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ENRICHMENT FOR ALL

Valley Stream 30 provides all students with various enrichment opportunities using the Framework for 21st Century Learning which provides the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise they must master to succeed in the real-world 21st Century  context.

 

WHAT IS 21st CENTURY LEARNING?

Core Subjects and 21st Century Themes
Mastery of core subjects and 21st century themes is essential to student success. Core subjects include English (reading or language arts), mathematics, economics, science, geography, history, government and civics. In addition, we promote an understanding of academic content at much higher levels by weaving 21st century interdisciplinary themes into core subjects:

  • • Global Awareness

  • • Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy

  • • Civic Literacy

  • • Health Literacy

  • • Environmental Literacy


    Learning and Innovation Skills
    Learning and innovation skills are what separate students who are prepared for increasingly complex life and work environments in today’s world and those who are not. They include:

    • • Creativity and Innovation

    • • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

    • • Communication and Collaboration


    Information, Media and Technology Skills
    Today, we live in a technology and media-driven environment, marked by access to an abundance of information, rapid changes in technology tools and the ability to collaborate and make individual contributions on an unprecedented scale. Effective citizens and workers must be able to exhibit a range of functional and critical thinking skills, such as:

    • • Information Literacy

    • • Media Literacy

    • • ICT (Information, Communications and Technology) Literacy

     

    Life and Career Skills
    Today’s life and work environments require far more than thinking skills and content knowledge. The ability to navigate the complex life and work environments in the globally competitive information age requires students to pay rigorous attention to developing adequate life and career skills, such as:

    • • Flexibility and Adaptability

    • • Initiative and Self-Direction

    • • Social and Cross-Cultural Skills

    • • Productivity and Accountability

    • • Leadership and Responsibility


    To learn more about the 21st Century Learning Framework visit:
    http://www.p21.org/about-us/p21-framework


    WHAT ARE THE ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES?

    Here is a brief description of the Valley Stream 30 enrichment opportunities provided to students throughout the school year:

    The Quest program is one of the many enrichment programs offered at Valley Stream 30, which challenges our third- through sixth-grade learners with a broad range of advanced-level enrichment experiences.  Students for this program are selected based upon a review of their performance in both English Language Arts and Mathematics on the New York State assessments, NWEA scores, report cards, and other measures when applicable.  Your child’s performance was compared to their peers at their assigned school, ranked and selected based on scoring within the top 10th - 20th percentile range.    

    The Quest program is a pullout service, which occurs at your child’s school.  Students will experience extended enrichment learning opportunities in technology, critical thinking, cooperative skills, presentation skills, argumentation, and mathematics.  They will continue to build on their 21st Century Learning skills, as well as hit upon major content areas.  Your child is expected to meet the work requirements of the Quest program and maintain high performance in academics and assignments for their classroom.  

    21ST CENTURY LEARNING PROGRAM

    Valley Stream 30’s 21st Century Learning Program provides current fifth and sixth grade students with opportunities to explore 21st Century Learning Themes (i.e., Global Awareness, Civic Literacy, Health Literacy, Environmental Literacy, and Financial, Economic, Business & Entrepreneurial Literacy).  These themes allow students to engage in new learning experiences extending beyond the school day. They are directly aligned with the Common Core Learning Standards and help prepare students for college and career readiness and, more importantly, to become life-long thinkers and learners.  Students are challenged to complete as many as three student-directed projects throughout the school year where they are given greater control, ownership, and accountability over his or her own learning. Support is provided during the school day, as well as after school, for the students to work on their projects; however, they are expected and highly encouraged to complete these projects on their own time.  Upon completion, students are recognized for their success at an annual awards assembly, where they have the opportunity to receive a bronze, silver or gold certificate, which acknowledges the work they have completed.

    PROJECT BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

    Grades: K-6          Time: During School

    Project-Based Learning is a systematic teaching method that engages students in learning essential knowledge and life-enhancing skills through an extended, student-influenced inquiry process structured around complex, authentic questions and carefully designed products and tasks.  Research shows that Project-Based Learning, also known as PBL, increases student motivation and engagement in learning, is more effective than traditional instruction in increasing academic achievement, improves student retention of knowledge over time, and improves mastery of 21st century skills.  Throughout the school year, students in kindergarten through sixth grade will work on various PBL projects with the support of their classroom and enrichment teachers.    Each project has an essential question, which captures the PBL problem to be solved and connects students’ lived experiences and interests to disciplinary problems in the world and strengthen their new understandings to real-life experiences. 

    ENRICHMENT AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS

    Grades: 3-6           Time: After School

    Valley Stream 30 offers a variety of different enrichment clubs before and after school.  These clubs give our students the opportunity to join a wide range of activities with their peers.  It is a chance to explore new interests, acquire 21st Century skills and pursue passions. Contact your school for a listing of the current school year’s enrichment club offerings

    For more information
    Contact our Enrichment Teachers:
    Illisa Epstein
    Susan Galgano

    MakerSpace

     

    makerspace logo

    Valley Stream 30 believes that each child should be encouraged to “think outside the box” as to the contributions she/he can make towards enhancing the 21st century locally and globally. Our “enrichment for all” curriculum has invested in “makerspaces” which allow students to engage in 4Cs Challenges in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) which foster Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Critically thinking skills in workspaces inside their classroom and library. 

    4boxes

    These spaces provide students with an array of high tech to no tech tools to create innovative designs out of nothing and exploring their own interests when solving real-world problems. Students are inspired to “think outside the box” using the 5Es Instructional Model which allow them to Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate using and building on their prior knowledge and experience, to construct meaning, and to continually assess their understanding of a concept.  

    10 reasons image

    Below are some of high tech to no tech tools in our “makerspaces”

    makerspace supplies image   MakerSpace Supplies – An array of supplies such as hammers, measuring tape, nails, screwdrivers, cardboard boxes, glue, rulers, rubber bands, recycled materials, etc. are essential to inspire new creations.
         
    little bits image
      littleBits – These are electronic building blocks that connect using magnets. These blocks allow you to create inventions large and small.  Each bit is color-coded and has a distinct function. Great for developing critical thinking and fostering teamwork.
         
    cubelets image
      Cubelets – Robot blocks that are connected together using magnets.  No coding experience is needed.  Snap the robot blocks together and the magnetic faces do the rest.  Every unique arrangement creates a new robot with different behaviors.
         
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      Keva Planks – Wooden planks designed to allow students to create and build structures such as towers, bridges, catapults and more.  Keva planks are a great solo or teamwork STEAM activity and help to encourage critical thinking skills.
         
    real world image
      Real-World STEAM Challenge Kits – Kits specially developed to help children think like real scientists and engineers as they explore the STEAM design process and solve problems. Students plan, build and test their designs, then improve them until they are successful. Students also explore potential STEAM careers which apply what they learned to the real world!
         
     superzoob   ZOOB – Based on a natural and living system and features pieces that snap, click or pop together in different ways, making building easy and versatile.  ZOOB building sets are unique in that the pieces move after they are put together, allowing for truly interactive creations.
         
    lego image
      The LEGO® Education WeDo introduces young students to robotics. Students build LEGO models featuring working motors and sensors; program their models; and explore a series of cross-curricular, theme-based activities while developing their skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as well as language, literacy, and social studies.
         

    Here are a few “makerspace” 4C’s Challenges, which students experience throughout the school year:

    • Create a pet treat launcher: to “launch” treats for your pet to catch. Possible supplies include a length of Duck® tape, craft sticks, a plastic spoon, and more.
    • Make a box into a game: Possible supplies include pom poms, straws, Duck® tape, recycled boxes and more.
    • Build a pyramid: Possible supplies include straws, craft sticks, Duck® tape, recycled boxes, building blocks, and more.
    • Create a 12” tall basket: Possible supplies include newspaper, plastic shopping bags, straws, craft sticks, pom poms, blocks, and more.
    • Create a marionette creature: Possible supplies include recycled materials, craft sticks, yarn, string, wooden dowels, blocks, pom poms, and more.
    • Create your own marble run: Possible supplies include recycled paper tubes, wooden dowels, plastic cups, plastic spoons, craft sticks, yarn, straws, and more.
    • Take something apart and build it into something new.
    • Use the supplies in the pack to create an everyday object out of something unexpected. (i.e., a pom pom birdhouse). Does not need to be functional unless that is part of the challenge!
    • Create an imaginary animal: Possible supplies include craft sticks, chenille stems, Duck® tape, and assorted wood pieces. Once the animal is created, tell or write a story about it!
    • Create footwear: Possible supplies include Duck® tape, wood blocks, recycled materials, cord, pom poms, chenille stems, and more!

     

    For more information
    Contact our Enrichment Teachers:
    Ilissa Epstein