November has a Cornucopia of STEM Offerings

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.

Here are some resources that could help you and your students celebrate and learn more about Native American Heritage Month.

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


1) Mary Golda Ross - was the first Native American female engineer. She was one of 
    the 40 founding engineers of the Skunk Works, and was known for her work at 
    Lockheed Martin on preliminary design concepts for interplanetary space travel, 
    manned and unmanned earth-orbiting flights, the earliest studies of orbiting 
    satellites for both defense and civilian purposes.

Mary Golda Ross the first Native American female engineer.

  

2) John Herrington - Astronaut John Herrington was the first Native American to travel 
    to space. Herrington, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, spent over 330 hours in 
    space before retiring in 2005. 

John B. Herrington first enrolled Native American Tribe member to fly in space.

Let's see what STEM learning activities the Expanded Learning Program practitioners have been engaging the Region 3 students in.


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


Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District


Name of School Site: John Cabrillo Elementary


Grade Level of Activity: 1st and 2nd Graders


Number of Students who took part in the activity: 22 Students


Type of Activity: Marshmallow Towers


Learning Outcomes: Students were able to:

• Learn about the Engineering Design Process
• Learn about the stability of structures
• Learn how to make blue prints
• Learn how to work collaboratively
• Learn about the importance of base and foundation

Expanded Learning Program students at John Cabrillo testing their Marshmallow Tower designs.

For more information on this activity please contact Duc-Hanh Nguyen at duchanh@sccsc.org.

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


Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District


Name of School Site: A.M. Winn Elementary


Grade Level of Activity: 4th thru 8th


Number of Students who took part in the activity: 22


Type of Activity: Making Stress Bottles


Learning Outcomes: Students were able to:

• Learn about the Engineering Design Process
• Identify and discuss stressful situations, what causes them, the effects that they have on the body, and how to deal with them
• Learn about measurement
• Explore, test, and redesign their Stress Bottles
• Learn how to work collaboratively together
• Experience peer learning
• Learn about healthy ways to deal with stress

Expanded Learning Program students showing off their Stress Bottles.

For more information on this activity please contact Monik Vega at mvega@sccsc.org.




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


Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified School District


Name of School Site: Sierra View Elementary


Grade Level of Activity: 4th thru 6th Grade


Number of Students who took part in the activity: 20


Type of Activity: Demonstration / Experiment: Students use oil, water, and seltzer tablets to learn about the differing densities of liquids while eventually making their own lava lamps.


Learning Outcomes: Students were able to: 

• Explore the Engineering Design Process
• Create their own lava lamps using oil, water, food coloring, and seltzer tablets
• Explain the density of certain liquids
• Explore what ratio of oil and water creates the most effective lava lamps
• Collect and analyze data

Expanded Learning Program students at Sierra View Elementary exploring density and making lava lamps.

For more information on this activity please contact Ryan Mallory at ryan@sccsc.org.


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


Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified School District


Name of School Site: Noralto Elementary


Grade Level of Activity: 2nd Grade


Number of Students who took part in the activity: 13


Type of Activity: Rock Identification


Learning Outcomes: Students were able to:

• Learning the different between igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks
• Identifying 6 rocks by their features
• Seeing if the rocks react to saturated citric acid

Expanded Learning Program students at Noralto  classifying the different types of rocks.

For more information on this activity please contact Tanya Velasquez at tanya@sccsc.org.


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


Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District


Name of School Site: William Land Elementary


Grade Level of Activity: 4th Grade


Number of Students who took part in the activity: 26


Type of Activity: Taternauts Project


Learning Outcomes: Students were able to: 

• Understand the changes in the scientific method
• Understand the importance of budgeting in relation to project funding
• Understand the effects of mass and velocity on acceleration
• Collect, calculate, and input data to better their model via Project Based Learning 
• Understand why there is a need for space junk clean-up projects

Taternauts materials.

Expanded Learning Program students at William Land Elementary getting ready to test their Taternauts.

For more information on this activity please contact David Constancio at david@sccsc.org.



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


Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified School District


Name of School Site: Foothill Ranch Middle School


Grade Level of Activity: 7th and 8th Grade


Number of Students who took part in the activity: 10


Type of Activity: STEAM



Learning Outcomes: Students were able to:

• Students will study the structures of molecules 
• Build a molecule of their choice out of a styrofoam cup, toothpicks, and marshmallows
• Explain the structure of their molecule
• Students will be able to use correct scientific academic language when describing their molecule

Expanded Learning Program students creating their molecules at Foothill Ranch Middle School.

For more information on this activity please contact Jessica Jones at jessica@sccsc.org.



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: 4th and 5th Grade


Number of Students who took part in the activity: 21


Type of Activity: Learning about volcanoes



Learning Outcomes: Students were able to:

• Learn about volcanoes and how they affect us and the planet
• Different types of volcanoes that exist and how they are formed
• Create a volcano as a team and make it erupt

Expanded Learning Program students at Foothill Oaks learning about volcanoes.

For more information on this activity please contact Luis Ramirez at louis@sccsc.org.

STEM / Expanded Learning Program and other Pertinent Education Articles:

1) Culinary Programs Increase Student Appetites for Art, Science, Math, and Life Skills
    (The Journal of Expanded Learning Opportunities Project)

2) What do after school programs do for our youth?
    (The Journal of Expanded Learning Opportunities Project)

3) How a summer learning program helped one community's literacy problem
    (Afterschool Alliance Article by Jodi Grant, October 6, 2016)

4) Rainstorms and Symphonies: Performing Arts Bring Abstract Concepts to Life
    (Edutopia Article by Mary Gresock and Lisette Steinwald, October 5, 2016)

5) The New Focus on Children's Mental Health
    (The Atlantic Article by Emily Goldberg, October 17, 2016)

6) Kid Cudi's Mental Health Struggle has Inspired Black Men to Talk About Depression
   (Essence Article by Sydney Scott, October 6, 2016)

7) LA principal encourages students to be peacemakers, not peace breakers
    (EdSource Article by Michael Janofsky, September 25, 2016)

8) Learning In The Age of Digital Distraction
    (NPR Article by Eric Westervelt, November 5, 2016)

9) 5 Reasons Schools Should Measure Chronic Absence
    (NPR Article by Elissa Nadworny, November 3, 2016)

10) How a Happy School Can Help Students Succeed
      (NPR Article by Kat Lonsdorf, November 1, 2016)

11) Trump Brings Uncertainty To Big Education Issues
      (Education Week Article by Andrew Ujifusa, November 9, 2016)

12) 3 Ways Schools Can Be Supportive of Students' Mental Health
      (MindShift Article by Meg Anderson, September 26, 2016)

13) Feeling they are part of a group increased preschoolers' interest, success in STEM
      (University of Washington Article by Molly McElory, September 7, 2016)

14) Next Generation Science Opportunities in Expanded Learning 
      (The Journal of Expanded Learning Opportunities Project)

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

1) Resources to Fight Bullying and Harassment at School (Edutopia)

2) The Kindness Game Activity (Edutopia)

3) Farm to School Resources  (Farm to school, Articles, Toolkits, etc.)

4) Garden Activities (Kids Gardening, Activities)

5) Garden Lesson Plans  (Kids Gardening, Lesson Plans)

6) Build a Straw Hands-Free Holder (Design Squad, Activity)

7) Water Way Design Challenges (Design Squad, Activity)

8) How Slow Can You go? (Creativity Catapult, Activity)

9) Here's What Students Are Saying About The Election Results (NPR, Podcast)

10) College Is A 4-Year- Long Balancing Act For First-Generation Students
      (NPR, Podcast)

11) Freedom To Explore: 2 Schools Where The Students Call The Shots
       (NPR, Podcast)

12) National Science Test Scores Are Out, But What Do They Really Tell Us?
        (NPR, Podcast)


STEM / Educational Grants:

1) The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources
   (Edutopia, Updated on November 2, 2016)

2) The Impact Foundry (Grant Opportunities)

3) Walmart Foundation (Grant Opportunity)

4) Bank of The West  (Grant Opportunity)

5) Application for Free Computers (Ongoing)

6) Lowes Tool Box for Education 
    (Application opens December 18, 2016)



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


1) How Kids Learn Conference (December 7, 2016 in SF)

    (Registration: $120 per participant)

2) 2017 Expanded Learning Symposium (February 23, 2017 in Berkeley)

     (Registration: $89 per participant)

3)  CASRC Online Profesional Learning Sessions (Free) 

     (Various Topics / Grade Levels)

4) 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

Region 3 STEM Blog takes a look at the "First Lady of Physics"

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage month and so to celebrate this month let's learn about the "First Lady of Physics". Chien-Shiung Wu was a Chinese American experimental physicist who made significant contributions in the field of nuclear physics. Wu worked on developing the process for separating uranium metal into uranium-235 and uranium-238 isotopes. Her expertise in experimental physics evoked comparisons to Marie Curie. Her nicknames include "the First Lady of Physics", "the Chinese Madame Curie", and the "Queen of Nuclear Research". 

Let's see what STEM activities the Expanded Learning Program practitioners have been engaging the Region 3 students in.

Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: San Juan Unified Bridges After School 
Program

Name of District: San Juan Unified School District

Name of School Site: Encina High School

Grade Level of Activity: 9th Grade

Number of Students Who Took Part in The Activity: 20 students

Type of Activity: Robotics Club

Description of STEM Activity: 

The video at the link below was created by a group of  students in the Encina ASSETs program using footage taken from a Quadcopter they assembled and fitted with a camera. The five students are part of a Robotics/Engineering club in the ASSETs program and have been working on the Quadcopter project in the after-school program since early in the school year. The students had to solve issues with the weight and placement of the camera before they were finally able to achieve successful flight and ultimately capture video of their school, and the Color Run they partnered with the Associated Student Body (ASB) to host.

Click here to see video that the Quadcopter took. 

For more information on this project please contact San Juan Unified School District's Expanded Learning Program Grant Manager Debbie Middleton at DMiddleton@sanjuan.edu.



Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: San Juan Unified's Bridges After School 
Program

Name of District: San Juan Unified School District

Name of School Site: Starr King K-8

Grade Level of Activity: 6th through 8th Grade

Number of Students Who Took Part in The Activity: 20 students

Type of Activity: Cow Eye Dissection

Description of STEM Activity: 

The Bridges After-School Program at Starr King K-8  scheduled an expert from the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum of Michigan to lead an exciting learning opportunity for Bridges students. Corrina Strecker, Distance Learning Manager for the museum, walked the group through a cow eye dissection via live video streaming. The museum shipped the cow eyes to the Bridges program in preparation for the conference. The students learned the anatomy of a cows eye and the function of each part as  they removed and examined it.  Each participant had the opportunity to share their observations and ask questions of the museum expert during this engaging learning experience.

Bridges Expanded Learning Program students working on a cow eye dissection.

Bridges Expanded Learning Program student is proudly displaying his cow eye.

Bridges Expanded Learning Program students learning how to properly dissect a cow's eye.

For more information on this project please contact San Juan Unified School District's Expanded Learning Program Grant Manager Debbie Middleton at DMiddleton@sanjuan.edu.


STEM / Expanded Learning Program and Other Pertinent Education Articles:

1) Protect California's Quality After School Programs: AB2663
    (Save Afterschool website)

2) Messaging Documents to Protect CA's Quality After School Programs
    (Save Afterschool website)

3) Politics and Afterschool: 4 Tips That Could Help you this Election Season
    (National Afterschool Association Website)

4) May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
     (National Afterschool Association Website)

5) Arts and Afterschool: A Powerful Alliance
    (National Afterschool Association Website)

6) Thinking About Science + Nature: An Art Teacher's Approach
    (Kimberley Campisano, April 11, 2016, KQED)

7) Zoo Crew empowers youth to tackle conservation
    (Erin Murphy, April 8, 2016, After School Alliance Blog)

8) The Power of Art to Build Strong Youth and Heal Trauma
   (Alex M. Johnson, April 11, 2016, Huffington Post)

9) Why Kids Should Use Their Fingers in Math Class
    (Jo Boaler and Lang Chen, April 13, 2016, The Atlantic)

10) Some after school program providers say flat funding may cause them to close
      (Susan Frey, April 6, 2016, Ed Source)

11) Can Songs Help You Learn Scientific Concepts?
      (Tania Lombrozo, May 2, 2016, NPR)

12) The problem with teaching "grit" to poor kids? They already have it. Here is what 
      they really need.  (Valerie Strauss, May 10, 2016, The Washington Post)

13) Understanding Gender Identity in Young People: A Briefing Paper for 
      After School Programs
      (Sam Phia and Samantha Waters, April 28, 2016, Temescal and Associates)

14) A Vision for Expanded Learning in California (Strategic Plan Update April 2016)






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

1) Want to Teach In Urban Schools? Get to Know the Neighborhood
    (April 10, 2016, NPR) (Podcast)

2) Survey Raises Concern about Non-English Speaking Students
    (Claudio Sanchez, May 13, 2016, NPR) (Podcast)

3) Feds turn to Hip Hop to Tamp Down Teen Smoking
    (Maanvi Singh, May 10, 2016, NPR) (Podcast)

4) Preparing Youth To Thrive (Promising Practices in Social Emotional Learning)
    (SEL Practices Website) (Resource Guide)

5) STEM Gems (Experiential STEM Learning Activities)
    (STEM Activities from National After School Association) 

6) After School Tech Trends 2016 ( National After School Association website)

7) Four Free Tools for Arts Integration in the Content Classroom
    (Graphite Blog, January 26, 2016)

8) New App helps families find summer meal sites (App)

9) What Killed the Dinosaurs? (Activity #2 PBS) (Grades K-2)

10) Arts Edge (Integrated Art Activities)






STEM / Educational Grants:

1) 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)

2) Best Satellite Providers: Technology Grants for Educators

    17 Resources for Future Proof Kids

    (Deadline: Varies by Grant Opportunity) 

3) California Regional Environmental Education Community (Grant Database)

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

    (This webpage has been updated on May 7, 2016)

5) Target Field Trip Grants ($700)  (August 1 through September 30, 2016)

6) Project WET Funding Database (Scroll down to the bottom of the page 

    and click on the "Grants" link)




STEM / Misc. Professional Development / Contest / Events:

1) CA STEM Symposium 2016 (October 9-11, 2016: Fee: $310 per participant 

     before September 1, 2016)

2) Lights on After School Poster Contest (Deadline: June 1, 2016)

3) Sustainable Cities (CA Lead Module) (Cost: Free) (June 2, 2016)

4) Let's Put The A(rt) in STEM (Cost: Free) (Date: June 9, 2016)

5) CASRC Online Courses (Free)

6) CalSac Online Courses (Free)

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

Spring Forward With STEM

Federal STEM Education: 5 Year Strategic Plan

The Committee of STEM Education National Science and Technology Counsel has released the 5 year strategic plan for Federal STEM Education. In this report, a number of inter-related goals are highlighted:

• It will help Federal STEM efforts reach more students and more teachers more effectively by reorienting Federal policy to meet the needs of those who are delivering STEM education (i.e. school districts, states, colleges, and universities)

• It will help in reorganizing efforts and redirecting resources around more clearly defined priorities with accountable lead agencies

• It will enable rigorous evaluation and evidence-building strategies for Federal STEM-education programs

To view the whole report, click here.


The Next Generation Science Standards: Standards with a Purpose:

Few things are more inspiring than watching a student ask "why" - except, perhaps, seeing that student use their skills and knowledge to confidently and effectively seek an answer to their own questions to make sense of the world around them. Read more here.




Pathways To College And Career Readiness:
Bringing The New California Standards To Life Through Linked Learning

The Education Trust-West has recently released a report titled "Pathways to College and Career Readiness: Bringing the New California Standards to Life Through Linked Learning," which discusses how implementing linked learning pathways into curriculum can ease the transition into the new state standards.

For more information and to read the full article, click here.


Assemblywoman Bonilla Calls for Funding for NGSS, Local Schools, and Teacher Development

Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla has recently announced the induction of AB 631. The bill seeks to allocate approximately $2 billion from the State General Fund to be invested for professional development and enhanced technology-based instruction that is aligned with Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.

For more information and to read the full press release, click here.


Change the Equation Highlights the Aging STEM Workforce

In recognition of Engineer's week, Change the Equation has released an article titled: "Where are the young STEM workers." This article highlights the aging STEM workforce, where despite growing demand for employees, young STEM professionals are scarce.

For more information, and to read the full article, click here.



NGSS: Things to Know for March 2015

1) The NGSS EQuIP Professional Learning Facilitator's Guide is now available. It is a series of 10 modules that were designed to provide guidance on building the capacity of educators and education leaders to use the EQuIP Rubric for Science. To access these guides, click here.

2) The annual NGSS Network Leadership Conference just wrapped up in San Francisco, California. The conference brought together state teams (e.g., state education agency staff, district leadership, and key stakeholders) to work on implementation planning. Look out for the powerpoint presentations and other resources associated with the conference to be posted to nextgenscience.org in the coming weeks.

3) Interested in learning more about the implications of NGSS science and engineering practices on instruction, assessment, and professional development? Check out this article by Richard Duschl and Rodger Bybee.

4) Linden, Rahway prepare for the new science standards by Michelle H. Daino

5) HS-ETS1-2: (Standard of the month) Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.



Now lets spring forward to see what the real STEM Stars of Region 3 have been up to within the past month. The following STEM learning activities are activities that our expanded learning program practitioners have engaged the children of Region 3 in recently:


Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District

School Site: Kit Carson International Baccalaureate Candidate School

Grade Level of Activity: 6th thru 8th

Number of Students Who Took Part in the Activity: 20

Type of Activity: Engineering Everywhere: Food for Thought: Engineering Ice Cream

Learner Outcomes: Students will:

• learn that they can use the Engineering Design Process to help solve problems
• learn that engineers design technologies to help people and solve problems
• learn that they have talent and potential for designing and improving technologies
• they too are process engineers
• be engaged in open ended challenges that are directly tied to NGSS standards
• also learn to work in collaborative groups

Students working together to engineer a spaghetti tower that can host a marshmallow. Prep. Activity #1

Students taste testing the ice cream they just created. Activity #2

Students engineering the perfect container to house their ice cream in.

Process Engineers who are now pitching their new ice cream product to their peers.

For more information on this activity, please feel free to reach out to the site coordinator at Kit Carson Wendy Tsan at wendy@sccsc.org


Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District

School Site: Nicholas Elementary School

Grade Level of Activity: 5th

Number of Students Who Took Part in the Activity: 20

Type of Activity: Computer Coding

Learner Outcomes: Students will:

• be engaged in a collaborative, creative curriculum that is aligned to CCSS
• learn how the Internet works
• learn about basic computer programming logic
• learn about problem solving
• be engaged in creative learning

Nicholas students engaged in computer coding exercises.

For more information on the computer coding learning activities that the students of Nicholas are engaged in after school, please contact Rian Carroll (site coordinator) at Rian-Carroll@scusd.edu



Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District

School Site: William Land Elementary

Grade Level of Activity: 4th/5th

Number of Students Who Took Part in the Activity: 25

Type of Activity: Roller Coaster

Learner Outcomes: Students will:

• use knowledge of potential / kinetic energy to construct a roller coaster
• discuss the effects of gravity and friction in the context of their roller coaster design
• use the Engineer Design Process
• understand that the height of an object is related to the distance that an object can travel

Students engineering their own roller coasters.

For more information on this after school activity please contact David Constancio at david@sccsc.org



Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District

School Site: Martin Luther King Jr. K-8

Grade Level of Activity: 6th thru 8th

Number of Students Who Took Part in the Activity: 25

Type of Activity: Electric Play Dough

Learner Outcomes: Students will:

• explore and understand the continuity between conductive materials that allow electricity to flow freely
• create a circuit with conductive dough and insulating dough that will light up an LED light bulb
• use the Engineering Design Process

Students creating a circuit that will light up an LED bulb.

For more information on this after school STEM learning activity, please contact Josh Yang (site coordinator) at josh@sccsc.org

Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District

School Site: Caroline Wenzel Elementary

Grade Level of Activity: 3rd thru 5th

Number of Students Who Took Part in the Activity: 25

Type of Activity: Marble Mazes, Suspension Bridges, and Boat Building

Learner Outcomes: Students will:

• use the Engineer Design Process
• discuss the effects of gravity and friction in the context of their marble maze
• engage in a collaborative activity
• explore designs of bridges and boats

Caroline Wenzel students engaging in STEM month activities.

For more information on these after school STEM learning activities, please contact Kae Saeteurn at kae@sccsc.org

Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District

School Site: John Still K-8

Grade Level of Activity: 2nd thru 3rd

Number of Students Who Took Part in the Activity: 25

Type of Activity: Star Readers Activities using Nexus tablets

Learner Outcomes: Students will:

• use the Nexus tablet to access the app Read Me to help them improve their reading skills
• improve upon their 21st Century Skills
• build on their love for reading

Students using the Nexus tablet to read to each other.

For more information on this after school STEM learning activity, please contact Kaycee Moua (site coordinator at kaycee@sccsc.org

STEM and Other Expanded Learning Program Pertinent Educational Articles

1) Teachers can get plenty of help in implementing standards by Tricia Shelton (Kentucky Teacher)

2) Why Chevron is Helping Fund STEM Education by Tim Bajarin (Time Magazine)

3) Developing a Growth Mindset in Teachers and Staff by Keith Heggart (Edutopia)

4) Strategies to Support English Language Learners by Todd Finley (Edutopia)

5) A Project Idea for Student Power by Milton Chen (Edutopia) 

6) 4 Tips to Build Student Confidence by Matt Levinson (Edutopia)

7) Kids Speak Out on Student Engagement by Heather Wolpert-Gawron (Edutopia)

8) The Numbers Add Up To This: Less and Less Opportunity for Poor Kids by Marilyn Geewax (NPR)

9) Math Love, Game Based Learning, And More From NPR Ed at #SXSWEdu by Anya Kamenetz (NPR)

10) Quality Matter for Youth in School-Based OST (Report by Public Profit)

11) Expanded Learning, SB 1221, and More: An Interview with Michael Funk, California After School Division Director (Part 1) by Sam Phia  Click here for part 2 (Temescal and Associates)

12) Expanded Learning Time: A Summary of Findings from Case Studies in Four States
      by Center for Education Policy



STEM (and other integrated core content) Activities / Videos / Websites / Podcast

1) Young Gifted and Black Teaches Oakland Students History with Music (KQED) (Video)

2) Five Keys to Rigorous Project - Based Learning (Edutopia) (Video)

3) 12 Empowering Children's Books To Add To Little Girls' Bookshelves (Bust) (Resources)

4) The Teacher Who Believes Math Equals Love by Cory Turner (NPR) (Podcast)

5) Where Have All of The Teachers Gone? by Eric Westervelt (NPR) (Podcast)

6) Behold The Humble Block! Tools of The Trade by Eric Westervelt (NPR) (Podcast)

7) Teaching The Holocaust: New Approaches for A New Generation by Eric Westervelt (NPR) (Podcast)

8) NGSS: A Vision for K-12 Science Education (Teaching Channel) (Video)

9) Downloadable professional development guide shows you how to conduct a workshop for educators who will be teaching Engineering Adventures or Engineering Everywhere curricula. We've just enhanced the experience with four new after school PD videos that illuminate some of the activities in the workshop. (Free Resources)


STEM Grants: 

1) Apply now for Colocation America's STEM Innovtion Grant, which provides funding to nonprofit charitable organizations in order to foster youth engagement in STEM Learning.
(Awarded up to $7500) (Deadline: March 27, 2015)

2) Grant Wrangler: STEM Grant Database (Grants available for Grades K-12) 

3) Grant Wrangler: Health and PE Grant Database / Resources




STEM / Other Content Area Professional Development / Misc. / Events / Contest

1) Invisible Universe (Grades 6-12) This GEMS unit has great take away lessons which can be used in Physics and Anstronomy. (March 19, 2015 4:30 to 7:00 PM) (SMUD) (appetizers provided) (Free)

2) Energy and Me (Grades preK-3) In Energy and Me! teachers will learn how to present energy concepts with playacting, singing, and dancing. Teachers will receive a classroom kit from Project Learning Tree. (March 21, 2015 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM) (breakfast and lunch provided) (SMUD) (Free)

3) Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center's STEM Expo
(March 26, 2015 from 3:330 PM to 5:30 PM at Will C. Wood Middle School)

4) Code.Org Workshops at Elliott Ranch Elementary Computer Lab on 4/11/15 and 4/25/15
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Free)

5) Code.Org Workshops at Arden Middle School Computer Lab on 4/18/15
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Free)

6) 2015 Central Valley STEM Conference (April 25, 2015 from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM)

7) ConnectED Studios: Hunger Games Challenge (Deadline: May 1, 2015)

8) CalSAC presents the Afterschool Challenge Registration Available (May 11 - 12, 2015)

9) Take the English Learning in Action: Introduction training to learn about how English learners are identified in California public schools and recognize the second language acquisition levels. Participants obtain strategies for providing social and academic support to newcomers, including tips for facilitating discussion and maximizing peer support in after school programs. (Online Training) (Free) (CASRC)

10) Be sure to visit the Digital Open Education Sources page on the OER Commons Web site for lessons and activities can be implemented in expanded learning environments with minimal preparation and materials. (Online) (Free) (CASRC)

11) The Building Number Sense Through the Common Core resource explains how to teach young students about fluidity and flexibility with numbers, an understanding of what numbers mean, and the ability to compute operations and to compare numbers (number sense).
(Free to checkout from CASRC)

12) Based on a specific theme, each tub in the Learning Science Activity Tub Series contains a unit overview, up to 40 student-centered activity cards, hands on activities, and manipulatives. Subjects include: Solar System, Insects, Rocks and Soil, Electricity, Simple Machines, and Animals.
(Free to checkout from CASRC)

13) The Creative Minds Out of School curriculum consists of three thematically based units, each containing seven lessons that teach various visual arts concepts and skills (a total of 21 lessons).
(Free to checkout from CASRC)

14) Keeping it Real: Drug Resistance Strategies is a culturally competent and research-validated alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use prevention curriculum that teaches drug resistance skills to middle school students. (Free to checkout from CASRC)


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