1) The NGSS Evidence Statements for elementary grades (K-5) and middle grades (6-8) are now available. These statements were developed and reviewed by educators and scientists, including many members of the NGSS writing team. The evidence statements are intended to identify clear, measurable components that, if collectively met, full satisfy each performance expectation (PE) described within NGSS.
2) Looking for videos that introduce the major shifts in instruction called for by The Framework for K-12 Science Education and the NGSS? Check out the National Science Teachers Association (NTSA) classroom videos here.
3) Making Crosscutting Concepts Explicit for Students - The crosscutting concepts - not in isolation, but connected to disciplinary core ideas and practices - should be an explicit part of student learning. To read more about the vision for crosscutting concepts, see this chapter in the Framework for K-12 Science Education.
4) Hands-on science is coming to California classrooms
(Contra Costa Times June 6, 2015)
5) Science: The Next Generation (The Columbian June 14, 2014)
6) Kids get hands-on training at summer science camp (KLEWTV June 29, 2015)
Now lets take a closer look at and see how the students and expanded learning program practitioners in Summer Learning Programs have been incorporating STEM into their summer activities.
Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Wheatland School District - After School Programs
Name of District: Wheatland School District
Grade Level of Activity: 1st thru 8th
Number of Students Who Took Part in Activity: 200 Students
Type of Activity: Summer STEM Camp
Theme: Animal Planet / Maker Space
Learner Outcomes - Students will:
- Be engaged in Project Based Learning Activities
- Learn how to work collaboratively on a task
- Take part in learning activities that incorporates all five principles of LIAS
- Learn using the Engineering Design Process
- Learn about animals and their habitats
- Learn about predator vs prey
- Learn through open design challenges
A student works on her cardboard arcade game.
 |
| Students in the Imaginarium Room create a shield out of connect stix. |
 |
| Students listen to a zoo keeper from The Sacramento Zoo's Mobile Zoo team talk about a Pacific Gopher Snake. |
Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Center for Fathers and Families
Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified School District
Grade Level of Activity: 3rd thru 5th
Number of Students Who Took Part in Activity: 60 Students
Type of Activity: River Bend Outdoor Education Summer Program
Learner Outcomes - Students will:
- Learn about the history of the American River Parkway
- Learn about the importance of being stewards of the environment
- Learn about the various habitats and organisms that call the River Bend area home
- Take part in an Engineering Design Process Challenge
- Conduct a bioassessment of a stream by sampling aquatic macro invertebrates
- Identify different macro invertebrates that they discover in the American River
- Take a nature hike through River Bend Park
 |
| SCOE STEM Van makes its inaugural voyage to River Bend Park. |
 |
| CFF children listening to the River Bend Park Rangers speak. |
 |
| Ranger Joe and CC speaking to the students. |
 |
| Students taking a hike to the Aquatic Macroinvertebrates activity. |
 |
| Students observing and identifying local macro invertebrates. |
STEM / Expanded Learning / and Other Pertinent Educational Articles
1) Students' Reading and Math Scores Are Still All Over the Map
(Elissa Nadworny NPR)
2) How More Education Could Save A Half-Million American Lives
(Anya Kamenetz NPR)
3) Why Some Teen Brains May Be HardwiredTo Make Risky Choices
(Maanvi Singh NPR)
4) In Oakland, Struggling For Years To Learn English (Zaidee Stavely NPR)
5) In Washington, D.C., Homeless Students Fight The Statistics
(Kavitha Cardoza NPR)
6) #RaceonTech: Sharing The Experiences of Diverse Innovators
(Davar Ardalan NPR)
7) The Language of Choice and Support (Alex Shervin Edutopia)
8) Screen Addiction Is Taking a Toll on Children (Jane E. Brody NY Times)
9) Teaching Soft Skills to Our Students (Adam Dovico Edutopia)
10) The downside of no downtime for kids (Kyla Calvert Mason PBS News Hour)
11) Preparing our kids for jobs that don't exist yet (Medium)
12) Could Storytelling Be the Secret Sauce to STEM Education?
(Katrina Schwartz KQED)
13) Why failure is crucial for a students' success (John Merrow PBS News Hour)
14) Illinois high school shrinks its achievement gap for minority
students by setting a high bar (PBS News Hour)
15) ASES Increase Not Included in 2015-2016 State Budget
(Partnership for Children and Youth)
16) Accelerating Achievement Through Summer Learnings
(National Summer Learning Association)
STEM (and other interdisciplinary core content) Activities / Videos / Websites /
Podcast
1) House and Senate Lawmakers Work To Revise No Child Left Behind Law
(Juana Summers NPR Podcast)
2) A Physical Education Teacher Battles Tight Budgets and Childhood Obesity
(Eric Westervelt NPR Podcast)
3) Teens Make a Film in Broken English to Explain Why They'll Fail English
( Gregory Warner NPR Podcast)
4) A Recipe for Success with Two Student Groups That Often Struggle
(Jennifer Guerra NPR Podcast)
5) One Teacher's Quest to Build Language Skills and Self - Confidence
( Jasmine Garsd NPR Podcast)
6) 7 APPS for Student Creators (Monica Burns Edutopia: Resources)
7) Teach Your Kids to Code: 6 Beginner's Resources for Parents
(Matt Davis Edutopia: Resources)
8) Fun and Free Summer Learning Resources (Matt Davis Edutopia: Resources)
9) STEM to STEAM: Resource Roundup (Resources)
10) Background of the Quality Standards Mini-Webinar (CAN: Webinar)
11) Virtual Policy Committee Update (CAN: Recorded Phone Call)
STEM / Educational Grants:
1) Grant Wrangler STEM Grants
2) Power of Discovery Grant Databases
3) Power of Discovery Funding Opportunities
4) CREEC Grant / Resource Database
5) Project WET Grant Database
STEM / Other Content Area Professional Development / Misc. / Events / Contest
1) Kids on the Go: Promoting Active Lives Every Day
(California After School Resource Center: Free: Online)
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
