October Expanded Learning Program STEM Information

NGSS Things to Know for October:

1) Links to the NGSS Evidence Statements, the NGSS Classroom Sample Tasks, and
    other NGSS resources can be found here.

2) Equity and Diversity: The Heart of NGSS 
    (Jessica Holman, At Holm with SullyScience, 8/18/15)

3) NGSS: Built for Equity and Diversity? 
    (Tom Hathorn, CORElaborate, 9/5/15)


Now lets take a closer look at and see how the students in expanded learning program 
have been engaged in STEM activities during the month of September.

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

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District

Name of School Site: Caroline Wenzel Elementary

Grade Level of Activity: 1st Grade

Number of Students Who Took Part in The Activity: 20

Type of Activity: Cloud in a Jar


Learning Objectives of Activity:

• students will learn about rain clouds
• students will learn that when a rain cloud gets full of water (mass) that the water has to go somewhere and break through the cloud and start to fall to the ground
• students will be able to observe their shaving cream cloud as it gains mass and changes in composition
• students will also learn the reasoning to why clouds are white

For more information on this expanded learning program STEM activity please feel free to contact Site Coordinator Kae Saeteurn at kae@sccsc.org.

STEM / Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Educational Articles:

1) Full STEM Ahead: After School Programs Step Up as Key Partners in STEM 
    Education (America After 3 PM September 2015)

2) California Data and News Release: Full STEM Ahead -
    (After School Alliance September 2015)

3) America After 3pm STEM Infographics Highlight the Importance of 
    STEM Learning in Expanded Learning Programs
    (After School Alliance September 2015)

4) Summer Learning Programs Help Students Succeed
    (America After 3 PM June 2015)

5) Kids on the Move: After School Programs Promoting Healthy Eating and 
    Physical Activity (America After 3 PM March 2015)

6) Parents Value Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Learning Opportunities 
    Provided by After School Programs (Afterschool Alliance September 29, 2015)

7) More than 650 Diverse and Powerful Groups Urge ESEA Conferees to Reauthorize 
    21st CCLC After School Funding
    (Afterschool Alliance September 29, 2015)

8) Growing Together, Learning Together: What Cities Have Discovered About 
    Building After School Systems (Wallace Foundation July 2015)

9) Ruling in Compton Schools Case: Trauma Could Cause Disability 
    (NPR Cory Turner October 1, 2015)

10) Brains at Play: What Do We Know? (NPR John Poole October 1, 2015)

11) Who Are The Gifted and Talented and What Do They Need
    (NPR Anya Kamenetz September 28, 2015)

12) Coding Class, Then Naptime: Computer Science for The Kindergarten Set
      (NPR Anya Kamenetz September 18, 2015)

13) Share Your Story: What Was The Hardest Thing About Being 15?
      (NPR Malaka Gharib October 7, 2015)

14) National Governor's Association Urges Conference Committee 
      Action on ESEA Reauthorization, Outlines Priorities (EdBrief October 2015)

15) Teachers say critical thinking key to college and career readiness
      (EdSource September 2015)






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

1) Art and Math Infusion Lessons (Pre K to 5th Grade)

2) Homework: A New User's Guide (NPR Cory Turner Podcast)

3) Plants in Space (Science Friday Video)

4) Trash Talk: Uncovering the Waste in U.S. Landfills (Science Friday Podcast)

5) The Science of Story Time (Science Friday Podcast)

6) Go Out and Observe The Moon! (Science Friday Activity)

7) Write Your Name in Binary Code (Science Friday Activity)

8) A Human Sundial (Science Friday Activity)

9) Solar Convection (Science Friday Activity)

10) 24/7 Science (Lawrence Hall Of Science Activities)

11) Khan Academy - Pixar in a Box (Free Curriculum)

12) Free STEM Resources to Support STEM Learning in 
      Expanded Learning Programs (CAN)





STEM / Educational Grants

1) Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grants (Grant Range: $2,000 to $100,000 
    Deadline: October 16, 2015)

2) American Honda Foundation Grants (Grant Range: $20,000 to $75,000
    Deadline: November 1, 2015) 

3) Grant Wrangler Database

4) CREEC Grant Opportunities Database






 STEM / Misc. Professional Development / Contest / Events

1) SCOE Sponsored Project WET Training
    (October 20 and November 2, 2015) (Free)

2) 2015 California STEM Symposium (October 28 - 30, 2015)

3) GEMS: Dry Ice Investigations (Grades 5-12) (October 29, 2015) (Free)

4) Gems: Electric Circuits (Grades 3-9) (November 7, 2015) (Free)

5) Code.org Workshops (Grades K-5) (Free) (Numerous Dates)

6) Engineering Adventures (Grades 3-5) (January 20, 2016) (Free)

7) Kidz Science (Grades 3-5) (March 1, 2016) (Free) 

8) Contest for Students (Ongoing)


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