June is a Month Chock-full of Multicultural / Equality / Healthy Lifestyles Celebrations

June is a month in which we love to celebrate. We tend to celebrate the end of our academic school year, graduations, the beginning of summer and.......

1) Juneteenth - Is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. It was on June 19, 1865 that Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which had become official on January 1, 1863. (Please see resource section below for activity ideas.)

2) LGBTQ Pride Month - Is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan, but also to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. (Please see resource section below for Teaching Tolerance lesson plans.)

3) Great Outdoors Month - June is a special time to celebrate America's great outdoors. Help youth celebrate the natural wonder and outdoor spirit by getting them outside and engaged in a variety of outdoor activities. Click here for outdoor games to engage youth in.

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: Sacramento City Unified School District

Grade Level of Activity: 1st -6th Grade

Number of students who took part in the activity: 15

Type of Activity: S.T.E.A.M.

Learning Outcomes - Students were able to:

• Learn about the periodic table of elements
• Learn how and why carbonated drinks actually help plants grow

Expanded Learning youth learning about how carbonation helps plants grow.

For more information on this activity please feel free to email Expanded Learning 

Site Coordinator Teresa Hernandez at teresa@sccsc.org.

STEM / Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Articles:

1) Learning is Social, Emotional, and Academic 
    (Education Week article by Linda Darling-Hammond and 
     Tim Shriver, May 1, 2018)

2) Immigrant Students: Our Kids, our Future 
    (Learning Policy Institute Blog: Education and the Path to Equity)

3) Closing the Communication Gap and Finding Time
    (Learning in Afterschool Blog)

4) Juuling Craze: Schools Scramble to Deal with Student Vaping
    (Education Week article by Evie Blad, May 4, 2018)

5) Ways to Integrate Writing into Science Classes
     (Education Week Teacher Blog)

6) The Power of Sharing Circles
    (Learning in Afterschool Blog)

7) Happy Teachers Practice Self-Care
    (Education Week Article by Madeline Will)

8) The Science Behind Student Engagement
    (Pearson- Whitepaper)

9) Early-Grades Science: The First Key STEM Opportunity
    (Education Week article by Madeline Will, May 22, 2018) 

10) Why Children Aren't Behaving, and What You Can Do About It
      (NPR Education article by Cory Turner, June 2, 2018)


STEM (and other core content) Activities / Websites / Media Content:

1) Parent Engagement as a lever for Equity and Achievement
    (Education Week Conversation: Video)

2) Meet the Women Who First Integrated America's School's
    (NPR Podcast May 29, 2018)

3) Asian American Heritage Month Activities (Pre-K-12th)

4) Teaching Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 
    (NEA Activities: K-5)

5) Summer Reading Resources (NEA)

6) NEA Science Resources Page (K-12)

7) Gender and Sexual Identity Lesson Plans (Teaching Tolerance Activities)

8) Children's Activities for Juneteenth

9) Activities / Resources / Videos for Juneteenth

10)  7 Games from Around the World


STEM / Educational Grants: 

1) CAN Funding Opportunities Webpage

2) Impact Foundry Grant Page

3) Afterschool Alliance Grant Page

4) Bank of The West Grant Page


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

1) How Kids Learn Conference (December 6, 2018) (Oakland)


We will share items as they come across our desk before the next blog post.



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

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.

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)



STEM / Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Articles:

1) Building students' foundational skills and competencies that will help them
    in the workforce and life (After School Alliance November 2017 Spotlight Brief)

2) Building on student interest and exposing students to careers and career pathways
    (After School Alliance November 2017 Spotlight Brief)

3) Providing real-world work experiences that help build students' familiarity with
    and capabilities in the workforce
    (After School Alliance November 2017 Spotlight Brief)

4) Trauma-Informed Practice Part 1
    (Learning in After School and Summer Blog by Sam Phia, November 15, 2017)

5) Trauma-Informed Practice Part II
    (Learning in After School and Summer Blog by Sam Phia, November 15, 2017)

6) Deciding At What Age To Give A Kid A Smart Phone
    (NPR article by Claire Mcinerny, November 21, 2017)

7) As DACA Winds Down, DREAMers Turn Toward Different Futures
    (NPR article by Claire Mcinerny, November 10, 2017)

8) In the Age of Legalization, Talking to Kids About Marijuana Gets Tougher
    (NPR article by Anna Gorman, November 10, 2017)

9) Encouraging students to make mistakes to improve math outcomes
    (Edsource article by Lizzy Hull Barnes, November 19, 2017)

10) For Equity, Build Relationships
      (Harvard Graduate School article by Akisha R. Jones)

11) The Tech Industry's Gender-Discrimination Problem
      (New Yorker article by Sheelah Kolhatkar, November 20, 2017)

12) When Students Are Traumatized, Teachers Are Too
      (Edutopia article by Emelina Minero, October 4, 2017)


STEM / STEAM / DACA / Educational etc. Resources:

1) 36 Resources for STEM Project-Based Learning Activities
    (Global Digital Citizen Foundation / Activities)

2) 20 Elementary Science Projects (Teach Beside Me Blog Post)

3) The Ultimate STEM Guide for Kids: 239 Cool Sites About Science,
    Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
    (Masters in Data Science / Web Resources)

4) November STEAM / STEM Activities for Middle School Students
    (STEM Activities for Kids Website)

5) Middle School STEM Activities (Engineering Go For It STEM Activities)

6) Arts and Crafts for Kids (Education.com website Activities Grades K-12)

7) 37 Amazing Craft Ideas (Scholastic Activities Webpage)

8) Cooperative Physical Activities (PE Central Activities)

9) Cooperative Games (Mr. Gym)

10) Immigrant Legal Resource Center (DACA Resource)

11) City of Sacramento DACA Resources (DACA Resources)

12) DC School For Young Men of Color Tackles Mistrust Between Students and Police 
      (NPR Podcast by Cory Turner November 19, 2017)

13) Can Free Breakfast Improve Learning? 
      (TED Talk by Sam Kass, November 17, 2017)

14) Native American Students Fight Discrimination by Celebrating Their Heritage
      (NPR Podcast by David Sommerstein, November 16, 2017)

15) New Study Finds That 4.2 Million Kids Experience Homelessness Each Year
      (NPR Podcast by Leila Fadel, November 15, 2017)

16) How To Talk To Kids About Thanksgiving
      (NPR article by Meg Anderson, November 23, 2017)

17) Quality Standard: Healthy Choices and Behaviors Video (Video)

18) What is the Biggest Challenge Facing Expanded Learning? (The WEL Video)

19) Educated Guess Podcast (Podcast by Rodrigo Arancibia)


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)

6) CA Arts Council Grants (Grant Page) (December 5th Webinar)


Professional Learning Sessions / Contest / Conferences / etc.

1) CalSAC Trainer Network (Deadline: December 15, 2017)

2) Abstract Art Workshop (Free) (December 5, 2017)

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

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

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

6) STEM through the Lens of Quality Standards (February 26, 2018) (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: Expanded Learning) mdrewes@scoe.net 
    

July is National Ice Cream Month

What better way is there is celebrate a month in which the thermometer pushes north of 100 degrees fahrenheit more often than not? I scream, you scream, many scream for ice cream as a way to beat the heat. July is National Ice Cream Month.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday  of the month as National Ice Cream Day. He recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food that is enjoyed by over 90 percent of the nation's population. In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with "appropriate ceremonies and activities."

The ice cream industry in the United States contributes more than $39 billion to the national economy and creates more than 188,000 jobs in communities across the country.

Where does this tasty treat emanate from? The emperors of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) are believed to have been the first to eat "a frozen milk-like confection." This version was made with cow, goat, or buffalo milk that was heated with flour. Camphor, an aromatic substance harvested from evergreen trees, was added to enhance the texture and flavor. The mixture was then placed into metal tubes and lowered into an ice pool until frozen. This process is similar to the way Indians made kulfi prior to refrigeration. For more on the history of ice cream, click here.

Do you and your expanded learning students want to make ice cream while learning how to be a process engineer? If so, click here for the Food for Thought Engineering Ice Cream, a curriculum unit from Engineering Everywhere.

Tang Dynasty Emperors were the first to enjoy an early version of this tasty treat.

STEM / Expanded Learning and Other Pertinent Articles:

1) Trump Budget Endangers STEM Learning
    (Education Week Commentary by Ron Ottinger, July 24, 2017)

2) After School shines in ESSA implementation hearing
    (Aftelschool Snack Blog by Erik Peterson, July 21, 2017)

3) House Appropriations Committee cuts after school (ESSA) funding by 191 million
     (Aftelschool Snack Blog by Erik Peterson, July 20, 2017)

4) Closing the achievement gap for Latino kids
     (Aftelschool Snack Blog by Diego Uriburu, July 19, 2017)

5) Technology Can be a Tool, a Teacher, a Trickster
    (NPR Opinion by Tania Lombrozo, July 17, 2017)

6) Considering Cultural Context When Promoting SEL
    (LIAS Blog by Sam Piha, July 19, 2017)

7) Five Myths About Transgender Students Educators Need to Unlearn
    (Education Week Commentary by Laura Erickson-Schroth, July 10, 2017)

8) 10 Social Media Controversies That Landed Students in Trouble This School Year
    (Education Week Article by Benjamin Herold, July 6, 2017)

9) NGSS Helps Prepare Future Workforce
    (Comstock's Article by Jennifer Berry, June 21, 2017)

10) Addressing Food Security in Your Afterschool and Summer Learning Program
      (National Afterschool Association Article, July 11, 2017)

11) The Journal of Expanded Learning Opportunities
      (Spring 2017 Issue)


STEM / STEAM / ETC. Activities / Videos / Websites:

1) STEM Tools (Research / National Summer Learning Association)

2) Resources and Services Webpage (National Summer Learning Association)

3) Science Resources for After School (AAAS Science Activities)

4) Crazy 8's (After School Math Club Activities)

5) Tinkering Resources (Exploratorium)

6) Science Club Activities (Northwestern)

7) Additional STEM Resources Activity Webpage (Afterschool Alliance)

8) SF MOMA Teacher Art Activities Resource Page (SF MOMA)

9) What it means to have an equal vs.s equitable education system
    (Audiofile of Jeff Duncan-Andrade Associate Professor at SFSU)

10) The World of Expanded Learning (YouTube Channel by Bruno Marchesi)

11) STRIVE FaceBook Page
      (Tips, Tools, Resources for Expanded Learning Educators)

12) Quality Standards In Action Video: Youth Voice and Leadership
      (CDE Expanded Learning Division)

13) YouTube Star Teaching Kids how to Bake (NPR Podcast)

14) Why Aren't Students Showing Up for College? (NPR Podcast)

15) Number of Teens Working Summer Jobs Declines (NPR Podcast)


STEM / Non-STEM Educational Grants:

1) The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources (Edutopia)
    (Updated July 19, 2017)

2) California Aftelschool Network Grant Page (CAN)

3) After School Funding Database (Afterschool Alliance)

4) The Impact Foundry Grant Opportunity Page (The Impact Foundry)

5) Bank of The West (Grant Page)


Professional Learning Sessions / Contest / Symposiums / ETC.:

1) CDE / CAN Grantee 101 Orientation
    (Sacramento) (August 29, 2017)

2) NBA Math Hoops Workshop
    (September 27, 2017) (Cost: Free) (Grades 4-8)

3) California Dream'n: Site Coordinator Symposium
    (October 20-21, 2017) (Cost: $50.00 + slight surcharge for 2-day event)

4) California STEAM Symposium
    (December 10-11, 2017) (Cost: $345 per participant)

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

Engineering, Simple Machines, Sublimation, Hydrophilic, and Gardens are just a few of Region 3s Favorite STEM Things

The end of September and the entire month of October, the Region 3 STEM Team (which consists of Monica Gonzalez-Williams, Phil Romig, and Mark Drewes) were excited to receive emails from the field; reporting on all of the inquiry-based, hands-on STEM activities that were taking place in the Out-of-School-Time Programs.

Without further ado, here is what has been taking place in Region 3s Out-of-School-Time Programs. The following reports were submitted by either site coordinators who facilitated the activities or by the students who took part in the activities.

Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Target Excellence

Name of District: Elk Grove Unified

Name of School Site: Sierra Enterprise

Grade Level of Activity: 5th - 6th Grade

Number of students who took part in the activity: 20

Type of Activity: Creative Thinking and Engineering Activity

Learning Outcomes- Students were able to:

• Build a structure over five feet tall that could freely hang without falling apart after 5 seconds
• Creatively use objects to accomplish each task
• Efficiently use available materials to accomplish each task
• Find ways to fasten the items together
• Work in a collaborative environment

Instructor's Notes: 

The students really enjoyed this activity for numerous reasons, such as: the activity was hands on, it allowed them to creatively think of ways to solve problems, they were able to work in teams, and they were able to control the outcome of their assignment (meaning that their wasn't an adult, informing them of what their structure needed to look like.). Both teams were invested from the beginning of the activity until the very end. A friendly competitive air filled the classroom as well. However, at times their enthusiasm led to carelessness, as they rushed through stages, dropping materials on the floor. The staff would then walk over to each group and remind them about the norms and safety procedures that they had agreed upon at the start of the project. The results were impressive- both teams were able to build a structure that measured over five feet tall.

Working collaboratively to build a five foot long structure.

Students working with a staff member to test their structure.

Students celebrating after meeting the challenge.

Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Target Excellence

Name of District: Natomas Unified

Name of School Site: Natomas Middle School

Grade Level of Activity: 7th - 8th Grade

Number of students who took part in the activity: 28

Type of Activity: Career Pathways in Engineering

Learning Outcomes- Students were able to:

• Explore the various fields in engineering  
•  Assess general career motivators and barriers to the engineering field
•  Recognize the importance of oral and written communication
• Understand the relevance of engineering to global societal issues
• Understand how engineers solve problems

Instructor's Notes: 

Students enjoyed seeing how science and math concepts are applied to the real world. Many were excited to learn how engineers are designing earthquake-resistant houses, navigational devices for the visually impaired, and innovative amusement park rides.  They became very invested when I discussed the average salary and earning potential of an engineer.  Many were shocked to find out that most CEOs in the Silicon Valley have engineering degrees. The students were excited to learn that they could apply their creative, entrepreneurial, and problem-solving skills in engineering. Many of them wanted to become an engineer at the end of the session because they saw how engineering can help people.  

Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Target Excellence

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified

Name of School Site: Cesar Chavez Elementary School

Grade Level of Activity: 4th - 5th Grade

Number of students who took part in the activity: 20

Type of Activity: Creating Mini-Rube Goldberg Machines

Learning Outcomes- Students were able to:

• Engineer simple machines that could be used in everyday life
• Use their creativity to design objects to accomplish a task
• Reason through problems and adjust their solution to the problem accordingly
• Work in collaborative teams

Instructor's Notes: 

Students enjoyed the challenge and became increasingly competitive over time. There were more male students participating than female students. We will try to increase the level of participation among female students in future activities. We were impressed that they managed to build an enclosed track to make sure the ball didn’t roll off the edge.

Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Target Excellence

Name of District: Natomas Unified

Name of School Site: Natomas Middle School

Grade Level of Activity: 7th - 8th Grade

Number of students who took part in the activity: 30

Type of Activity: The Many Forms of Dry Ice

Learning Outcomes- Students were able to:

• Work cooperatively in small groups to observe the process of sublimation
• Develop hypotheses on the composition of dry ice 
• Identify that dry ice sublimes more rapidly when submerged in hot water compared to cold
• 90% of students could differentiate between melting, sublimation, and evaporation
•  Identify the chemical formula for dry ice - CO₂(s) - and regular ice - H₂O(s)

Instructor's Notes: 

There were high participation rates, with many students asking questions during the demonstration. They were more interested in real-life applications so we discussed how scientists and engineers use carbon dioxide in fire extinguishers. This information will be critical in a future challenge where the students are asked to put out a fire without touching the flame or blowing on it. The students will have some materials, including baking soda and vinegar. If they mix these items, it will produce carbon dioxide gas and put out the flame immediately without pouring the solution in it. Many students requested samples of the experiment. I encouraged them to conduct small science experiments at home with their parent’s supervision.  

Name of Out-of-School-Time Provider: Target Excellence

Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified

Name of School Site: Morey Avenue

Grade Level of Activity: Kindergarten

Number of students who took part in the activity: 6

Type of Activity: Milk Rainbows

Learning Outcomes- Students were able to:

• Understand that all substances (e.g. water, milk, etc.) have a layer/skin on top called surface tension
•  Understand the difference between substances that dissolve in water (hydrophilic) and substances that do not (hydrophobic)
•  Know that some insects crawl on water due to surface tension, a very important property of water
• Differentiate between the different colors forming

Instructor's Notes: 

Students really enjoyed watching all the different colors forming in two different trays. Almost all of them immediately wanted to try it by themselves and they shared that they would love to try this activity at their home as it is very simple and uses just the food colors, milk and dish soap. I also had everyone identify and then spell all the colors that they saw.

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

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified

Name of School Site: Nicholas Elementary

Grade Level of Activity: K-6

Number of students who took part in the activity: 20

Type of Activity: School Garden

On September 13, 2013, volunteers from NationWide Insurance decended upon Nicholas Elementary to break ground on a school garden as a part of the United Way Capital California Region’s Day of Caring.

Four and a half hours of digging, building garden beds, and shoveling dirt created an interactive outdoor classroom that will benefit both regular-day and after school instruction. This garden will allow Nicholas Elementary to:

1. Enhance academic instruction during the school day through project based learning. 

2. Help encourage healthy eating by exposing students to home grown healthy foods.

3. Provide a location for parents and students to work side by side engaging in a healthy activity by harvesting healthy foods.

Thank you to the volunteers from NationWide Insurance, United Way California Capital Region, SCUSD and SCCSC!

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

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified

Name of School Site: Luther Burbank High School

Grade Level of Activity: 9th - 12th Grade

Number of students who took part in the activity: 20

Type of Activity: School Newspaper and Website

The Luther Burbank High School newspaper, the Titan Ledger, is now being written and produced by one of the ASSETs classes. Advised by John Hull, the school's media teacher and himself a former journalist, the Ledger staff is publishing stories and photographs online.

The Titan Ledger (found at http://titanledger.blogspot.com) keeps the community up to date with the events, the special classes and the positive accomplishments by the students of Luther Burbank. Students not only are learning journalism, but also are becoming excellent photographers.

The class helped to re-build the school's website in late September and now keeps the information on the website fresh. Now the Luther Burbank website (http://lutherburbank.scusd.edu) is a wealth of information and resources for students and parents alike.

STEM Articles/Videos: 

a) Head Start pushing for more math and science instruction

b) UCD program brings robots and math to Sacramento Schools

c) Equipping Science for the 21st Century

STEM Activities/Websites:

a) Computer Science Education Week December 9-15, 2013

b) California Career Zone Website

c) Sally Ride Science

STEM Professional Development Opportunities:

a) CCSS: Literacy in Science online professional learning module (K-12 Teachers)

b) California STEM Summit 2014

STEM Grants:

a) Tellabs Foundation
    Website: Tellabs
    Program: Education, STEM, Environmental Quality, Health
    Maximum Grant: Not Specified
    Deadline: 12/31/13

b) Vistex Foundation
    Website: Vistex
    Program: Education, Food, Agriculture, Nutrition, Health
    Maximum Grant: Not Specified
    Deadline: 12/31/13

c) Wish You Well Foundation
    Website: Wish You Well
    Program: Education
    Maximum Grant: $10,000
    Deadline: 12/31/13

d) Applied Materials Foundation
    Website: Applied Materials Foundation
    Program: Education
    Maximum Grant: $2,500+
    Deadline: Anytime

e) Free Health Booklets and Pamphlets

f) Free Baseball and Softball Equipment
    Open: December 1, 2013

g) MOUSE Squad of California
    Deadline: November 15, 2013