After School STEM News for the Month of April

NGSS: Things to Know for April

1) Achieve and Teaching Channel collaborated to produce four videos that present an
    overview of the key innovations in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
    and a deeper dive into each of the NGSS' three dimensions (Science and Engineering 
    Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Disciplinary Core Ideas).

2) Curious about how science education will change with NGSS? Check out this chart
    from the National Research Council's free downloadable report, Guide to Implementing
    the Next Generation Science Standards. Guide to Implementing the Next Generation 
    Science_Standards.

3) NGSS Question of the Month: Some of my colleagues have just started to explore the
    NGSS. What are your recommendations for introducing them to the promise of these
    new standards?

    Answer: Many resources are available that can potentially give you a good start. First,
    you'll get a good overview by reading the executive summary (pages 1-4) of the
    Framework for K-12 Science_Education, upon which the NGSS is based. Then, you
    might consider watching this short video about how to read the standards and look at
    this related overview from the National Science Teachers Association.

4) Watch NSTA 2015 videos to see highlights from the recent National Science Teachers
     Association conference in Chicago, including this interview with Dr. Okhee Lee. Dr.
     Lee, who previously served on the NGSS Writing Team, discusses her work with the
     standards and shares ways to ensure a quality science education for diverse groups
     of students.

5) The Science and Engineering Practices in the NGSS (often called "practices") are not
     meant to be used interchangeably with the word "skills" (often interpreted as mastery
     of an activity or procedure). As stated in the chapter on practices in the Framework,
     "This chapter stresses the importance of developing students' knowledge of how
     science and engineering achieve their ends while also strengthening their competency
     with related practices…. We use the term "practices", instead of a term such as
     "skills," to stress that engaging in scientific inquiry requires coordination both of
      knowledge and skill simultaneously." (pg. 41)

     This point is best illustrated by an example: think about a student who is developing
     and using models (an NGSS science and engineering practice). In order to do this
     effectively, students need to:
   

• Have a grade-appropriate understanding of what modeling is and how models are               developed and used (the necessary knowledge), and

• Actually create and use the model (often seen as the "skill")

       It is when both students' knowledge and skills come together that they can
       successfully engage in the science and engineering practices in the NGSS.

6) New K-12 Science Standards Emphasize Hands-on Learning by Sanden Totten,
    Southern California Public Radio March 26, 2015

7) West Milford schools set sights on new science standards by David M. Zimmer,
    NorthJersey.com March 29, 2015

8) Planning Investigations in 7th Grade by David Grossman, ngssky.weebly.com
    March 8, 2015


Now lets take a closer look at and see how one after school program is engaging its
students in STEM learning activities.


Name of Out-Of-School-Time Provider: Wheatland School District - After School
Programs

Name of District: Wheatland School District

Grade Level of Activity: 4th thru 8th

Number of Students Who Took Part in The Activity: 80

Type of Activity: Maker Tub

Learner Outcomes - Students will: 

• Be engaged in Project Based Learning Activities
• Learn about criteria and constraints during a die cut challenge
• Learn how to work collaboratively on a task
• Take part in a learning activity that incorporates all five principles of LIAS
• Learn how to engineer a tower that could support a toy animal
• Learn about squishy circuits and about creating a series
• Learn about Physics; Potential vs. Kinetic Energy
• Use academic register during learning activities
• Learn using the Engineer Design Process

Students work collaboratively while engineering a tower made of cards.

Students show off their tall card tower that they have just engineered.

Students engineer a foam marble roller coaster and learn about potential and kinetic energy.

STEM / Expanded Learning / and Other Pertinent Educational Articles

1) Summer Science Project Evaluation Findings 2014 by Partnership for Children and
     Youth and Techbridge 2014 Report

2) The Keys to Success in K-6 NGSS Implementation III: Learning Through Scientific 
    and Engineering Practices report by CSUS, West Ed, CSU East Bay

3) Parents Play A Vital Role in Molding Future Scientist report by
    George Mason University

4) Being Human: The First Step in STEM Education by Ritankar Das
    (Scientific American)

5) Technology and Just-In-Time Learning by John Katzman and Shay David
    (edSurge) 

6) The Value of Wild, Risky Play: Fire, Mud, Hammer and Nails by Eric Westervelt
    (NPR)

7) Learning to Move, Moving to Learn: The Benefits of PE by Eric Westervelt (NPR)

8) Questions to Ask About Ed-Tech at Your Kids' School by Anya Kamenetz (NPR) 

9) Q&A: Raising Kids Who Want to Read by Corey Turner (NPR) 

10) Using Humor in The Classroom by Maurice Elias (Edutopia)

11) Breaking Down Silos: Career Technical Education in the Era of Common Core 

      by Anna O'Brien (Edutopia) 

12) Preparing a Classroom Culture for Deeper Learning by Elizabeth Garcia (Edutopia)

13) Strategies for Helping Students Motivate Themselves by Larry Ferlazzo (Edutopia)

14) Kids on The Move (After School Alliance Executive Summary)


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

1) Are your students thinking critically? (Podcast on Teacher Cast)

2) Improving Parent Communication (Podcast on Teacher Cast)

3) Learn how to record a podcast with your students (Podcast on Teacher Cast)

4) After School Radio
    (Radio programs produced about after school topics by After School Alliance)

5) Great American Artists for Kids: Hands-On Experiences (Grades 2-6th CASRC)

6) The True Sport Stories (Grades 4-12 CASRC)
     (Empower students with the knowledge and decision-making skills to understand
      proper nutrition and healthy methods for engaging in sports.)

7) Explore It Activities Page (Exploratorium)

8) Earth Day Lessons (Edutopia)


STEM / Educational Grants: 

1) Grant Wrangler STEM Grants

2) Grant Wrangler Health and PE Grants

3) Power of Discovery Grant Databases

4) Power of Discovery Funding Opportunities

5) CREEC Grant / Resource Database

6) Project WET Grant Database


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

1) 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)

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

3) Collaborative Conversations in After School Programs (CCSS) (Free: April 23)

4) 2015 Central Valley STEM Conference (April 25, 2015 from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM)

5) Managing the Environment, Behavior Guidance, and Discipline (Free: April 27)

6) ConnectEd Studios: Hunger Games Challenge (Deadline: May 1, 2015)

7) Principles of LIAS: What Does It Look Like? (Free: May 6)

8) Social Emotional Learning (Free: May 7)

9) CalSac presents the Afterschool Challenge Registration Available (May 11-12, 2015)

10) Project WET Advanced Training (Free: May 11 and 18, 2015)

11) Skillastics Physical Activities (Free: May 2, 2015)

12) Techbridge STEM Activities (Free: May 3, 2015)
     

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

Region 3's Expanded Learning Programs Love STEM

Outlier: STEM School Study (S3)

Outlier is excited to release the first round of foundlings from the STEM School Study (S3). These findings include the 8 Elements of inclusive STEM high schools, an interactive Roadmap of the path to STEM school success and updated Infographic that explores how STEM schools enact the 8 Elements on a daily basis.

Read further at University of Chicago's Outlier.

Navigating the Future of Afterschool Science

SRI's Afterschool Science Networks (ASN) study provides new insights and empirical findings regarding the offering of science learning opportunities at scale. Four meetings of after school and informal science stakeholders were held in March and April 2014 to discuss the ASN findings generated from 5 years of research (see research summary on page 12). These stakeholders helped SRI Education researchers generate a vision of science in after school settings, as well as recommendations for strengthening the field. This document presents this vision of powerful after school science and provides a set of recommendations to support after school settings at scale.

Read Navigating the Future of Afterschool Science: Afterschool Science Networks Study Recommendations


Next Generation Science Standards: Considerations for Curricula, Assessments, Preparation, and Implementation

Recent debates over the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have brought national attention to the issue of standards in schools. While more than 40 states and territories work to implement the CCSS, others are reconsidering and reviewing their standards.

This brief provides an overview of the NGSS, discusses issues for their policymakers to consider with regard to those standards, and presents examples from states considering or implementing the NGSS. Questions to consider and recommendations appear at the end of the document.

Read further here.

NGSS: Things to Know for February 2015

1) Standard of the Month: 1-ESS1-1: Use observations of the sun, moon, and stars to
    describe patterns that can be predicted. For a more in-depth look at this NGSS
    performance expectation and to search for others read more here.

2) In late January, the Boston Museum of Science's National Center for Technological
    Literacy brought together key stakeholders from nearly 30 organizations and
    institutions across the country to work together to advance PK-12 engineering                                            
    education nationwide. Read more about it here.

3) Engineers Week: an annual event which brings together dozens of engineering
    societies, educational organizations, businesses, and more, will be held from
    February 22-28, 2015 Read more about it here.

4) Academy Scope is a visualization of all reports that are available on the National
    Academies Press website (including the Framework and NGSS), allowing you to
    browse through the reports of the National Academies by topic area and see
    relationships between titles.

5) Interested in learning more about why crosscutting concepts are included in the
    NGSS? Read this short report from the Smithsonian Science Education Center.

6) NGSS performance expectations should be bundled for the purposes of both
    instruction and assessment. As described in the 2014 NRC report,
    Developing Assessments for the Next Generation Science Standards, the NGSS
    PEs are not intended to be assessed discretely or one-at-a-time. Instruction building
    toward a bundle of related PEs simultaneously will help students build a more coherent
    understanding of phenomena, and will also save a lot of instructional time.


And now to shine the spot light on the real STEM Stars of Region 3!!! Let's take a look at some of the STEM learning 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: Woodbine Elementary

Grade Level of Activity: 2nd Grade

Number of Students Who Took Part in the Activity: 19

Type of Activity: Water Pollution

Learning Outcomes - Students will:

• learn about the importance of keeping the Earth clean by observing and learning how polluted water affects plants

ASES students adding food coloring to represent pollution in a water source.

ASES frontline practitioner engaging students in conversation about water pollution.

ASES students observing how water pollution can affect plants.

For more information on this activity please contact Yee Ying Vang at Yee-Ying-Vang@scusd.edu.


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 School

Grade Level of Activity: 6th through 8th

Number of Students Who Took Part in the Activity: 100+

Type of Activity: Field Trip to Exploratorium: The Museum of Science, Art and Humanities

On this field trip: MLK Jr. K-8 Middle School students incorporated their social emotional learning skills while navigating through a pitch black obstacle course. Students also had to work together to solve science equations and figure out the science behind the exhibits. 

ASES students discovered that color light exists behind white light.

ASES students learn how to conduct electricity.

For more information on this activity please contact Josh Yang at josh@sccsc.org.

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

Name of District: Twin Rivers Unified School District

School Site: Foothill Oaks Elementary

Grade Level of Activity: 2nd thru 4th Grade

Number of Students Who Took Part in the Activity: 20

Type of Activity: Tangram Puzzles

The Learning Behind The Activity: Students were able to:

RAFT-Tangram Puzzles

• Investigate equivalency using a tangram and compare pieces to the whole
• Learn that a Tangram consists of seven pieces; 2 large right isosceles triangles, 1 medium right isosceles triangle, 2 small right isosceles triangles, 1 small square, and 1 parallelogram
• Learn that each piece is called a "tan"
• Learn that in Chinese "Tangram" means "the seven boards of cunning"
• Learn how each tan relates to the other 6 tans
• Learn about relationships between parts and the whole, and to equivalency in decimal, percent, and fractional forms

ASES students working on their tangram puzzles.

For more information on this activity please contact Sarah Heidel at sarah@sccsc.org.


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

Name of School District: Sacramento City Unified School District

Name of School Site: John F. Kennedy High School

Grade Level of Activities: 9-12th Grade

Number of Students who took part in the STEM activities: 20

Type of Activity: Field Trip to California Academy of Sciences

On this field trip the students: 

• Learned that the Academy of Sciences is among the largest museums of natural history in the world, housing millions of specimen.
• Learned that the Academy offers a multi-biome aquarium, state of the art planetarium, natural history museum, and a four story rainforest - all under one roof.
• Learned that the Academy is home to an estimated 40,000 live animals
• Learned about some of these animals and the role that they play in their ecosystems and the importance of protecting them.
• Learned about cosmology and how our universe is infinite.

ASSETs student taking in one of the biomes that they observed at the Academy of Sciences.

ASSETs students observing a biome.

For information on this field trip please contact Choua Yang at choua@sccsc.org.


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

Name of District: Sacramento City Unified School District

School Site: C.K. McClatchy High School

Grade Level of Activity: 9 - 12th Grade

Number of Students Who Took Part in the Activity: 20

Type of Activity: Constructed a community garden.

Students, staff, and volunteers: Thanks to student volunteers, Scott from Lowe’s, the CKM Garden Club, ASB, HealthCorps, and ASSETs among others, what was once just an idea came to fruition with the breaking of grounds for the garden on Monday January 12. Students and volunteers helped dig the holes for posts, mix concrete for the posts, install the fencing, and unloaded and laid out the cinder block planter boxes. The vegetable compost mix was purchased and delivered from Hastie’s
Capitol Sand & Gravel. Students and volunteers spent two hours on Friday January 16 after school filling the new cinder block planter boxes with the mix.
Students will start planting in the Spring.

ASSETs Garden Crew.

ASSETs crew create a garden.

For more information on this activity please contact Teng Xiong at tent@sccsc.org.

Name of District(s): Wheatland School District, Yuba City Unified School District,

Grass Valley School District, Marysville Joint Unified School District

Grade Level of Activity: 2nd thru 8th Grade

Number of Expanded Learning Program Practitioners Who Took                                                    

Part in the Activity: 35

Type of Activity: Maker Tub Mobile Kits (4 hands on activities)

Practitioners were able to:

• Learn about how to take one activity and turn it into a Project Based Learning Activity
• Learn about criteria and constraints during a die cut challenge
• Learn how to work collaboratively on a task
• Take part in a learning activity that hit all five principles of LIAS
• Learn how to engineer a tower that could support a toy animal
• Learn about squishy circuits and about creating a series
• Learn about Physics; Potential vs. Kinetic Energy
• How to encourage academic register into a learning activity

Expanded Learning Practitioners engineer a tower that can support a toy animal.

Expanded Learning Program Practitioners learn about squishy circuits.

Expanded Learning Program Practitioners learn about Potential vs. Kinetic energy.

For more information on this training please contact Phil Romig at promig@scoe.net or Mark Drewes at mdrewes@scoe.net.

STEM and Other Expanded Learning Program Practitioner Pertinent Educational Articles

1) California Districts to Pilot Next Generation Science Standards Professional Development 
    (The Journal)

2) Consistency, collaboration needed for effective implementation of science teaching                              
    standards (Homeland Security News Wire)

3) How I Plan to Eat an Elephant Named NGSS by Taylor Sullivan

4) Next Generation Science Standards: Jump Right In by Jennifer McGranahan

5) Girls Get Good Grades But Still Need Help. As for Boys …. SOS! (NPR)

6) Grief in The Classroom: "Saying Nothing Says A Lot" (NPR)

7) Meet The Classroom Of The Future (NPR)

8) What the Heck Is Project-Based Learning? (Edutopia)

9) 3 Strategies to Improve Student Writing Instantly (Edutopia)

10) The Art of Managing Middle School Students (Edutopia)

11) Summer Learning: Accelerating Student Success (NASBE Report)

12) Curriculum and Professional Development for OST Science Education (NIOST)

13) Federal Agencies Collaborate to Improve After-School Science, Technology,                                  
      Engineering and Math (STEM) Education (U.S. Department of Education)

14) Blocks, Play, Screen Time, And The Infant Mind  (NPR)


STEM (and other Integrated Core Content) Activities/Videos/Websites/Podcast

1) Bored ….. And Brilliant? A Challenge to Disconnect From Your Phone (Podcast)

2) Economists Say Millennials Should Consider Careers In Trades (Podcast) 

3) "Maker Space" Allows Kids To Innovate, Learn In The Hospital (Podcast)

4) By Dimming Its Lights, Museum Opens Doors for Kids with Autism (Podcast)

5) Tech Program Helps Put Latinos On A Path To Silicon Valley (Podcast)

6) The Catapult Project: Integrated Math Science Activity (Video)

7) Coding for Kids Revisited: Elementary (Resources)

8) Design Squad STEM Building Activities (Resources)

9) Science Friday Lessons and Activities (Resources)

10) 40 Reflection Questions (Resource)   

11) Resources for Learning About Empathy on Valentine's Day (Resources) 

12) 10 Creative activities for when your day doesn't go exactly how you planned
       (Resources) 

13) Engineering Adventures: Sky's the Limit (Lessons)

14) Green 360 Offers Programs with Pathways to Green Careers (Resources)


STEM Grants:

1) P.E. Equipment Grants:
     Deadline: March 1, 2015     

     Batters Up USA
     Free baseball and softball equipment for local organizations serving youngsters up to 
     age 13.

2) Environmental Education Local Grants Program:

    Deadline: March 6, 2015

    The purpose of the Environmental Education Local Grants Program is to support 
    locally focused environmental education projects that increase public awareness 
    and knowledge about environmental issues and provide the skills that participants 
    in its funded projects need to make informed environmental decisions and take 
    responsible actions toward the environment. 30 grants will be awarded. 3 each from 
    the EPA's 10 Regional Offices. Maximum award per grant is roughly $91,000. 

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

4) Grant Wrangler: Health & PE Grants and Resources 

5) Colocation America: STEM Innovation Grant

     Deadline: March 27, 2015

     Apply now for Colocation America's STEM Innovation Grant, which provides funding 
     to nonprofit charitable organizations in order to foster youth engagement in STEM        
     learning, especially for underrepresented groups in the field such as females and
     minority students. Selected programs will be awarded up to $7,500 to support
     purchasing materials, staff stipends, field trips, and resources.

6) CREEC Grant Database

STEM Professional Development / Misc. / Events / Contest

1) G.O. Network Mixer - Cultural Relevancy: Expanding Your Cultural Reach

     (Free) (February 18, 2015) 

2) SMUD: Chemical Reactions (Grades 5-12) (Free) (February 19, 2015)

3) PEAK Student Energy Actions Teacher Training
    (Free) (February 21, 2015)

4) SMUD: Project WET (Grades 4-12) (Free) (March 7, 2015)

5) SCOE: Project WET (Grades 4-12) (Free) March 3 Day 1 and March 10 Day 2)

6) California STEM Summit 2015 (L.A. March 16 and 17, 2015)

7) SMUD: Chemical Reactions (Grades 5-12) (Free) (March 19, 2015)

8) SMUD: Energy and Me!! (Grades Pre K- 3) (Free) (March 21, 2015)

9) A Garden in Every School Symposium

    ($60) (March 14 15, 2015)

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