Fourth graders at Caruthers Elementary School were given a chance to travel back in time to the gold rush days of California. History came alive as students participated in a field trip with Gold Gulch Adventures. Students took part in the interactive story of how the gold rush started and they participated in many activities that brought science and social studies lessons to life. They panned for gold, learned about Native American culture, made candles, explored electromagnets, and identified minerals.

The Sculpture in Future Mediums project at Westside Elementary was designed to allow students 1:1 access to cutting-edge technology in the field of art with 3D printing pens. The pens enable students to explore the principles of design, composition, and artistic space through the additive sculpture process. Students were able to demonstrate an increased understanding of spatial awareness and artistic form as they designed and constructed model cars, airplanes, and glasses.

The goal of Science Projects at Washington Colony was to extend STEM activities with an engineering emphasis to students to participate in the regional Science Olympiad Tournament. Students who previously were not involved in an academic extracurricular activity were able to study, build, and compete in this rigorous competition. They were able to further engage in a deeper understanding of science content such as anatomy, geology and chemistry. This experience and the exposure that students received has them excited to return to the competition next year.

Students at Abraham Lincoln Middle School purchased hobby solar panels and small motors and accessories that students in Manufacturing class can use and reuse for project-based learning assignments in the Fabrication Lab/Makerspace. Students researched, designed and manufactured solar powered vehicles and battery powered vehicles using propeller-fan and wheels, as well as scribble bots. This project has provided a rich culture of creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking (the “4-C’s”).

The Lego Story Starter project at Abraham Lincoln Middle School was designed to get students more creatively involved in the writing process. The Lego Story Starter kits include bricks, characters, and other accessories to build scenes on which to write their stories. Students worked in groups of three to collaboratively write a story with the kits. They made a scene then wrote a story or wrote a story then made the scene. I also had them make a scene after listening to a story or poem.

Students who participated in the AT Devices - Service Learning project at CART gathered information on a physical disability. With this information they designed and built a prototype, or proof of concept, that would enhance or improve the physical modality of an individual with said disability or aid in the processing or manipulation of their standard environment. Several products were made and showcased including a glove that translated sign language into audio, an ergonomic walking cane, and a prosthetic leg for a dog. One project success was a bicycle attachment for a wheelchair.

STEM in the Classroom introduced coding programs to Fairmont Elementary kindergartners using Bee Bots. Students learned computer coding skills while programing the Bee Bot to complete different academic tasks. The students were highly engaged with the different learning mats and became true masters of coding the Bees. The most fascinating part of the project was with a particular student who struggled with language and academic tasks, but when it came to coding the Bees he was one of the experts. The teacher was amazed to see him shine and find his gift!

Art School After School was a popular class at Burroughs Elementary. Over 50 4th and 5th grade students responded to the call to participate in an exciting series of art lessons. Students began by analyzing and talking about art elements in landscape paintings before they created their own interpretations. They continued this "experience, observe, discuss and create" process through exposure to a wide variety of art and styles by artists including Henri Matisse, Frida Khalo, Jackson Pollock, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Louise Nevelson.

Breakout of Boring at Coalinga High School utilized Breakout EDU boxes to bring an element of fun, hands-on learning, and to promote critical thinking. To open the locks, students must unravel mysteries and clues relevant to the content. The boxes can be set up to review content for a test, as a preview for a unit, or as a way to teach new content. Students used the boxes for lessons in DNA, Evolution, an introduction to marine life, and to review for the AP Biology exam.

Big Creek Elementary enhanced their selection of board games for the Youth Board Gaming League. The League is an afterschool club designed to enhance students’ critical-thinking and decision-making skills, while having fun playing board games with their peers. The games are exciting, interesting and they help build independence and encourage cooperative interaction.

The foundation of the Find Your Voice, Find Your Future project focuses on public speaking and debate. Students at Clay Elementary studied a textbook and with their new found skills used them in the practical manner of public speaking. Students used a lectern on wheels to take their audience on a journey through the art of speech. The speeches were recorded with a video camera allowing students to analyze their speech/debate. Young people want to be heard. This program allowed students to engage in a debate that reflects organization and knowledge of subject.

Corn in the Classroom is a project for sixth through eighth grade students at John Sutter Middle School who will grow a half acre cornfield on the school campus. An area has been cleared and the soil has been sampled to determine what additives are needed and what type of soil amendments will be required. Students will use a rototiller to mix everything up and get it all planted. This project has been a great opportunity for students to learn by doing hands-on activities.

Pine Ridge School’s sixth through eighth grade students had an opportunity to tap into their coding and robotics creativity. Each day the students were enthusiastically ready to get started on understanding how to code with their "pet" robots. Students prepared for Ozobots by utilizing Kahn's Hour of Coding and Scratch for the fundamentals. After this preparation, the student’s imagination took off as they applied their knowledge to the Ozobots. As an added bonus, they also facilitated stop action story telling using Stikbots.

The students at Burrel Union Elementary rehearsed endlessly for the play "The Lion King, Jr." With the purchase of a license and the equipment for the play, students had the opportunity to host a popular, professional play. They were excited to portray characters they had only seen in the movie. Burrel was excited to put on the magical world of theater for this small community with a big heart.

The community garden project was a combined venture between Alternative Education’s Gateway High School and Special Education’s Therapeutic Intervention Program (TIP) to give at-risk students a real-world, hands-on Career Technical Education (CTE) experience. It allowed students to be innovative and collaborative with peers, teachers and the broader community. Infrastructure was put into place (pluming, electrical, humus, etc) and tree, vine and vegetable crops were planned and planted by students.

Students in the National Junior Art Honor Society at Rafer Johnson Junior High assembled a cart and filled it with art supplies. The students decided how to organize and label the supplies and then established a check out system for teachers. Teachers were given an overview of what kinds of art materials were available on the cart and were introduced to the check out system. The staff was very excited to see the variety of supplies and expressed their delight with having more options for projects that require art tools.

Building on the strong partnership between the DNA Community School and the Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, this project sought to build a greenhouse on the DNA Core Conditions Group Home site.

Breakout Your Roar! integrated the Breakout EDU learning platform to immerse students in engaging learning activities that support curricular goals by addressing the 4 C’s of California State Standards. Through discovery and failure Orange Center Elementary students solved a locked box puzzle designed around a unit of study. The project goal, through student engagement and perseverance, was to foster problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills, and English language development in a collaborative setting.