New STEM Activities for the New Year

NGSS: Things to Know for January 

1) New NGSS Equip Rubric: Evidence of Student Learning

2) Primary Science- Integrating NGSS and the Common Core

3) A Treat for Science Teachers - Evidence Statements

4) Science Standards Boost Learning 

5) Re-envisioning teacher preparation



STEM/ Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Educational Articles:

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

2) CA After 3 PM: Full STEM Ahead (America After 3 PM Fact Sheet)

3) Engaging Kids in STEM Learning Infographics (America After 3 PM Infographic)

4) After - school program funding remains separate under new education law
    (Susan Frey, EdSource)

5) Looking Ahead to 2016: An Interview with Jennifer Peck (LIAS Blog)

6) Coding Camp for Minority Boys Where Mentors Make a Big Difference 
    (Elissa Nadworny, NPR)

7) That Aha! Moment of College or Career Readiness (Jason Tovani, Edutopia)

8) 5 Tools to Help Students Learn How to Learn (Katrina Schwartz, KQED)

9) Getting Your Kids to Listen Without Loosing Your Voice 
    (Amber and Andy Ankowski, PBS)

10) Want to Get More Girls Into STEM? Give Them Real-World Work
    (Katrina Schwartz, KQED)

11) Seeing Struggling Math Learners as "Sense Makers," Not "Mistake Makers"
     (Katrina Schwartz, KQED)

12) What Happen when instead of suspensions, kids talk out their mistakes? 
      (Emily Richmond, The Hechinger Report)

13) 5 Steps for Handling Upset Parents (National AfterSchool Association)

14) New Fitness Education Program in California Boosts Student Achievement
      (Stacy Steinhagen, News 12)


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

1) Explorit Science Center (Activities, Teacher Resources, etc.)

2) The Discovery Museum Science Fun at Home (Science Activities)

3) Out of School Educator Tools (Science Resources)

4) Adding Beauty and Joy To Obama's Push for Computer Science Teaching
    (All Things Considered Radio Clip, NPR)

5) Chemist Wants To Change the Color of Science (Radio Clip, NPR) 

6) Hip-Hop Vocab: The Lexicon Is In The Lyrics
    (All Things Considered Radio Clip, NPR)

7) After School STEM Hub (Afterschool Alliance, STEM Advocacy Resources)

8) Click2 Science STEM Resources (Teacher Resources)

9) Mom Creates Periodic Table Battleship Game to Teach Her Kids Chemistry
    (Activity, Earthables)

10) Beyond Angry Birds, Five Apps That Test Your Physics Skills
      (Physics Resources, KQED)

11) Testing Insulators: Ice Cube in a Box (STEM Activity, PBS)

12) SciGirls Website (STEM website for Tween girls, PBS)


STEM / Educational Grants: 

1) 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)

2) 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)

3) 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) 

4) Youth Changing the World: KaBoom! Grants for Outdoor Play 

    ($15,000 grants available)
     (Deadline: Ongoing)

5) Best Satellite Providers: Technology Grants for Educators: 

    17 Resources for Future Proof Kids
    (Deadline: Varies by Grant Opportunity)

6) California Regional Environmental Education Community (Grant Database)

7) The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources (Edutopia List of Grants)

STEM / Misc. Professional Development / Contest / Events:

1) Enter the Cypher: Hip Hop Education Series - A three session workshop

    series focused around the best practices to empower Expanded Learning 

    Practitioners to use Hip Hop as an engaging and exciting tool within their 

    program. Presented by the Low End Theory Collaborative

    (Dates: February 17, March 15, and April 12) 

    (Fee: $22.00 per session)

2) Energenius: Out of School Time STEM Pilot Program Session I

    (Free) (February 24, 2016)

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

4) Energenius: Out of School Time 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