AfterSchool of Thought
Welcome to the "AfterSchool of Thought," a blog series for those with products and offerings for afterschool programs and the professionals who work in the field.
Children categories
STEM Gems (1)
STEM Gems are short discovery-based experiences. They involve little or no materials and may be easily implemented by educators who are not STEM specialists. Each STEM Gem is designed to engage young people in active experiential learning. The activities begin by setting up connections to prior knowledge, then a hands on activity provides new concepts and the opportunity to design experiments to answer any questions the kids discover. Finally, a connection to a different scenario for the concept is provided to help cement and evaluate the learning.
STEM Gems are experiences designed to be used with kids of all ages. Younger children should be focused on one idea or concept and should perform the activity as a collective group with prompts and directions from the teacher. With older youth, the teacher should act as a facilitator. The older youth should be set up to work independently in small teams and encouraged to ask questions and try out their own experiments to answer them. Each team should report back on their findings, so a consensus around the concept is reached.
Each STEM Gem is presented in an easy to follow lesson plan:
Big Ideas and Science Talk
Central concepts and key words to give the adult the science background for the experience.
Engage
Open ended questions to stimulate discussion and generate connections to prior knowledge.
What You Will Need
A list of the materials.
Before You Begin
The preparation needed for the activity.
Explore and Experiment
The directions for the experience designed using open ended questions that focus the children on discovering answers.
Make the Connection and Extend and Evaluate
Connections to other scenarios that use the same concepts and related question(s) or additional activity to evaluate knowledge.
STEM Gems are available to members only. Login to access STEM Gems.
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Thank You for Downloading The Afterschool Guide for Creating Outstanding Outdoor Games!
You can access your free eBook, The Afterschool Guide for Creating Outstanding Outdoor Games, here anytime!
New to NAA? Join for Free to access future eBooks! www.naaweb.org/membership
The Afterschool Guide for Creating Outstanding Outdoor Games
Warmer weather opens the doors (literally!) to a world of outdoor activities for youth in afterschool and summer care programs. We’ve categorized over 200 games that include Water, Tag, Races, Relays and Runs, Balls, Scavenger Hunts, Nature and Biking. Also included are helpful tips for staff members about safety, how to model good sportsmanship, the importance of participation, how to give instructions and how to keep games fun!
Request your free eBook here!
About NAA
NAA is the membership association for professionals who work with children and youth in diverse school and community-based settings to provide a wide variety of extended learning opportunities and care during out-of-school hours. Learn More!
Join NAA as a member! Learn more at naaweb.org/membership
2018 Most Influential in Research and Evaluation
-Nominations Now Open-
NAA seeks to recognize individuals and organizations who have been strong contributors of research and evaluation related to afterschool. Please nominate those individuals and organizations whose work in research and evaluation related to afterschool has already affected or could have an impact on large numbers of young people, families and/or afterschool professionals.
Instructions
- Complete the nominee/nominator information form online by 5 p.m., April 20, 2018.
- Individuals and organizations may be nominated.
- Winners will be selected and notified in early May.
- Winners will be featured in the Summer 2018 AfterSchool Today magazine.
- Questions? Contact info@naaweb.org.
Thank You!
You can access your free eBook, The Afterschool Leader's Guide to Meeting and Training Energizers, here anytime!
The Afterschool Leader's Guide to Meeting and Training Energizers
Energizer activities are like hitting a refresh button for the brain and body. They not only redirect the brain to an alert and focused state in order to process new or complicated information, but also allow for a change in perspective, which can lead to generation of different ideas and solutions. Energizers benefit learners through enhanced concentration, re-activation of creativity, and improved brain and physical health. The Afterschool Leader’s Guide to Meeting and Training Energizers provides professionals with a variety of activities that can reinvigorate meeting participants.
Request your free eBook here!
About NAA
NAA is the membership association for professionals who work with children and youth in diverse school and community-based settings to provide a wide variety of extended learning opportunities and care during out-of-school hours. Learn More!
Join NAA as a member! Learn more at naaweb.org/membership
Webinar: Be Bold. Be Brave. Be Brilliant. Be Prepared!
Making the Most of your NAA Annual Convention Experience.
Designed for registered participants of NAA’s Annual Convention.
Participants of the webinar will gain:
- Valuable tips and secrets for success from our most experienced Convention-goers
- Confidence by having a plan for how to network, select workshops and manage your time
- The inside scoop about some of the exciting special events planned
- A free gift to bring with you to Atlanta
Join NAA President, Gina Warner, former NAA Board member and Operations Director for Extend-a-Care Kids, Jaime Garcia and Sean Tate, Founder and Executive Director of DiscoveryFEST Enrichment Program for an informative webinar aimed to help those registered for the 2018 Convention make the most of their time in Atlanta!
Gina Warner, Jaime Garcia and Sean Tate
By the time this webinar is finished you’ll be in the know and ready to go!
If you were unable to attend the webinar, you can access the recording any time!
Webinar: Ask, Listen, Learn: Incorporating Alcohol Education Into Your Program
Brought to you by Responsibility.org
Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Don’t Mix is Responsibility.org’s premier alcohol education program. Created for youth ages 9-12 and their parents and educators, the program aims to encourage kids to say YES to a healthy lifestyle and NO to underage drinking. Through animated videos, lesson plans, activities, and more, Ask, Listen, Learn takes kids on a journey through the developing brain, teaching how the brain works, how alcohol affects it, and how that affects behavior. Program content is FREE, digital, and aligned to national standards of learning.
All NAA members are invited to join us for this informative webinar that will allow Afterschool Professionals to:
- Better understand the scope of underage drinking in the United States in the last decade.
- Access the full suite of Ask, Listen, Learn materials including lesson plans, videos, and activities.
- Implement specific best practices in integrating alcohol education programming.
- Prepare materials and activities for Alcohol Responsibility Month (April).
About the Presenter: Helen Gaynor is the Education and Outreach Lead at Responsibility.org, where she works to develop alcohol education content for the organization’s educational programs. In addition, she manages program partnerships and stakeholder outreach, researching ways to effectively reach parents, educators and administrators. To learn more, visit Responsibility.org.
Reducing STEM Gender Bias: A Guide for Program Leaders
STEM education has made some great strides, but unfortunately, studies show that a gender gap still exists, despite progress. Advanced degrees and high paying jobs in STEM are still predominately the domain of men.
The National Afterschool Association created Reducing STEM Gender Bias: A Guide for Program Leaders, an eBook filled with valuable information, tools and strategies specifically designed for leaders in the afterschool environment.
Please log in to download this member-only resource!
Join NAA now as an Executive member to ensure you receive this eBook! www.naaweb.org/membership
What Great Things Can We Learn? Introducing Berlin!
June 22-26, 2020
Why is NAA hosting an International Learning Exchange?
As the nation's leader in afterschool programs and professional development, NAA is eager to explore what is working in other places and bring those innovative ideas to our members, funders and national partners. We also welcome the chance to showcase some of the best in program design, development and investment in our field with international partners.
Is this a first-time event?
No, this will be the 6th International Learning Exchange (ILE) experience. ILE was established in 2015 to create an educational opportunity for NAA members to gain innovative knowledge that will elevate the afterschool field.
Past destinations have included Edinburgh, Scotland; Rome, Italy; Helsinki, Finland; Dublin, Ireland and London, England. Participants had an opportunity to engage with leaders of the Departments of Education, participated in panel discussions with practitioners and professional development experts to discuss key similarities and differences with the U.S. education systems, and have also enjoyed local sightseeing.
As the nation's leader in afterschool programs and professional development, NAA is proud to provide this opportunity.
The benefits of participating in ILE have proven invaluable. Participants have experienced firsthand the broader context of what's happening in the global afterschool community. Through cultural immersion, they’ve been inspired to observe similarities and differences in programming, funding and research. As a result, participants have been able to view their own programs through an unbiased lens as they’ve sought to validate their current successes and make thoughtful improvements upon their return.
How many people will be participating?
ILE is limited to 25 attendees. Space fills quickly, so reserve your spot today!
Who is participating?
Attendees are a combination of national and local afterschool program leaders, researchers and funders.
Why should I participate?
You'll experience incredible learning opportunities in one of the world's unique cities, you'll gain tremendous insight into innovative strategies that you can apply in your work, and you'll have the opportunity to network with colleagues from around the country.
Equally important, you'll have the opportunity to share your work and your program with other national leaders in our field.
The experience includes:
- 4 night hotel stay
- Meals and ground transportation to all ILE events
- Roundtable and panel discussion with some of Germany’s finest in education and youth development
- Networking breakfasts and keynote speakers
- Guided walking/panoramic tour of Berlin, a visit to the East Side Gallery and entrance to the Sanssouci Palace and the DDR Museum
Webinar: Best Practices for Implementing Robotics and Coding into your Afterschool Program
Brought to you by Mimetics and the Jade Robot
There's no question that Robotics and Coding are critical in education for today's youth. The statistics speak for themselves. In the coming decade, millions of jobs will be lost to technology, while millions of new jobs will be created. The afterschool environment is a great setting for teaching robotics and coding but where do you start? Join Mimetics, inventor of the Jade Robot, for this free webinar as we explore:
- Why all children should have access to STEM and technology
- Why robots are ideal tools for STEM education
- What's age appropriate when teaching robotics and coding
- The features you should consider when selecting robot products
About our sponsor: Mimetics started in 2001 as a volunteer activity to introduce robotics to students as a tool for helping interest them in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). In 2013, Mimetics founders created the Jade Robot, which was designed using the lessons learned over the previous twelve years. Mimetics has worked with over 27,000 students ranging from 8 to 18 years in age.
Mimetics received its B-Corporation Certification in early 2017. Founder and president Myke Predko, who will be leading the webinar, has more than 30 years’ experience working for high technology companies including IBM, Celestica, RIM and Logitech, developing award winning products. Myke is also a best-selling author on the topics of robotics, electronics and programming.
National AfterSchool Association • 2961A Hunter Mill Road, #626 • Oakton, VA 22124 • info@naaweb.org