May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month / June is the Great Outdoors Month

The rich heritage of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders spans the world and the depths of America's history. Generation after generation, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have forged a proud legacy that reflects the spirit of the United States - a country that values the contributions of everyone who calls America home. During Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, the United States honors the perseverance of those who courageously reached for their hopes and dreams in a new land, and the United States celebrates the important impact the AAPI community has made on our Nation's progress.

With this being stated, let's honor a few of the AAPI community who have made major contributions to the fields of STEM.


1) Kalpana Chawla - Her love of flying led to her career as a NASA astronaut. She
    started her higher education career in India, earning a B.S. in aeronautical
    engineering from Punjab Engineering College in 1982. Moving to the U.S.,
    she turned to aerospace engineering and received her M.S. from the University
    of Texas and her Ph. D. from the University of Colorado. Chawla joined NASA
    in 1995 and was assigned as mission specialist on the space shuttle STS-87 in
    1997, becoming the first Indian-American woman to go into space. Click here
    to read more about Kalpana Chawla.

Kalpana Chawla - First Indian-American woman astronaut.

2) Amar Gopal Bose - was an Bengali-American academic and entrepreneur. An
   electrical engineer and sound engineer, he was a professor at the Massachusetts
   Institute of Technology (MIT) for over 45 years. He was also the founder and
   chairman of Bose Corporation. Click here to read more about Amar Gopal Bose.

Amar Gopal Bose - Bengali-American academic and entrepreneur.

3) Narinder Singh Kapany - is an Indian-American Sikh physicist known for his work
    in fibre optics. He is known as the "Father of Fiber Optics." The term fibre optics was
    coined by Singh Kapany in 1956. Click here to read more about Narinder Singh
    Kapany.

Narinder Singh Kapany - Indian-American Sikh who is the "Father of Fiber Optics."

Click here to watch a multitude of programs on APPI citizens whom have made an impact in other others of daily life.

Click here to find APPI activities for your students (PreK - 12th Grade)

Click here to find additional APPI activities for your students (K-12th Grade)


June is the Great Outdoors Month. This month is dedicated to introducing millions of Americans to healthy, active fun outdoor activities that they can engage in and around their local communities. Proclamations from all 50 Governors have stated the economic and healthful importance of outdoor recreation to their states and the entire country.

Here are 10 easy activities that you can engage your expanded learning program students in and around your site. 

Please share with us any photos that you make take of you and your students engaging in outdoor activities. 

STEM / Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Articles: 

1) Study Links After-School Programs to Improved STEM Knowledge 

    ( The Journal article by Richard Chang March 2, 2017)

2) Common Outcomes and Potential Impacts of STEM After School Programs

    (Informal Science article January 1, 2016)

3) Engaging the Community With Family Engineering Nights

   (Teacher's Voice blog post by Liza Rickey April 10, 2017)

4) Our Turn: The importance of teaching evidence-based science

    (Concord Monitor article by Michelle Mitnitsky and Daniel E. Reidy 

    April 27, 2017)

5) The School Desk: Hands-on science in our schools

    (Daily Journal Lifestyle article by Terry d'Selkie May 5, 2017)

6) Teachers Weave Social Emotional Learning into Academics

    (Education Week article by Evie Blad May 5, 2017)

7) Questions to Ask Yourself as the School Year Winds Down

    (Education Week article by Justin Minkel May 9, 2017)

8) Fidget Spinners Not Proven To Help Those With ADHD

    (NPR article by Wynne Davis May 14, 2017)

9) School Bullying Is Down. Why Don't Students Believe It?

    (NPR article by Anya Kamenetz May 11, 2017)

10) Afterschool Program Quality and Effectiveness: 25 Years of Results!

      (Learnimg in After School and Summer Blog Post by 

      Sam Phia May 11, 2017)

11) Emerging Research on K-12 Computer Science Education: 

      6 Trends to Watch

      (Education Week article by Benjamin Herold May 2, 2017)

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

1) Ten resources to teach STEM in after school (Various vetted sites) 

2) STEM Stories (Various student videos sharing how they are exploring STEM

     in their programs (STEM Next videos)

3) STEM in After School Resources (Activity Ideas / Websites)

4) NEA Science Activities for Grades K-12 (Lesson Plans)

5) Representing the Hijabi Muslim Girl at Encina High School (NPR Video)

6) The idea was to keep kids safe after school. Now they are chess champions

    (NPR Podcast)

7) 10 Fun Games from Around the World (Parents Magazine: Activities)

8) Scholastic: Lesson Plans and Ideas (Activities)

9) 7 Games from Around the World (Game ideas)

10) Literacy Activities for Students (Ideas)



STEM Educational Grants:

1) The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources
    (Edutopia Grant Page Updated June 7, 2017)

2) California After School Network Funding Opportunities
    (CAN Grant Page)

3) After School Funding Database
    (Afterschool Alliance Grant Page)

4) Grant Funding Opportunities 
    (The Impact Foundry Grant Page)

5) Bank of the West (Grant Opportunity)

6) Application for Free Computers (RRR Computers)



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

1) NBA Math Hoops Curriculum Professional Learning Workshop
    (September 27, 2017) (Cost: Free) (Grades 4-8)

2) California Dream'n: Expanded Learning Site Coordinator Symposium
    (October 20-21, 2017) (Cost: $50.00 + surcharges for the two day event)

3) CA STEAM Symposium 
    (December 10-11, 2017) 
    (Cost: Before June 30, 2017 = $320.00 after June 30, 2017 = $345.00)


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