November is National Native American Heritage Month

In 1990, President George H. W. Bush declared the month of November as National Native American Heritage Month. This commemorative month aims to provide a platform for Native people in the United States of America to share their culture, traditions, music, crafts, dance, and ways and concepts of life. This gives Native people the opportunity to express to their community, both city, county and state officials their concerns and solutions for building bridges of understanding and friendship in their local area.


Native Americans have made many great contributions to society throughout history. Read about the recent contributions that two amazing Native American women have made to their local communities and how they were elected to the United States House of Representatives. A first for the States of Kansas and New Mexico.

Read about Deb Haaland and her work in this New York Times article.

Deb Haaland - Democrat - member of Laguna Pueblo -New Mexico.

Sharice Davids - Democrat - Member of the Ho-Chunk Nation - Kansas.

Read about Sharice Davids and her work in this New York Times article.


Here are some resources that you can use to engage youth in Native American Learning Activities:

1) Native American Lessons, Activities, and Resources (NEA Website) 

2) Native American Student Activities, Lesson Plans, and Collection
    Guides (Library of Congress) 

3) Native American Heritage Month Resources (Indian Country Today)

4) Celebrate Native American Heritage Month (Education World) 



Now let's take a peek and see how a few expanded learning programs in the region have been engaging youth in STEM / enrichment learning activities.

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

Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified School District

School Site: Frontier Elementary

Grade Level of Activity: 4th through 6th

Number of students who took part in the activity: 20-25 students

Type of Activity: STEAM Activity - Students worked in teams and built a bridge using marshmallows and toothpicks and tested if their bridge was strong enough to hold a book(s) the longest.

Learning Outcomes -Students were able to:

• Develop a blueprint for their bridge on paper
• Critically and strategically think how to build the bridge by calculating their steps and    utilizing the provided materials (toothpicks and marshmallows) effectively
• Communicate and collaborate with a peer on the project
• Explore STEAM through a hands-on project

ASES students engineering bridges.

For more information on this activity please contact Lily Kobzar

Program Manager at lily@sccsc.org.

Name of Expanded Learning Program Provider:

Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District

School Site: Pony Express Elementary

Grade Level of Activity: Suitable for All Grade Levels

Number of Students who took part in the activity: 11

Type of Activity: Marble Run - Engineering and Science

Learning Outcomes -Students were able to:

• Engineering a unique marvel track to have their marvel travel through
• Explore the concept of gravity and the role that it plays in the marble run
• Explore what variables contribute to friction
• Sharpen their teamwork skills
• Use their creativity to solve this STEM challenge

ASES students working together to engineer a marble run.

For more information on this activity please contact Ashley Johnson
Program Manager at Ashley.johnson@sccsc.org.




STEAM / Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Articles:

1) Why is it crucial to make cultural diversity visible in STEM education
    (STEM Teaching Tools, November 2018)

2) English Learners in STEM Subjects 
    (National Academies of Science Engineering Medicine Press 2018)

3) Digital Technology Is Gambling With Children's Minds
    (Education Week article by Elias Aboujaoude, November 13, 2018)

4) To Curb Youth Smoking, Vaping FDA Announces Plan 
    Aimed at Flavored Products
    (Education Week article by Evie Blad, November 15, 2018)

5) What Educators Need to Know About Teaching Thanksgiving
    (NPR article by Mayowa Aina, November 22, 2018)

6) Getting Your To-Do List Under Control
    (Edutopia article by Marissa King, October 11, 2018)

7) A 4-Step Process for Building Student Resilience 
    (Edutopia article by Michele Lew, November 7, 2018)

8) Getting Creative with SEL
    (Edutopia article by Maurice J. Elias, Sara LaHayne, November 5, 2018)

9) Using Stories to Teach Math
    (Edutopia article by L.L. Barkat December 22, 2017)

10) Using Science to Bring Literature to Life 
      (Edutopia article by Amy Schwartzbach- Kang / 
       Edward Kang, February 22, 2018)


STEAM (other core content) Activities / Websites / Podcast:

1) Do It Yourself STEM Activities
    (Square Root Academy website)

2) 4 STEM Activities for Winter
    (Think Fun website)

3) 14 Winter Themed STEM Activities 
    (Highlights website)

4) 12 Cool Winter Experiments
    (Hello Wonderful website)

5) Arts Integration Resource Roundup
    (Edutopia website)

6) Winter Physical Education Activities
     (P.E. Central website)

7) Starting Your Podcast
    (NPR Resources for Educators working with students)

8) Teaching Podcasting: A Curriculum Guide for Educators
    (NPR website)

9) The World of Expanded Learning 
    (Bruno Marchesi - YouTube Vlog)

10) We Dream Podcast
      (Youth-led podcast presented by SCUSD Men's and
      Women's Leadership Academy)


STEAM / Educational Grants:


1) Afterschool Alliance Grant Page

2)  Bank of the West Grant Page

3) CAN Funding Opportunities Webpage

4) The Impact Foundry Grant Page


STEAM / Non-STEAM Professional Learning Sessions / Contest / Events:

1) NPR Student Podcast Challenge
    (January 1 - March 31, 2019)

2) SMUD Free Educational Workshops (Free)

3) Physical Computing: Series (SCOE: Free)
    (December 2018 - January 2019)

4) Nadine Burke Harris in Conversation
    (Date: December 3, 2018) (Cost: $29.00)

5) Conflict Resolution:(Date: December 12, 2018) (Cost: Free) 
    (Grades: K-12)

6) Engineer It!(Date: December 12, 2018) (Cost: Free) 

    (Grades: K-12)

7) Angela Y. Davis and Ibrham X Kendi in Conversation

    (Date: January 10, 2019) (Cost: $29.00)

8) Put Me In Coach(A two session series)

    (Dates: January 23, 2019 and March 6, 2019)

9) CA Cruz'n: Expanded Learning Site Coordinator Symposium

    (Dates: February 8 and 9, 2019) (Cost: $100)
    (Location: Long Beach, CA)

10) Mayor Michael Tubbs in Conversation

      (Date: February 13, 2019) (Cost: $29.00)

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

October is Chock-full of STEM-azing Treats and Activities for Expanded Learning Programs

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, 1857, Luzones Indios came ashore from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Esparanza  and landed at what is now Morro Bay, California.

Click here to find out more about Filipino American History Month.

Here are nine ways to celebrate Filipino American History Month.



Do you know.............

Andreia Carillo, astrophysicist

           

                                     

                                             Sarah Oliva, geophysicist

To find out about the Filipina scientist and learn about some of their colleagues, please click here.

October is also bullying prevention month. Here is a list of resources to start you off.

a) National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month (Stop Bullying Website)

b) Lesson Plans, Activities, Stats, FAQs (Pacer Org.)

c) Stand Up!!! Activity (Teaching Tolerance)

d) Peer Exclusion Activity (Teaching Tolerance)

e) Developing Empathy (Teaching Tolerance)

f) Middle School Anti-Bullying Lesson Plans (Intermediate Unit 1)

g) Teaching Students to Prevent Bullying (NEA)

STEAM / Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Articles:

1) Preparing Students for the Future of Work in a Global Society

    (Education Week Blog Post by Charle' LaMonica, October 11, 2018)

2) How Does Science Testing Work Under ESSA?

    (Education Week article by Alyson Klein, October 15, 2018)

3) Preparing Young People for Lives of Meaning

   (LIAS Blog Post by Sam Phia, October 9, 2018)

4) The Value of Silence in Schools (Mindfulness)
    (Edutopia article by Dana Weeks, October 15, 2018)

5) How Restorative Justice Helps Our Students Learn
    (Edutopia article by Jacquelyn Richards, September 4, 2018)

6) 3 Tips for Connecting With English Language Learners
    (Edutopia article by Serena Sachar, October 12, 2018)

7) A Better Way to Teach the civil Rights Movement
    (Edutopia article by Melinda Anderson, September 19, 2018)


STEAM (other core content) Activities / Websites / Podcast:

1) 5 Simple Ways to Encourage Brain Development in Your Little One
    (NPR Podcast by Elissa Nadworny, October 1, 2018)

2) Need Help Paying For College? There is an App for That
    (NPR Podcast by Cory Turner, September 25, 2018)

3) Are LGBTQ Students Any Safer in Schools Today?
    (1A Podcast, September 20, 2018)

4) Why A High Schooler Started Covering the Supreme Court 
    (NPR Podcast by Lulu Garcia-Navarro,  September 16, 2018)

5 ) STEM Webinars (various topics) 

6) STEM Activities and Resources (Shell United States)

7) 36 Resources for STEM Project Based Learning Activities
    (Global Digital Citizen Foundation)

8) After School STEM Talking Points (Afterschool STEM Hub)

9) Scholastic STEM PBL (Grades K-8)

10) STEM Activities for Middle School Students 
      (STEM Activities for Kids)


STEAM / Educational Grants:

1) Afterschool Alliance Grant Page

2)  Bank of the West Grant Page

3) CAN Funding Opportunities Webpage

4) The Impact Foundry Grant Page


STEAM / Miscellaneous Professional Learning Sessions / Contest / Events:

1) California STEAM Symposium
    (Fee: $350) (Dates: October 28-29, 2018)

2) SMUD Free Educational Workshops 

3) Sacramento Area Girls Fire Camp
    (November 3 and 4, 2018) (Grades 9-12)

4) Project Based Learning in STEAM
   (Date: November 9, 2018) (Cost: Free) (Grades: 3-12)

5) Classroom Management (A Two Session Series)
    (Dates: November 30, 2018 and January 8, 2019) 
    (Cost: Free) (Grades: 3-12)

6) Nadine Burke Harris in Conversation
    (Date: December 3, 2018) (Cost: $29.00)

7) Conflict Resolution: (Date: December 12, 2018) (Cost: Free) 
    (Grades: K-12)

8) Engineer It (Date: December 19, 2018) (Cost: Free) 
    (Grades: 5-12)

9) Angela Y. Davis and Ibram X. Kendi in Conversation
     (Date: January 10, 2019) (Cost: $29.00)

10) Put Me In Coach (A two session series)
    (Dates: January 23, 2019 and March 6, 2019)

11) California Cruz'n: Expanded Learning Site Coordinator 
    Symposium (Dates: February 8 and 9, 2019) (Cost: $100)
    (Location: Long Beach, CA)

12) Mayor Michael Tubbs in Conversation
       (Date: February 13, 2019) (Cost: $29.00)


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

September 15th through October 15th is National Hispanic Heritage Month

Dolores Huerta - Labor Leader / Civil Rights Activist

"Let's teach kids, at the kindergarten level, what the contributions of people of color were to the building of the United States of America." - Dolores Huerta

Rigoberta Menchu' Tum - Guatemalan Indigenous Rights Activist  and Nobel Peace Prize Winner

"Peace cannot exist without justice, justice cannot exist without fairness, fairness cannot exist without development, development cannot exist without democracy, democracy cannot exist without respect for the identity and worth of cultures and peoples."

September 15th to October 15th in the United States is when we in the Expanded Learning field can engage our youth in learning activities that recognize the contributions that our brothers and sisters from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Chile, and Belize have made to make our world a better place.

September was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. All declared independence in 1821. In addition, Mexico, Chile, and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16th, September 18th, and September 2nd respectively.

Here are a few additional activity resources for you and your Expanded Learning staff to possibly engage your scholars in:

a) National Hispanic Heritage Month Activities (Free) (Grades K-12) (NEA)

b) Bring National Hispanic Heritage Month to Life (Free) (Grades K-8) (Scholastic)

c) Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (Free) (Grades K-6) (Education World)

STEM / Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Education Articles:

1) Explore Why High School Expectations Matter (Achieve.org)

2) Woodland Teachers Explore Sunflower Science
    (Woodland Daily Democract article by Cutter Hicks, 8/3/18)

3) Physical Computing Is Heading to Education: What You Need To Know
    (EDWEEK Market Brief article by Nikki Navta, 9/6/18)

4) Integrating Social Emotional Learning Isn't Easy. Here How It Is Done.
    (Education Week article by David Adams, 9/6/18)

5) Summer programs increase STEM learning opportunities for
    visually impaired students
    (Education Dive article by Linda Jacobson, 8/21/18)

6) STEM Worker Shortage at a Crisis Survey Shows
    (U.S. News and World Report article by Sintia Radu, 8/23/18)

7) 5 Proven Benefits of Play
    (NPR article by Anya Kamenetz, 8/31/18)

8) Race, Discipline, and Safety at U.S. Public Schools
   (Report by the ACLU)

9) Immigration and Afterschool 
    (LIAS Blogpost, 8/29/18)

10) The Most Popular High School Plays and Musicals
      (NPR article by Elissa Nadworny, 8/1/18)


STEAM (other core content) Activities / Websites / Podcast: 

1) PBS Design Squad Activity Guides 
    (Free to Download) (Grades 3-12)

2) CA Academy of Science Lesson Plans 
    (Free to Download) (Grades Pre-K to 12th)

3) PBS Design Squad Electricity and Circuits 
    (Lesson Plans)

4) PBS Design Squad Engineering Design Process 
    (Lesson Plans)

5) PBS Design Squad Green Design 
    (Lesson Plans)

6) PBS Design Squad Helping Others STEM Challenges 
    (Lesson Plans)

7) PBS Design Squad Simple Machines 
    (Lesson Plans)

8) PBS Design Squad Structures 
    (Lesson Plans)

9) Top 5 Ways to Welcome Students Back To School
    (Scholastic Lesson Plans) (Pre - K to 5th)

10) From Poverty to Rocket Scientist to CEO, A Girl Scout's Inspiring Story
      (NPR Podcast by Elissa Nadworny, 9/5/18)

11) To Raise Confident, Independent Kids, Some Parents are Trying "Let Grow"
      (NPR Podcast by Deena Prichep, 9/3/18)


STEM / Educational Grants: 

1) ASES Kids Code (Due November 5, 2018)

2) Afterschool Alliance Grant Page

3) Bank of the West Grant Page

4) CAN Funding Opportunities Webpage

5) The Impact Foundry Grant Page

STEAM / Miscellaneous Professional Learning Sessions / Contest / Events:

1) NBA Math Hoops (September 20, 2018) (Free)
    (Grades 4-8)

2) California STEAM Symposium
    (Fee: $350) (Dates: October 28-29, 2018)

3) How Kids Learn Conference
    (Fee: $125) (Date: December 6, 2018)

4) SMUD Free Educational Workshops

5) Hacker Lab Workshops

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    

August is National Back to School Month

The SSEL Region 3 Expanded Learning Team hopes that this blog post finds all of you doing well. Thank you to all of those that in some way shape or form had a hand during the summer of 2018 to help stave off summer learning loss by engaging youth in summer learning programs. Hopefully at some point you were able to get a few days off to recharge your batteries and dedicate a few days to you / your family. The work you do truly changes trajectories, is important, is hard, and is rewarding. Thank you for all that you do for it is greatly appreciated and inspiring.

With that being stated this blog post is filled with resources to add to your toolkits and to assist you as you embark on the 2018-2019 academic school year. Here is to a wonderful year, with many amazing memories.

Here are some monthly themes and activities that you might want to incorporate into your Expanded Learning Program:

One of the many posters free to download.

Classroom Posters that Promote Unity / Inclusion:

a) One World Posters (Teaching Tolerance)

b) This School Welcomes You (Teaching Tolerance)

c) CTA for All Students (CTA)

September 2018:

a) National Hispanic Heritage Month (Wikipedia)

b) Learning Activities to engage your students in (Modern Miami Website)

c) Lesson Plans for celebrating National Heritage Month (NEA Grades K-12)

d) Lesson plans and activities (Discoveries of a Latina Homeschooler)

e) Frida Kahlo Artwork Guide (SF MOMA)

f) International DOT Day Activities Guide (Roughly September 15th)


October 2018:

a) National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month (Stop Bullying Website)

b) Lesson Plans, Activities, Stats, FAQs (Pacer Org.)

c) Stand Up!!! Activity (Teaching Tolerance)

d) Peer Exclusion Activity (Teaching Tolerance)

e) Developing Empathy (Teaching Tolerance)

f) Middle School Anti-Bullying Lesson Plans (Intermediate Unit 1)

g) Teaching Students to Prevent Bullying (NEA)

h) Global Cardboard Challenge Event

i) Caine's Arcade Activity Curriculum and Activity Kits (Free to Download)


November 2018:

a) Native American Heritage Month (Native American 360)

b) Native American Art Activities

c) Additional Resources


STEM / Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Articles:

1) Raising Brilliant Kids - With Research to Back You Up
    (NPR Article by Anna Kamenetz; July 23, 2018)

2) How to Make A Civics Education Stick
    (NPR Article by Emily Cardinali; August 14, 2018)

3) How The Science of Learning is Catching Up To Mr. Rogers
    (NPR Article by Anna Kamenetz; July 23, 2018)

4) (Teacher Wellness) Reclaiming a Sense of Joy
   (Edutopia Article by Shane Safir; August 10, 2018)

5) Reflections on Shifting to a Flexible Classroom
   (Edutopia Article by Brooke Markle; August 20, 2018)

6) Using Stories to Teach Math
    (Edutopia Article by L.L. Barkat; December 22, 2017)

7) To Get Girls Into Coding, Nonprofit Looks to Historic Inspiration
    (Education Week Article by Lauraine Genota; August 15, 2018)

8) Social Skills Are Critical For Future Job-Seekers
    (Education Week Article by Pam Roy; August 15, 2018)

9) Equity and Voice: How a Sense of Belonging Promotes Students' Agency
    (Education Week Article by Contributing Blogger; August 15, 2018)

10) Kids Need to Play at Recess, Their Mental Health May Depend on It
     (Education Week Article by Peter DeWitt; August 1, 2018)


STEAM (other core content) Activities / Websites / Podcast:

1) 36 Resources for STEM Project-Based Learning Activities

2) 17 Examples of STEM Project Based Learning Activities

3) Integrated STEM Education through Project Based Learning

4) Project Based Learning and STEM Afterschool

5) Project Based Learning and the Arts

6) Arts-Infused Project Based Learning: Crafting Beautiful Work

7) Buck Institute: Project Based Learning Resources

8) ITeach: A Guide To the Most Useful Apps For the Classroom

9) The Social Classroom (Video)

10) Projects That Work (PBL Video)


STEM / Educational Grants:

1) Afterschool Alliance Grant Page

2)  Bank of the West Grant Page

3) CAN Funding Opportunities Webpage

4) The Impact Foundry Grant Page


STEAM / Miscellaneous Professional Learning Sessions / Contest / Events:

1) NBA Math Hoops (September 20, 2018) (Free)
    (Grades 4-8)

2) California STEAM Symposium
    (Fee: $350) (Dates: October 28-29, 2018)

3) How Kids Learn Conference
    (Fee: $125) (Date: December 6, 2018)

4) SMUD Free Educational Workshops

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