Tis' the Season for STEM

Despite the title of this blog post; every season should include STEM. Every child should be exposed to high-quality, hands-on, inquiry-based, project based STEM activities on a daily basis. A STEM-rich background will prepare our students for the 21st century. Meaningful STEM activities will also expand our student's horizons and make them college or career ready. As the recent data from the Great Recession (2007) shows, in California, STEM  skills have stayed in demand even through the economic downturn. There were 1.4 jobs available for every 1 unemployed person that had a STEM background. In comparison, there was only 1 job available for every 4.9 unemployed people who didn't have a STEM background. The U.S. Department of Commerce also highlighted in its report STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future, that STEM jobs are projected to grow by 17% from 2008 to 2018, compared to 9.8 percent growth for non-STEM occupations. STEM workers also command higher wages, earning 26% more than their non-STEM counterparts. We can even take a closer look and look at the E (Engineering) in STEM and see why U.S. companies are lobbying for more H1B visas (the STEM pipeline in america is not producing enough engineers); in the U.S. about 4% of all bachelor's degrees are in engineering, compared with 19% in Asia and 12% in Europe.

We in the after school field have been and can continue to help turn children on to STEM by exposing them to high-quality, hands-on, meaningful STEM activities. Keep in mind though that STEM education is more than just science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; it is an interdisciplinary and applied approach that is coupled with real-world, problem-based learning (Gateways East Bay STEM Network). This means there is art, history, literacy, etc. in STEM. The more that we can weave into an activity, the more doors we can open for our students and their futures. We need to start early though, for if students are not interested in STEM by fifth grade then 92% of boys and
97% of girls will loose interest in STEM subjects.

Now let's step off the STEM data soapbox and see what after school sites in Region 3 have been up to in the last month:


Name of Out-Of-School-Time Provider: Yuba City Unified School District Before and
                                                                     After School Programs

Name of School District: Yuba City Unified School District

Name of School Site: Andros Karperos School (is being highlighted, but all OST
                                     programs are using KidzScience Curriculum this year)

Grade Level of Activity: 3rd thru 5th Grade

Number of Students who took part in this activity: 22

Type of Activity: "Car on a Roll" from Resource Area for Teachers (RAFT) and the
                              "Crime Lab" kit from the Forensic Unit (After School KidzScience
                                Curriculum)

Learning Outcomes: Students were able to:

RAFT –“Car on a Roll”

•   Learn about motion along inclined planes, friction, gravity, momentum, and potential vs. kinetic energy.
• Note that an object's motion can be described by recording the change in its position over time.
• Observe that the way to change how something is moving is to give it a push or a pull. The size of the change is related to the strength, or the amount of "force," of the push or pull.
• Observe and demonstrate that tools and machines are used to apply pushes and pulls (forces) to make things move.
• Understand that scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions & conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept, and to address the content of the other strands, students will develop questions & perform investigations.

“Crime Lab Science Kit” from Forensic Science Unit (After School Kidz Science Curriculum)

• Students learn about investigating a crime scene: sweeping for fingerprints
•  Students learn about Chromatography
•  Students are able to set up and observe a DNA station
• Students are able to set up and observe a Clear Liquids Station
• Students learn about the Scientific Process while observing all evidence and eliminating “suspects”
• Students are able to come up with a hypothesis and come up with their own conclusion through exploration of all evidence left at the “crime scene”.

Instructor’s Notes:

The students loved both STEM activities. The younger students were able to contribute to the “Cars on a Roll” lesson more and enjoyed trying out different surfaces and inclines for running their cars down. All of the students were able to try out a variety of surfaces and inclines to see what role friction and velocity played in the speed of the car. The students used different types of tape (masking, packaging, painters) and sandpaper to create different surfaces for the cars. This activity has been a huge hit at all YCUSD After School Program sites.

The students worked in teams made up of younger and older students (3^rd-5^th) for the “Crime Lab” activity. Immediately, the students’ attention was captured by the outline of the dinosaur feet and crime scene tape. The props provided in the Materials for the kit are very effective in mimicking a true “crime scene” for the students. The students enjoyed learning about the role that dusting for fingerprints plays in investigation. The lesson was extended to include students dusting their own fingerprints and identifying the “type” of fingerprint that they have. The students enjoyed using the DNA and Liquids stations to test PH. The open-ended nature of the lesson plan really allowed for students to identify their own hypothesis and come to their own conclusion through the scientific process and elimination.

We highly recommend the After School Kidz Science curriculum. The students and staff alike look forward to these lessons and activities and all feedback has been positive. All materials and supplies included in the kits can be easily replaced at The Dollar Tree or Wal-Mart.

Yuba City Unified After School students working on "Car on a Roll" STEM activity.

"Car on a Roll" STEM activity.

"Crime Lab" KidzScience activity.

AK after school student partaking in a Crime Lab activity.

For any questions about the above activities, please feel free to email Danielle Pasquale at dpasquale@ycusd.k12.ca.us.

Name of Out-Of-School-Time Provider: Wheatland School District Before and
                                                                     After School Programs

Name of School District: Wheatland School District

Name of School Site: Lone Tree, Wheatland Charter Academy, and Wheatland
                                    Elementary

Grade Level of Activity: K-3 (Tangram Puzzles), 4th - 5th Grade (Colors of Light
                                          Spectroscope)

Number of Students who took part in this activity: 70 students combined

Type of Activity: "Tangram Puzzles" from Resource Area for Teachers (RAFT) and the
                              "Colors of Light Spectroscope" also from RAFT

Instructor’s Notes:

• At one site, the Tangram Puzzles were set up as a self-directed center with enough supplies for 1 Tangram Puzzle per student.  While they were initially drawn to the center, only 4 students decided to stay and try to make the puzzles.  Of those that stayed to make puzzles, the person shape  was the one each student chose to attempt.  Two Kinder students decided to make their own in an abstract fashion.  What I did love about the project is that as students sat down to decide if they wanted to attempt the puzzle, they asked for directions, and the students sitting at the table, including a Kinder, stated they would explain the project and proceeded to do just that!

• At another site, the Tangram Puzzles were set up as a self-directed center with enough supplies for 2 Tangram Puzzles per student.  The staff observed that more girls were drawn to the project table than boys regardless of grade-level. The project held the students’ attention for approximately 5-10 minutes and only 1 student finished the puzzle completely (it took 15 minutes).  The general feedback was that the activity was “too hard”, regardless of staff/peer assistance.

• Staff said that this project would be more appealing to students if the puzzle pieces had magnetic backings and could be manipulated on metal cookie sheets that had different Tangram puzzle designs on them.  This project scored low on appeal. Staff said that they would include this project “as is” in their STEM center rotation on a 6-12 week basis.

• The Colors of Light Spectroscope project was done with 4-5^th grade students. Ten students participated fully (with 10 more scheduled today). Under staff supervision (and the staff laid out the materials), a volunteer student read the directions. The students built and tested their spectroscopes. Additionally, they decorated their spectroscopes with fancy duck tape, jewels, and other craft supplies.  As the students decorated, the staff were able to engage the students in discussions using the “Science Behind the Activity” and “Learn More” sections.  The students expressed a high interest in this project and requested more like this. We plan on taking this to our Middle School students by the end of the month.

Wheatland after school students proudly showing off their Colors of Light Spectroscope.

For anyone interested in the above activities please contact Tara Arroz at taroz@wheatland.k12.ca.us.

Name of Out-Of-School-Time Provider: Higher Learning Academy
                                                                    After School Programs

Name of School District: Higher Learning Academy (Charter school within TRUSD)

Name of School Site: Higher Learning Academy

Grade Level of Activity: K-6 (Puff Rockets), 4th - 5th Grade (Colors of Light
                                          Spectroscope)

Number of Students who took part in this activity: 20 students combined

Type of Activity: "Puff Rockets" from Resource Area for Teachers (RAFT) and the
                              "Colors of Light Spectroscope" also from RAFT

Instructor’s Notes:

The Puff Rocket activity went well. It took some time for the students to get it right, but in the end they really enjoyed it. The group leader took the kids outside to see which student's rocket could go the farthest. The students were really excited about the use of everyday items to make the rocket and thought about building one at home. The students really enjoyed the light spectrum activity. All of the students had a blast with looking through at the different light sources. One of the students cut a heart into the kaleidoscope, and the result turned out really cool. We just wanted to give you an update and tell you how much the students liked the RAFT activities. 

For more information about any of the activities above please contact Michaela Thomas at Michaela.Thomas@twinriversusd.org.

STEM Articles/Videos:

a) California STEM Conference Materials

b) Sacramento Bee article highlighting California STEM Conference

c) News 10 Highlights California STEM Conference

d) Capitol Radio Highlights California STEM Conference

e) Middle School Science Standards Divide Teachers

f) Meet the Man who wants to Diversify Silicon Valley by 2040

g) What are the Benefits of Science Experiments?

STEM Activities/Websites:

a) The Coalition for Science After School

b) Exploratorium After School Science Activities

c) Easy to Make Rube Goldberg Machines

d) Preschool Science Activities and Experiments

e) PBS Preschool Science Activities

f) Science Experiments for Elementary School Students

g) Science Experiments and Activities for Middle School Students

h) Hands-on Activities for Teaching Biology to High School Students

i) First Book (Access to books for children in need)

STEM Professional Development Opportunities:

a) Online Webinar: How to Construct your own ebook (Free)

b) Online Webinar: Engaging Multimedia with Animoto and Prezi (Dec. 5 and Free)

c) California STEM Summit (February 3 & 4, 2014 Price: $195)

d) Educators, Teachers, and After School Trainings hosted by SMUD (Free and
    new workshops will be added in early 2014, so please check back)

STEM/Misc. Grants/ Contest:

a) Student Cam Message to Congress 2014 (Deadline: January 20, 2014)

b) End Childhood Hunger Youth Grants (Deadline: January 31, 2014)

c) VH1 Save the Music Grant (Deadline: Rolling)

d) Letters about Literature (Deadline: Grades 4-8 January 10, 2014)

e) Share our Strength Grant (Deadline: Rolling)

f) P.E. Equipment (New Applications Accepted in Early 2014)

g) Teen Safe Driving Grants (Deadline: Rolling)

h)  Starbucks Youth Leadership Grants (Deadline: December 15, 2013)

i) Lowes Toolbox Fund (Deadline: February 14, 2014 or when
                                       1500 applications are received)

j) Fender Music Program Grants (Deadline: Rolling)


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

Engineering, Simple Machines, Sublimation, Hydrophilic, and Gardens are just a few of Region 3s Favorite STEM Things

The end of September and the entire month of October, the Region 3 STEM Team (which consists of Monica Gonzalez-Williams, Phil Romig, and Mark Drewes) were excited to receive emails from the field; reporting on all of the inquiry-based, hands-on STEM activities that were taking place in the Out-of-School-Time Programs.

Without further ado, here is what has been taking place in Region 3s Out-of-School-Time Programs. The following reports were submitted by either site coordinators who facilitated the activities or by the students who took part in the activities.

Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Target Excellence

Name of District: Elk Grove Unified

Name of School Site: Sierra Enterprise

Grade Level of Activity: 5th - 6th Grade

Number of students who took part in the activity: 20

Type of Activity: Creative Thinking and Engineering Activity

Learning Outcomes- Students were able to:

• Build a structure over five feet tall that could freely hang without falling apart after 5 seconds
• Creatively use objects to accomplish each task
• Efficiently use available materials to accomplish each task
• Find ways to fasten the items together
• Work in a collaborative environment

Instructor's Notes: 

The students really enjoyed this activity for numerous reasons, such as: the activity was hands on, it allowed them to creatively think of ways to solve problems, they were able to work in teams, and they were able to control the outcome of their assignment (meaning that their wasn't an adult, informing them of what their structure needed to look like.). Both teams were invested from the beginning of the activity until the very end. A friendly competitive air filled the classroom as well. However, at times their enthusiasm led to carelessness, as they rushed through stages, dropping materials on the floor. The staff would then walk over to each group and remind them about the norms and safety procedures that they had agreed upon at the start of the project. The results were impressive- both teams were able to build a structure that measured over five feet tall.

Working collaboratively to build a five foot long structure.

Students working with a staff member to test their structure.

Students celebrating after meeting the challenge.

Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Target Excellence

Name of District: Natomas Unified

Name of School Site: Natomas Middle School

Grade Level of Activity: 7th - 8th Grade

Number of students who took part in the activity: 28

Type of Activity: Career Pathways in Engineering

Learning Outcomes- Students were able to:

• Explore the various fields in engineering  
•  Assess general career motivators and barriers to the engineering field
•  Recognize the importance of oral and written communication
• Understand the relevance of engineering to global societal issues
• Understand how engineers solve problems

Instructor's Notes: 

Students enjoyed seeing how science and math concepts are applied to the real world. Many were excited to learn how engineers are designing earthquake-resistant houses, navigational devices for the visually impaired, and innovative amusement park rides.  They became very invested when I discussed the average salary and earning potential of an engineer.  Many were shocked to find out that most CEOs in the Silicon Valley have engineering degrees. The students were excited to learn that they could apply their creative, entrepreneurial, and problem-solving skills in engineering. Many of them wanted to become an engineer at the end of the session because they saw how engineering can help people.  

Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Target Excellence

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified

Name of School Site: Cesar Chavez Elementary School

Grade Level of Activity: 4th - 5th Grade

Number of students who took part in the activity: 20

Type of Activity: Creating Mini-Rube Goldberg Machines

Learning Outcomes- Students were able to:

• Engineer simple machines that could be used in everyday life
• Use their creativity to design objects to accomplish a task
• Reason through problems and adjust their solution to the problem accordingly
• Work in collaborative teams

Instructor's Notes: 

Students enjoyed the challenge and became increasingly competitive over time. There were more male students participating than female students. We will try to increase the level of participation among female students in future activities. We were impressed that they managed to build an enclosed track to make sure the ball didn’t roll off the edge.

Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Target Excellence

Name of District: Natomas Unified

Name of School Site: Natomas Middle School

Grade Level of Activity: 7th - 8th Grade

Number of students who took part in the activity: 30

Type of Activity: The Many Forms of Dry Ice

Learning Outcomes- Students were able to:

• Work cooperatively in small groups to observe the process of sublimation
• Develop hypotheses on the composition of dry ice 
• Identify that dry ice sublimes more rapidly when submerged in hot water compared to cold
• 90% of students could differentiate between melting, sublimation, and evaporation
•  Identify the chemical formula for dry ice - CO₂(s) - and regular ice - H₂O(s)

Instructor's Notes: 

There were high participation rates, with many students asking questions during the demonstration. They were more interested in real-life applications so we discussed how scientists and engineers use carbon dioxide in fire extinguishers. This information will be critical in a future challenge where the students are asked to put out a fire without touching the flame or blowing on it. The students will have some materials, including baking soda and vinegar. If they mix these items, it will produce carbon dioxide gas and put out the flame immediately without pouring the solution in it. Many students requested samples of the experiment. I encouraged them to conduct small science experiments at home with their parent’s supervision.  

Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Target Excellence

Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified

Name of School Site: Morey Avenue

Grade Level of Activity: Kindergarten

Number of students who took part in the activity: 6

Type of Activity: Milk Rainbows

Learning Outcomes- Students were able to:

• Understand that all substances (e.g. water, milk, etc.) have a layer/skin on top called surface tension
•  Understand the difference between substances that dissolve in water (hydrophilic) and substances that do not (hydrophobic)
•  Know that some insects crawl on water due to surface tension, a very important property of water
• Differentiate between the different colors forming

Instructor's Notes: 

Students really enjoyed watching all the different colors forming in two different trays. Almost all of them immediately wanted to try it by themselves and they shared that they would love to try this activity at their home as it is very simple and uses just the food colors, milk and dish soap. I also had everyone identify and then spell all the colors that they saw.

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

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified

Name of School Site: Nicholas Elementary

Grade Level of Activity: K-6

Number of students who took part in the activity: 20

Type of Activity: School Garden

On September 13, 2013, volunteers from NationWide Insurance decended upon Nicholas Elementary to break ground on a school garden as a part of the United Way Capital California Region’s Day of Caring.

Four and a half hours of digging, building garden beds, and shoveling dirt created an interactive outdoor classroom that will benefit both regular-day and after school instruction. This garden will allow Nicholas Elementary to:

1. Enhance academic instruction during the school day through project based learning. 

2. Help encourage healthy eating by exposing students to home grown healthy foods.

3. Provide a location for parents and students to work side by side engaging in a healthy activity by harvesting healthy foods.

Thank you to the volunteers from NationWide Insurance, United Way California Capital Region, SCUSD and SCCSC!

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

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified

Name of School Site: Luther Burbank High School

Grade Level of Activity: 9th - 12th Grade

Number of students who took part in the activity: 20

Type of Activity: School Newspaper and Website

The Luther Burbank High School newspaper, the Titan Ledger, is now being written and produced by one of the ASSETs classes. Advised by John Hull, the school's media teacher and himself a former journalist, the Ledger staff is publishing stories and photographs online.

The Titan Ledger (found at http://titanledger.blogspot.com) keeps the community up to date with the events, the special classes and the positive accomplishments by the students of Luther Burbank. Students not only are learning journalism, but also are becoming excellent photographers.

The class helped to re-build the school's website in late September and now keeps the information on the website fresh. Now the Luther Burbank website (http://lutherburbank.scusd.edu) is a wealth of information and resources for students and parents alike.

STEM Articles/Videos: 

a) Head Start pushing for more math and science instruction

b) UCD program brings robots and math to Sacramento Schools

c) Equipping Science for the 21st Century

STEM Activities/Websites:

a) Computer Science Education Week December 9-15, 2013

b) California Career Zone Website

c) Sally Ride Science

STEM Professional Development Opportunities:

a) CCSS: Literacy in Science online professional learning module (K-12 Teachers)

b) California STEM Summit 2014

STEM Grants:

a) Tellabs Foundation
    Website: Tellabs
    Program: Education, STEM, Environmental Quality, Health
    Maximum Grant: Not Specified
    Deadline: 12/31/13

b) Vistex Foundation
    Website: Vistex
    Program: Education, Food, Agriculture, Nutrition, Health
    Maximum Grant: Not Specified
    Deadline: 12/31/13

c) Wish You Well Foundation
    Website: Wish You Well
    Program: Education
    Maximum Grant: $10,000
    Deadline: 12/31/13

d) Applied Materials Foundation
    Website: Applied Materials Foundation
    Program: Education
    Maximum Grant: $2,500+
    Deadline: Anytime

e) Free Health Booklets and Pamphlets

f) Free Baseball and Softball Equipment
    Open: December 1, 2013

g) MOUSE Squad of California
    Deadline: November 15, 2013

Houston We have STEM in Region 3 After School Programs!!!

It has been exactly one calendar year since Region 3 has facilitated the successful launch of The Power of Discovery: STEM 2 Initiative. This is not to say that STEM didn't exist in after school programs in Region 3 before this initiative was introduced. The Power of Discovery: STEM 2 Initiative is helping the after school programs in our region expose their students to a larger number of high-quality, hands-on, project-based, inquiry-based STEM activities. These STEM activities are not only heavily entrenched in the five Learning in After School and Summer Project principles (LIAS); but they are also quickly being aligned to the Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards.

The Region 3 STEM team (Monica Gonzalez-Williams, Phil Romig, and Mark Drewes) are currently working with over 100 plus after school sites in Region 3 to increase the STEM capacities of the after school programs by providing professional development for the after school front line practitioners. The professional development offerings to date have helped introduce new skills and teaching strategies to maximize the engagement of students in STEM activities in after school programs. The STEM professional development opportunities have also helped to take the fear out of teaching STEM by adding to the skill set and knowledge base of the front line practitioners. We have also exposed to the after school programs new resources (that exist in the Region), as well as easy to facilitate STEM activities and curriculum.

Within the last year the Region 3 STEM team has observed N-Pass lessons, FOSS lessons, Engineering is Elementary activities, Lego Mindstorms robotic clubs, SPARK STEM activities, Summer Space Programs to name a few. The students have been engaged and working on collaborative projects during our visits. We are truly excited for year II and we cannot wait to see all of the great STEM activities that you and your programs have planned for the 2013-2014 academic year. Thank you so much for joining us on this STEM mission. We couldn't do it without your support and dedication to expanding the STEM horizons of all students in Region 3.

Here are a few pictures of the Grant Managers and After School Agencies in Region 3 exploring the Discovery Museum Science and Space Center. Without them and our community partners we couldn't have embarked on this mission.

Getting ready for our Space Mission!!!

Ready to Blast Off!!

Region 3 has the Right Stuff!

Here are some recent STEM resources and Grant Opportunities that we have come across:

STEM Articles:

a) Strengthening Science Education: The Power of More Time To Deepen Inquiry and 

    Engagement

b) STEM Prepares Next Generation of Scientists, Programmers

c) Opportunities in After School Programs Abound for STEM Education

d) How Harvey Mudd Transformed Its Computer Science Program - and Nearly Closed 

    Its Gender Gap

STEM Activities Websites:

a) Steve Spangler Experiment of the Week Videos (K-4)

b) Science in After School  (K-12)

c) Science and Math Activities (K-6)

STEM Professional Development Opportunities:

a)  Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) FREE 2 day training

    (K-12 frontline practitioners)

b) 2013 California Department of Education STEM Conference $280 - $350 per person 

    depends on a registration date (K-12)

c) California After School Resource Center (CASRC) FREE Online training (K-12)

d) Resource Area for Teachers Training (RAFT) November 6, 2013 

    (More Information to Follow)

e) Setting up an Effective STEM Teaching Environment: 10/24/13 

    from 10:00 am - 11:30 am (Free)

STEM Contest:

a) SMUD Solar Regatta: May 16 and 17th 2014 (Grades 6 - 12) 

    Open to anyone that lives from the 

    Oregon border to the Fresno County Line (Includes Fresno)

STEM/Non-STEM Grant Sites:

a) Hungry For Music: Maximum Grant Amount (Not Specified) Deadline: Nov. 15, 2013

b) MetLife Foundation After School Innovator Award 2013: 

    Maximum Grant Amount $10,000 

    Deadline: October 21, 2013 

Please share with us your STEM story. Email us at mdrewes@scoe.net and we will feature your story in our next blog post.

STEM Websites to Help You Kick Off the New School Year

As we all know the autmnal equinox (September 22) marks the official end of summer in the northern hemisphere. For some of us, summer officially ended a few weeks ago with the start of the 2013-2014 academic year, and for others it officially ended this week. No matter what calendar we adhere to, the fact is that the doors to over 400 after school programs in Region 3 are open and over 27,000 students are being engaged in numerous extended day learning activities.

The Region 3 STEM team (Monica Gonzalez-Williams, Phil Romig, and Mark Drewes) would like to take a moment to wish you and your after school team and programs a wonderful 2013-2014 school year. With many of you recently opening your doors and just getting your programs started for the year, we decided to highlight some STEM websites in this month's blog post that we believe will add to the richness of the STEM activities in your after school programs.

Please feel free to call or email us at any time. We are your one stop shop for all of your STEM needs.

With that being said here are your STEM websites:

STEM Articles:

a) How to Get Your School Ready for STEM this Year

b) Strategies for Embedding Project-Based Learning into STEM Education

c) Summer Learning and STEM Momentum

d) Building the New Workforce


STEM Curriculum/Activity Sites:

a) The Power of Discovery (K-12)

b) Teachers Try Science (5-12)

c) Engineering Adventures (3-5)

d) NASA for Educators  (K-12)

e) California After School Resource Center (CASRC) (K-12)

f) Resource Area For Teachers (RAFT) (Idea Sheets) (K-12)

g) PBS STEM Education Resource Center (K-12)

h) National Education Association 10 Best STEM Resources (K-12)


Professional Development Opportunities:

a) Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) FREE 2 day training
    (K-12 frontline practitioners)

b) PEAK FREE 1 day trainingTBD email Phil Romig at promig@scoe.net (K-6 frontline
    practitioners in Sacramento County specific sites)

c) California After School Resource Center (CASRC) FREE Online training (K-12)

d) 2013 California Science Education Conference $35-$120 per person depends on a
    few variables (K-12)


STEM Contest:

a) Zero Robotics High School Tournament (9-12) Deadline to enroll 9/7/13

b) Autodesk 123D Design Challenge (ages 13-18) Deadline to submit 10/21/13

c) Siemens: We Can Change the World Challenge (K-12) Deadline for entries is 3/4/14


STEM Grant Websites:

a) The Power of Discovery (Funding)

b) Digital Wish

c) Grant Wrangler


We hope that you find this post helpful when it comes to adding to the robustness of your STEM activities in your after school programs. Please email Monica Gonzalez-Williams, Phil Romig, or Mark Drewes with your STEM story. Please submit your STEM story by the end of day Friday September 27, 2013. Your STEM story will appear in the October 2013 post.