Thursday, October 13, 2016

October is full of STEM-azing Treats and Activities in Expanded Learning

October’s significance as Filipino American History Month is due to the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States when on October 18, 1587, “Luzones Indios” came ashore from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esparanza and landed at what is now Morro Bay, California.

Click here to read more about Filipino American History Month


Filipino Americans have made many great contributions to the field of Science:

1) Fe del Mundo - The first women admitted as a student to the
   Harvard School of Medicine, she also founded the first pediatric hospital
   in the Philippines.

Fe delo Mundo first female student admitted to Harvard School of Medicine.

2) Pedro Flores is a famous Filipino inventor who is widely accredited with being the
    first yo-yo maker in the United States.

Pedro Flores a famous Filipino inventor.

Click here to read more about other areas that Filipino Americans have made contributions in.


We just wanted to remind the Region 3 Expanded Learning Programs to submit STEM Blog posts that highlight the great STEM learning activities that you are engaging your youth in. Please take a look (please see the pdf below) at the information that we would like you to submit. Once you have gathered the following information, along with images of the STEM activity (any students in the images that you submit should have a signed media release form on file with your agency) please email them to Mark Drewes at mdrewes@scoe.net.





STEM / Expanded Learning Program and other Pertinent Education Articles:

1) "Destined for great things" : Low-income students as educators to believe
       that they can succeed (Jane Meredith Adams, Edsource, 11/17/15)

2) Physical fitness central to Sacramento district's focus on the "whole child"
     (Michael Collier, Edsource, 9/26/16)

3) Why the art of speaking should be taught alongside Math and Literacy
    (Mindshift, KQED, 10/3/16)

4) New Report: Participation in summer learning program yields positive outcomes
    (Erin Murphy, Afterschool Alliance, 9/15/16)

5) Why we desperately need to bring back vocational training in schools
    (Nicholas Wyman, Forbes, 9/1/15)

6) How to spark learning everywhere that kids go - starting with the grocery store
    (Anya Kamenetz, NPR, 10/3/16)

7) Talking to students about police violence and protests
    (Lauren Camera, US News, 9/27/16)

8) How schools can help notice and serve the "quiet kids"
    (Elisa Nadworny, KQED, 7/6/16)

9) The most important skill for the modern educator may be the "art of 
     turning it around" (Global Citizen, 9/27/16)

10) How mindfulness and storytelling help kids heal and learn
      (Juli Fraga, KQED, 9/26/16)

11) This school replaced detention with meditation
      (James Gaines, Upworthy, 9/22/16)


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

1) NPASS Activities (Design-It Free Activities)

2) NPASS Activities (Explore - It Free Activities)

3) Sensational Summarizing Strategies (Resource)

4) October Homework: Full STEM Ahead (Free Activities for Grades 1-5)

5) After School Science Activities (Free Exploratorium Activities)

6) Math Explorer: Searchable Math Games (Free Exploratorium Activities)

7) After School Science Activities (Free Science Net Links Activities)

8) After School Exchange Science Activities (After School Exchange Activities)

9) Climate Kids (Free NASA Climate Activities)

10) Kid Sustainability Videos (Videos)

11) Earth Day Activities for Kids (Resources)

12) Ultimate Guide to Sustainability and Recycling for Kids (Resource)



STEM / Educational Grants:

1) The Big List of Educational Grants
    (Edutopia Updated on October 12th, 2016)

2) Afterschool Alliance (Grants Resource Page)

3) The Impact Foundry (Grants Resource Page)

4) Captain Planet Foundation (Grants ranging from $500 to $2,500
    for activities that are project-based, performed by youth and have
    a real environmental impact. (Deadline: 1/31/17)

5) KaBOOM! Grants for outdoor play (Deadline: Ongoing)

6) Fender Music Foundation Grants (Deadline: Ongoing)

7) Walmart Foundation Grants (Deadline: Ongoing)

8) Bank of the West Charitable Grants (Deadline: Ongoing)



STEM / Misc. Professional Learning Sessions / Contests / Events:

1) GEMs Spooky Science of Energy Transformation (Free) (Grades 5-12)
    (SMUD Workshop) (Date: 10/19/16) (Time: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

2)  Engineering Design Challenges (Free) (Grades 5-12)
    (SCOE Workshop) (Date: 10/25/16) (Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) 

3) Making a Solar Powered Emergency Preparedness Kit (Free) (Grades 8-12)
    (SMUD Workshop) (Date: 11/02/16) (Time: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

4) The How Kids Learn Conference (December 7, 2016 in SF)
    (Registration: $120 per participant)

     (SCOE Workshop) (Date: 12/13/16) (Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) 

6) CASRC Online Profesional Learning Sessions (Free) 
    (Various Topics / Grade Levels)

7)  CalSac Online Professional Learning Sessions (Free) 
      (Various Topics / Grade Levels)


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: Expanded Learning) mdrewes@scoe.net