12:00 pm) (Cost: Free)

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

Here is to a STEM-amzing New Year!!!

The Region 3 Expanded Learning Team just wanted to take the time and wish all of you a Happy New Year. We hope that you were able to take some time off during the winter break and recharge your internal batteries. We hope that you were able to fully step away from work and truly enjoy "you time". We also hope that you were able to spend quality face-to-face time with family and friends making memories. We hope that all of you found a moment or two to take care of your physical and mental health. All of the above helps you to be at the top of your game.

With that being stated we just wanted to inform you all of how awesome you are. The work that you do on a daily basis are strengthening communities. On a daily basis the work that you do engages 20,000 youth on average across Region 3 with opportunities that wouldn't exist without you.

Once again, incase you have not been adequately informed, please consider this official notification that you are awesome.


Activities to help you plan for possible February learning activities:

a) Build a Light Bulb - Circuits Activity

b) Engineering Activities (Discover Engineering)

c) 28 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month (Scholastic Activities)

d) Black History Month Lessons and Resources (National Education Association)

e) 28 Days of Art Activities for Black History Month (Creative Child)

f) PBS Learning Media Black History Month Resources (PBS)

g) Black History Month Celebration (Crocker Art Museum)
    (Date: February 18, 2018) (Time: 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm)

h) CSUS Black History Month Events (CSUS)

i) U.C. Davis Calendar of Events (U.C. Davis)

j) Famous Black Engineers Throughout History (How Stuff Works)

k) 12 Women Whose Names You Should Know (Refinery 29)


Now let us check-in on Region 3 Expanded Learning Programs and see what STEM / STEAM activities they have been engaging youth in:

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

Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified School District

School Site: Madison Elementary

Grade Level of Activity: K-3rd  

Number of Students who took part in the activity: 20

Type of Activity: STEAM

Learning Outcomes - Students were able to: 

• Identify pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters
• Understand the value of each coin
• Count coins in same and mixed situations
• Engage in activities that require addition and subtraction
• Engage in a simulated grocery store shopping trip

For more information on this project please feel free to contact Johnny Ramirez at johnny@sccsc.org.

Madison Expanded Learning students being engaged in real world math learning activities.

STEAM / Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Articles:

1) How to Make Sure Your Math Anxiety Doesn't Make Your Kids Hate Math
    (NPR article by Sara Ernst, December 16, 2018)

2) Making Connections with the STEM Learning Ecosystems Initiative
    (Scientific American article by Amanda Baker, December 26, 2018)

3) Engaging English Learners in K-12 Engineering
    (NTSA Blog post by Christine M. Cunningham, January 8, 2019)

4) English Learners in STEM Subjects
    (NTSA Blog post by Okhee Lee, January 8, 2019)

5) Why Millions of Kids Can't Read, and What Better Teaching Can Do About It
    (NPR article by Emily Hanford, January 2, 2019)

6) How Do You Teach Kids To Be Honest?
    (NPR article by Kamala Thiagarajan, December 25, 2018)

7) Building Community With Friendly Fridays
    (Edutopia article by Elizabeth Peterson, January 8, 2019)

8) Social and Emotional Learning in Science Class
    (Edutopia article by Sarah Kesty, January 3, 2019)

9) A Mindfulness Story by Kids
    (Blog post by Sam Phia, January 9, 2019)

10) 6 Lessons Startup Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Dance Class
      (Ed Week Market Brief article by Sara Potler LaHayne, January 9, 2019)


STEAM (other core content) Activities / Websites / Podcast:

1) Free Science Lesson Plans (Grades K-12)
    (ExploraVision)

2) 150 STEM Resources for PBL and Authentic Learning (Grades K-12)
    (Tech and Learning)

3) Racing Extinction Education (Activities) (Grades K-12)
    (Discovery Website)

4) Alexa Can Help Kids With Homework, But Don't Forget Problem -
    Solving Skills (NPR Podcast)

5) Character Education Resources 
    (CDE Website)

6) Youth for Youth (Free Online Professional Learning / Resources)
    (Ed Gov. Website)

7) The EDge (CDE Special Education Newsletter)

8) Art Activities (Dick Blick Art Website)

9) Bedtime Math (Free Curriculum)


STEM / Non-STEM Educational Grants: 

1)  Afterschool Alliance Grant Page

2)  Bank of the West Grant Page

3) CAN Funding Opportunities Webpage

4) The Impact Foundry Grant Page

STEM / Non-STEM Educational Grants: 

1) NPR Student Podcast Challenge

    (January 1 - March 31, 2019)

2) SMUD Free Educational Workshops (Free)

3) Physical Computing: Series (SCOE: Free)
    (January 2019)

4) CA Cruz'n: Expanded Learning Site Coordinator Symposium

    (Dates: February 8 and 9, 2019) (Cost: $100)
    (Location: Long Beach, CA)

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

November is National Native American Heritage Month

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.


Native Americans have made many great contributions to society throughout history. Read about the recent contributions that two amazing Native American women have made to their local communities and how they were elected to the United States House of Representatives. A first for the States of Kansas and New Mexico.

Read about Deb Haaland and her work in this New York Times article.

Deb Haaland - Democrat - member of Laguna Pueblo -New Mexico.

Sharice Davids - Democrat - Member of the Ho-Chunk Nation - Kansas.

Read about Sharice Davids and her work in this New York Times article.


Here are some resources that you can use to engage youth in Native American Learning Activities:

1) Native American Lessons, Activities, and Resources (NEA Website) 

2) Native American Student Activities, Lesson Plans, and Collection
    Guides (Library of Congress) 

3) Native American Heritage Month Resources (Indian Country Today)

4) Celebrate Native American Heritage Month (Education World) 



Now let's take a peek and see how a few expanded learning programs in the region have been engaging youth in STEM / enrichment learning activities.

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

Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified School District

School Site: Frontier Elementary

Grade Level of Activity: 4th through 6th

Number of students who took part in the activity: 20-25 students

Type of Activity: STEAM Activity - Students worked in teams and built a bridge using marshmallows and toothpicks and tested if their bridge was strong enough to hold a book(s) the longest.

Learning Outcomes -Students were able to:

• Develop a blueprint for their bridge on paper
• Critically and strategically think how to build the bridge by calculating their steps and    utilizing the provided materials (toothpicks and marshmallows) effectively
• Communicate and collaborate with a peer on the project
• Explore STEAM through a hands-on project

ASES students engineering bridges.

For more information on this activity please contact Lily Kobzar

Program Manager at lily@sccsc.org.

Name of Expanded Learning Program Provider:

Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District

School Site: Pony Express Elementary

Grade Level of Activity: Suitable for All Grade Levels

Number of Students who took part in the activity: 11

Type of Activity: Marble Run - Engineering and Science

Learning Outcomes -Students were able to:

• Engineering a unique marvel track to have their marvel travel through
• Explore the concept of gravity and the role that it plays in the marble run
• Explore what variables contribute to friction
• Sharpen their teamwork skills
• Use their creativity to solve this STEM challenge

ASES students working together to engineer a marble run.

For more information on this activity please contact Ashley Johnson
Program Manager at Ashley.johnson@sccsc.org.




STEAM / Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Articles:

1) Why is it crucial to make cultural diversity visible in STEM education
    (STEM Teaching Tools, November 2018)

2) English Learners in STEM Subjects 
    (National Academies of Science Engineering Medicine Press 2018)

3) Digital Technology Is Gambling With Children's Minds
    (Education Week article by Elias Aboujaoude, November 13, 2018)

4) To Curb Youth Smoking, Vaping FDA Announces Plan 
    Aimed at Flavored Products
    (Education Week article by Evie Blad, November 15, 2018)

5) What Educators Need to Know About Teaching Thanksgiving
    (NPR article by Mayowa Aina, November 22, 2018)

6) Getting Your To-Do List Under Control
    (Edutopia article by Marissa King, October 11, 2018)

7) A 4-Step Process for Building Student Resilience 
    (Edutopia article by Michele Lew, November 7, 2018)

8) Getting Creative with SEL
    (Edutopia article by Maurice J. Elias, Sara LaHayne, November 5, 2018)

9) Using Stories to Teach Math
    (Edutopia article by L.L. Barkat December 22, 2017)

10) Using Science to Bring Literature to Life 
      (Edutopia article by Amy Schwartzbach- Kang / 
       Edward Kang, February 22, 2018)


STEAM (other core content) Activities / Websites / Podcast:

1) Do It Yourself STEM Activities
    (Square Root Academy website)

2) 4 STEM Activities for Winter
    (Think Fun website)

3) 14 Winter Themed STEM Activities 
    (Highlights website)

4) 12 Cool Winter Experiments
    (Hello Wonderful website)

5) Arts Integration Resource Roundup
    (Edutopia website)

6) Winter Physical Education Activities
     (P.E. Central website)

7) Starting Your Podcast
    (NPR Resources for Educators working with students)

8) Teaching Podcasting: A Curriculum Guide for Educators
    (NPR website)

9) The World of Expanded Learning 
    (Bruno Marchesi - YouTube Vlog)

10) We Dream Podcast
      (Youth-led podcast presented by SCUSD Men's and
      Women's Leadership Academy)


STEAM / Educational Grants:


1) Afterschool Alliance Grant Page

2)  Bank of the West Grant Page

3) CAN Funding Opportunities Webpage

4) The Impact Foundry Grant Page


STEAM / Non-STEAM Professional Learning Sessions / Contest / Events:

1) NPR Student Podcast Challenge
    (January 1 - March 31, 2019)

2) SMUD Free Educational Workshops (Free)

3) Physical Computing: Series (SCOE: Free)
    (December 2018 - January 2019)

4) Nadine Burke Harris in Conversation
    (Date: December 3, 2018) (Cost: $29.00)

5) Conflict Resolution:(Date: December 12, 2018) (Cost: Free) 
    (Grades: K-12)

6) Engineer It!(Date: December 12, 2018) (Cost: Free) 

    (Grades: K-12)

7) Angela Y. Davis and Ibrham X Kendi in Conversation

    (Date: January 10, 2019) (Cost: $29.00)

8) Put Me In Coach(A two session series)

    (Dates: January 23, 2019 and March 6, 2019)

9) CA Cruz'n: Expanded Learning Site Coordinator Symposium

    (Dates: February 8 and 9, 2019) (Cost: $100)
    (Location: Long Beach, CA)

10) Mayor Michael Tubbs in Conversation

      (Date: February 13, 2019) (Cost: $29.00)

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