Tis' The Season For Us All

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights turns 70. Let's stand up for equality, justice, and human dignity.

Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December – the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year, Human Rights Day kicks off a year-long campaign to mark the upcoming 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document that proclaimed the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being -- regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. It is the most translated document in the world, available in more than 500 languages.

Drafted by representatives of diverse legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration sets out universal values and a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. It establishes the equal dignity and worth of every person. Thanks to the Declaration, and States’ commitments to its principles, the dignity of millions has been uplifted and the foundation for a more just world has been laid. While its promise is yet to be fully realized, the very fact that it has stood the test of time is testament to the enduring universality of its perennial values of equality, justice and human dignity. 

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights empowers us all. The principles enshrined in the Declaration are as relevant today as they were in 1948. We need to stand up for our own rights and those of others. We can take action in our own daily lives, to uphold the rights that protect us all and thereby promote the kinship of all human beings.   

#StandUp4HumanRights

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights empowers us all. 
• Human rights are relevant to all of us, every day.
• Our shared humanity is rooted in these universal values.
• Equality, justice and freedom prevent violence and sustain peace.
• Whenever and wherever humanity's values are abandoned, we all are at greater risk.
• We need to stand up for our rights and those of others.

Resources for your expanded learning programs:

a) Illustrated Version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

b) Human Rights Activities (Grade Level Resources)

c) TES Human Rights Activities (Grade Level Resources)

Now let us check-in on Region 3 Expanded Learning Programs and see what 

STEM / STEAM activities they have been engaging our youth in:

Name of Expanded Learning Program Provider: Sacramento Chinese Community 

Service Center

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District

Name of School Site: Pony Express Elementary

Grade Level of Activity: 1st to 6th Grade

Number of Students who took part in the activity: 50

Type of Activity: Lava Lamp

Learning Outcomes: Students were able to:

·      Understand that matter has different densities. In this case, oil is less dense than water and causes them to separate. The oil floats on top and the water and food coloring sink to the bottom.

·      Understand that similarly, gas or air is lighter that water and oil and will travel to the top. When the Alka Seltzer drops to the bottom it starts to fiz and bubbles are formed, floating to the top. When the air is released at the top, the water colored bubbles will sink back down to the bottom.

·      See how certain kinds of energy causes matter to behave differently. In this case, the energy from the Alka Seltzer tablets causes the water color to float up through the oil.

·      See how a difference in scale or energy can affect the way matter behaves. In this case, we used different sized water bottles and different sized tablets to compare how the water color bubbles reacted.

·      Understand that there are factors that control change in other systems. In this case, the oil made it possible to form separate color bubbles. Whereas, if there was no oil, we would not have the same results.

NGSS Cross Cutting Concepts Questions Discussed With Students:

Crosscutting Concept Questions:

1.     Cause and Effect: Events have causes. Who can tell me an effect that an event caused? It took time for the water to separate from the oil when we poured it on top. The water bubbled up when we dropped the tablet in the bottle.

2.     System and System Models:  What system did we create in this experiment? We created a system where color is separated from oil. We made the colored bubbles float to the top through the oil.

3.     Energy and Matter: We can track energy and the flow of matter to see behaviors of the system. Similar to cause and effect, what energy did we see and how did the matter behave?

4.     Scale, proportion, and quantity:  Other things that can change the reaction are size, time and energy scale. What differences were there when we dropped in a full tablet as opposed to just half?

5.     Structure and function: The way objects are shaped or structured determines many of its properties and functions. Some bottles were taller and wider than others. How did the size of the bottle change the way the lava reacted?

6.     Stability and Change: There are factors that control change in different systems. What would happen if we didn’t have oil in the bottle?

For more information on this activity please feel free to contact Ashley Johnson at 

Ashley.johnson@sccsc.org. 

Pony Express Expanded Learning Students Exploring Density.

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


Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified School District

Name of School Site: Foothill Oaks Elementary

Grade Level of Activity: 2nd and 3rd Grade

Number of Students who took part in the activity: 22

Type of Activity: Mazes with Legos

Learning Outcomes: Students were able to: 

●          Construct mazes with Legos in test if their mazes are logistically correct

●          Work within groups in order to develop ideas and construct their mazes

For more information on this activity please contact Austin Slay at

austin@sccsc.org.

Expanded Learning Youth Collaboratively Working Together to Construct a Maze.

An Expanded Learning Youth Displaying His Maze.

STEM / Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Articles:


1) Continuing resolution or spending omnibus?: After school federal funding update
    (Afterschool Alliance article by Erik Peterson, November 27, 2017)

2) Experts weigh in on the value of after school
     (Afterschool Alliance article by Nikki Yamashiro, November 27, 2017)

3) Wrapping up the 2017 Computer Science Ed Week
    (Afterschool Alliance article by Stephanie Rodriguez, November 27, 2017)

4) What K-12 science classes can learn from after school STEM programs
    (TrustED article by Todd Kominiak, November 21, 2017)

5) Funding will address the "CS / Homework Gap" Identified in New Report
    (National Afterschool Association article, November 28, 2017)

6) Natural Disasters and the Implications of Missing So Much School
   (NPR Education Article by Haley Samsel/Elissa Nadworny, December 15, 2017)

7) After Wildfires Destroyed Their Homes, Students Find Healing Help At School
    (NPR Education Article by Lauren Migaki/Haley Samsel, December 14, 2017) 

8) Diving into Summer Learning Programs 
    (California School Boards Article by Corrie Jacobs, Winter 2017)

9) Education Week Spotlight on STEM
    (Education Week's 2017 STEM Newsletter)

10) Education Week Spotlight on Technology in The Classroom
     (Education Week's 2017 STEM Newsletter)

11) What I have learned from a Special Education Teacher
      (Edutopia article by Peg Grafwallner, December 19, 2017)


STEM / STEAM / DACA / Educational etc. Resources:


1) Afterschool STEM Hub  (Resources, Guides, and Kits, etc.) 

2) Sparking Curiosity and Solving Real-World Problems (Edutopia Video)

3) Building Empathy Through Community Projects (Edutopia Video)

4) How a Deregulated Internet Could Hurt America's Classrooms
    (NPR Podcast by Ariana Figueroa, December 13, 2017)

5) Science Friday STEM Activities (Activities)

6) 50 Awesome STEAM Activities (Activities)

7) Go Science Girls STEAM Activities (Activities)

8) Immigrant Legal Resource Center (DACA Resource)

9) City of Sacramento DACA Resources (DACA Resources)

10) After School Lesson Plans
      (Activity ideas for Art, Literacy, Math, Science, etc.)

11) 32 After School Club Ideas (Ideas with details)


STEM / Non-STEM Grants:

1) The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources (Edutopia)
    (Updated on November 22, 2017)

2) Bank of the West Grants (Grant Page)

3) Wells Fargo Community Grants (California Grants Page)

4) CAN Afterschool Grants Page (CAN Webpage)

5) The Impact Foundry (Grant Page)


Professional Learning Sessions / Contest / Conferences / etc.

1) Generation Nano Superhero Contest for Middle and High School Students
    (Deadline: January 8, 2018)

2) CalSAC Trainer Network (Deadline: January 19, 2018)

3) Restorative Practices Training Sessions 
   (January 22, February 23, March 5, April 24, 2017) ($100 for the series)

4) STEM to STEAM (January 29, 2018) (Free)

5) Region 3 Expanded Learning Winter Conference (February 6, 2018)
    (More information coming shortly)
6) STEM through the Lens of Quality Standards (February 26, 2018) (Free)

7) Expanded Learning Through Improv (Provided by B Street Theatre)
    (No Cost) (April 12, 2018 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm)


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