Tuesday, December 19, 2017

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 


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 
    

    

Monday, November 27, 2017

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