STEM-tastic After School Activities in Region 3: Deck the Halls with Lots of STEM

NGSS Things to Know for December:

1) New NGSS EQuIP Teaching Channel Videos: Checkout four exciting
new video series highlighting the Educators Evaluating Quality in
Instructional Products (EQuIP) for Science. You can also checkout other
videos Achieve and the Teaching Channel have produced. Click here to view.

2) NGSS Implementation Can Open The Door To Local Partnerships: Partnerships
- such as those between schools and local businesses, schools of higher education,
or informal education organizations - can provide strong supports for NGSS
implementation. Such partnerships can bring trained science and STEM
professionals into the classrooms, helping connect students' hands-on learning
experiences to the real world. Great examples of NGSS partnerships already exist
across many states and districts. If you have any in mind, please highlight them via
Twitter @OfficialNGSS.

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 November.

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

Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified Schoo District

School Site: Foothill Oaks Elementary School

Grade Level of Activity: Elementary

Number of Students who took part in the activity: Twenty-one

Type of Activity: In our 5th grade STEM club, students explored the interconnectedness of speed, velocity, and acceleration through the engineering process of constructing their own roller coasters. In this process, students had an opportunity to use their knowledge of the scientific method in creating and testing a research hypothesis. Important considerations such as height, speed, design and consistency became provoking challenges for students. The ultimate goal for our students was to create a consistent and full functioning roller coaster while gaining a unique experience in the engineering design process.

Learning Outcomes - Students were able to:

Understand and explain the importance of speed, velocity, and acceleration
Understand and implement the engineering design process
Use the scientific method to test and predict hypothesis
Change different variables to construct a consistent and working roller coaster

For more information please contact Sarah Heidel ASES Program Manager at sarah@sccsc.org.

ASES students engineering a foam roller coaster.

ASES student increasing height of roller coaster to test velocity.

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

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District

School Site: Albert Einstein Middle School

Grade Level of Activity: Middle School

Number of Students who took part in the activity: 20

Type of Activity: Robotics

Learning Outcomes - At Albert Einstein Middle School we value the life long skills students can achieve by integrating their minds into the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Einstein Robotics is an elective during school as well as a club during after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students use Linkbots in a classroom learning setting to teach basic C++ programming skills. Linkbots have given our students access to C++ programming through an integrated development environment developed by UC Davis. Our instructors are trained through the UCD C-STEM program and are integrating computer programming into our science and computer classes.

We hope to keep providing these opportunities for students to learn valuable skills that they can use in the modern world today.

For more information on this robotics program please contact Oscar Bermudez at
oscar@sccsc.org

Expanded learning program student calibrating their robot.

Expanded learning program students work on codes for their robots.

Expanded learning program students making modifications to their robots.

Observe how leaves of different trees indicate seasonal change
Understand how the weather effects leaves in the seasonal change
Compare texture and color of leaves that changed to leaves that did not
Discuss pigments and patterns using leaves in different stages of color change
Discuss and define ecological balance
Discuss the importance of trees to our ecological balance
Discuss and understand the direct impact trees have on their lives

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

Expanded learning program students making leaf wreaths.

Explain the diet, exercise plan and training an astronaut must undertake
Worked on writing, reading, and presenting activities that explained their thoughts and understandings about planets, rocket designs, and food ideas
Discuss what kind of impact space has had on our society and how they felt about it
Create blue prints of rocket ship
Build and launch the rocket ship with their collaborative group

Students working on their rocket designs.

Get ready for blast off!!

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

Center (SCCSC)

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District

School Site: Nicholas Elementary School

Grade Level of Activity: 5th and 6th Grade

Number of Students who took part in the activity: 23

Type of Activity: The students were individually tasked to work on an ad lib worksheet that allows them to design a world of their own design. Additionally, the students must design, build, and test a bridge that will support the weight of an object placed on top of it.

Learning Outcomes - Students were able to:

Understand how to effectively communicate while working in a collaborative group
Able to identify and comprehend the instructions given on the worksheet
Problem solve various design flaws and inadequacies of their initial designs
Critically think of revisions / solutions that allowed them to meet the design challenge
Manage the limited supplies that they were provided
Understand the structural properties of the design and objects selected in relation to the project

For more information please contact Eric Elder at eric@sccsc.org.

Expanded learning program students working on their bridge design.

Comprehend basic physics concepts that are applicable to roller coaster construction, including potential, kinetic energy, and momentum
Apply their understanding of those concepts as they construct and text their roller coaster
Build, Test, Observe, and Revise their design, which provided them with an experiential understanding of the engineering design process
Practice and hone their team building skills

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

Expanded learning program students building and testing their marble roller coaster designs.

Apply the scientific method
Create, design, sketch before construction
Engineer and construct model
Test paper rocket model
Revise and test paper rocket again

For more information on this activity please contact Michaela Dragos at michaela@sccsc.org.

Expanded learning program students drawing sketches of their paper rockets.

Expanded learning program students creating and testing their paper rockets.

Explain the difference between physical change and chemical change
Learn about what is a reactant and what is a product
Denote the types of evidence that identify a chemical change to a physical change
Learn that chemical reactions involve changes in properties and changes in energy

For more information on this activity please contact Maria Gonzalez at maria@sccsc.org.

Expanded learning program students having fun learning about chemical reactions.

Learn about laboratory and chemical safety (goggles, gloves, and air ventilation)
Practice safety procedures when handling chemicals for experiments
Measure chemical ingredients using labeled cups, spoons, and droppers
Observe the different states of matter: liquid, gas, and solid
Observe a chemical reaction

For more information on this activity please contact Yee Vang at yee@sccsc.org.

Expanded learning program students exploring chemical reactions.

Experiment with the concept of pressure
Explore the physics of rubber bands and watermelons
Collaborate to achieve a goal

For more information on this activity please contact Nicole Dunn at nicole@sccsc.org.

Expanding Learning program students learning about the affects of pressure.

STEM / Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Educational Articles:

1) Language Demands and Opportunities in Relation to Next Generation Science
Standards for ELLs (Helen Quinn, Okhee Lee, and Guadalupe Valdes)

2) How to Launch STEM Investigations That Build on Student and Community
  Interests and Expertise (Phillip Bell, Deb Morrison, and Angela Debarger)

3) What I Can Do to Support NGSS
(Anna Van Dordecht, Sonoma County Office of Ed.)

4) Building Towards NGSS Classrooms (Sean Elkins, The Teaching Channel)

5) Senate Approves Bi-Partisan "Every Student Succeeds Act" (EdBrief)

6) DeSaulnier Measures Included In Landmark Education Bill (Press Release)

7) Senate passes ESEA, 21st CCLC Update (Erik Peterson)

8) A New Framework for Youth Development (Sam Piha)

9) A Kid's Coding Expert Says We're Making Computer Class Way Too Boring
(Anya Kamenetz, NPR)

10) Mark Zuckerberg Is Betting Tech Can Address Educational Equity.
Is It that Simple? (Anya Kamenetz, NPR)

11) New CA3 Resources Outline Funding Challenges for ASES Programs

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

1) Before Minecraft, The Blocks Were Made of Wood (Eric Westervelt, NPR)

2) Computing and After School (Resources, After School Alliance)

3) Getting Started with STEM (Resources, After School Alliance)

4) The 37 Best Websites to Learn Something New (Resources)

5) Out-of-School Educator Tools (Resources, The Lawrence Hall of Science)

6) KQED Engineer That Design Challenge (Resources)

7) Education Guides (Resources, KQED)

STEM / Educational Grants:

1) Youth Services America Grant: Youth led community service project designed to
address childhood hunger. (125 - $400 grants are available)
(Deadline: January 15, 2016)

2) Captain Planet Foundation: Grants are made for activities that: a) Are project-based
b) Are projects performed by youth c) Are projects that have real environmental
outcomes. ($500-$2,500 grants are available)
(Deadline: January 31, 2016)

3) National Council of Teachers of Mathematic (NCTM): Enhancing Student
Mathematics Learning Through the Use of Tools and Technology
($3,000 grants are available)
(Deadline: May 6, 2016)

4) Math Moves U: Math Hero Award (Math hero receives a $2,500 grant and school
receives a matching award)
(Deadline: Applications open Spring of 2016)

5) The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: The Michael Kamen Grant
(Deadline: Applications open Summer of 2016)

6) Kids in Need Foundation: Teacher Grants ($100 to $500 grants are available)
(Deadline: July 15 through September 30, 2016)

7) Youth Changing the World: KaBoom! Grants for Outdoor Play
($15,000 grants available)
(Deadline: Ongoing)

8) Best Satellite Providers: Technology Grants for Educators:
17 Resources for Future Proof Kids
  (Deadline: Varies by Grant Opportunity)

9) Target: A Bullseye View: Target Field Trip Grants ($700 grants are available)
(Deadline: August 1 through October 1, 2016)

10) California Regional Environmental Education Community (Grant Database)



STEM / Misc. Professional Development / Contest / Events:

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

2) Partnership for Children and Youth: Quality Standards Conference
($187 registartion fee) (February 19, 2016)

3) Energenius: Out of School Time STEM Pilot Program Session I
(Free) (February 24, 2016)

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

5) Energenius: Out of School Time STEM Pilot Program Session II
   (Free) (March 23, 2016)

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

STEM-tastic After School Activities in Region 3

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Deck the Halls with Lots of STEM

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