Community Outreach in

the School Setting

Brea Country Hills Staff

April 1, 2021

Lauren Shimada
 Objective
My objective is to bring as many community resources into the school environment as possible so that
students more clearly understand the importance and relevance of what they’re learning in class to how it can
be applied in the real world.

Standards
● ISTE Standard 4c: Collaborator - Use collaborative tools to expand ● NGSS 3-LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
students’ authentic, real-world learning experiences by engaging ● NGSS 3-LS3 Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits
virtually with experts, teams and students, locally and globally. ● NGSS 3-ESS3 Earth and Human Activity
● ISTE Standard 7b: Global Collaborator - Use collaborative ● CCSS MP.2: Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
technologies to work with others, including peers, experts or ● CCSS MP.4: Model with Mathematics
community members, to examine issues and problems from multiple ● CCSS SL3.3: Ask and answer questions about information from a
viewpoints. speaker, offering appropriate elaboration and detail.
● CSTP 1.2: Connecting learning to students’ prior knowledge, ● CCSS SL3.4: Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an
backgrounds, life experiences, and interests experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details,
● CSTP 1.3: Connecting subject matter to meaningful, real-life contexts speaking clearly at an understandable pace.
● CSTP 6.3: Collaborating with colleagues and the broader professional
community to support teacher and student learning
● CSTP 6.5: Engaging local communities in support of the instructional
program
● CSTP 6.6: Managing professional responsibilities to maintain
motivation and commitment to all students
Guiding How would student engagement and

Question
teacher motivation change if we had
more access to community resources?
 Student Driven Data
Students in the 3rd and 4th grade were provided a survey that asked the question,
“Do you understand how what we learn in class connects to the real world?”
They were given two options: Yes or No.

From this data, it is apparent that students do not understand the

importance of the California curriculum as it relates to real life.
Now Your
Please open
the Form

Turn below and

respond to
the question.

Community
Resources
 Subject Areas
Environment and Nature Conservation STEM
❏ Crystal Cove Conservancy ❏ Vex STEM Labs
❏ Bolsa Chica Conservancy ❏ Bricks 4 Kids
❏ Back to Natives Restoration
❏ Aquarium of the Pacific
❏ Environmental Nature Center

Liberal Arts
❏ Arts & Learning Conservatory
❏ Segerstrom Center for the Arts
 Environment &
Nature Conservation
Community organizations focused on educating students on the
importance of protecting our environment.
 Crystal Cove Conservancy
Provides virtual learning programs that combine
STEM with an environmentally conscious approach
Programs include free guided and self-directed
lessons, in addition to free virtual video field trips
straight from the park.
Sample Programs
● 2nd-5th grade: Explore at Home Investigations
○ Activities include a scavenger hunt and
observation of animal and plant species
● 5th grade: Virtual Project Crystal
○ Focuses on the water cycle and plant ecology
habitat; includes options for video field trips.
 Bolsa Chica Conservancy
Free programs and activities focused on the wetland
ecology and water cycle with an emphasis on
conservation and restoration.

Sample Programs
● TK-4th: Create a Critter
○ Learn about animal adaptation while engaging in
a STEM-based activity
● 5th-12th: What’s in the Mud?
○ Learn about marsh invertebrates by viewing live
specimens under a microscope.
● 6th-12th: Water Quality Testing
○ Engage in data monitoring and comparison while
learning about wetland ecology and hydrology
 Aquarium of the Pacific
Free virtual field trips and lesson plans exploring the different realms of
marine biology.
Virtual Field Trips Lesson Plans
● Aquarium educator teaches about topics ranging from ● Incorporates inquiry-based project kits that allow
marine mammals (TK-3rd) to ocean ecosystems and students to make observations as they explore the
conservation efforts (4th-6th). Aquarium’s live streaming animal webcams.
Turn Of the Environmental
and Talk and Nature
Conservation resources
that were shared, which
of the following would
you utilize?
Liberal Arts
Community organizations focused on providing students the
tools and environment to explore their creative sides.
 Arts & Learning Conservatory
ALC Teaching Artists guide students as they explore theater, dance, and music.
Provides classroom sessions, school workshops, school plays, and after-school
art programs.
 Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Segerstrom Artists provide in-person and virtual tools that allow students to
explore music, dance, theater, and visual arts.

In-Person Experience Virtual Lessons

● Assembly: Artists incorporate topics such as cultural and ● Lessons are taught by an artist through a video
socio-emotional awareness with a 45-minute ○ Topics include painting, puppets, music, dance,
performance. and paper mache.
● Workshop: Artists collaborate with educators to create
lessons that complement the curriculum.
● Residency: Artist teaches a course over several weeks to
support students’ creative thinking.
 STEM

Community organizations focused on exploring the varying

realms within the fields of science and math.
 Vex STEM Labs
Free leveled coding and robotics lessons that promote collaboration and
exploration amongst students.

Inclusive lessons for all students

● Level 1: Students brand new to Vex Robotics or coding
● Level 2: Students with basic experience in Vex Robotics
or coding
● Level 3: Students who’ve completed introductory courses
of Vex Robotics or coding

Online Vex VR Activities

● Over 20 online activities students can choose from that
teach students different ways to code
● Includes a VR robot, so no purchase necessary!
 Bricks 4 Kids
STEAM and inquiry-based projects focused
on improving students’ cognitive and motor
skills, while being personalized to fit each
teacher’s curriculum.
Program Overview
● 12-16 weeks long
● 4 levels for students to master
○ Junior Builder
○ Senior Builder
○ Master Builder
○ Grand Master
● Incorporates additional STEAM resources -
Khan Academy, Mosaic, Stride, PolyUp - into
their lesson plans
Turn Between Environment

and Talk and Nature

Conservation, Liberal
Arts, and STEM, which
seem the easiest for you
to implement? Which
seem the most difficult?
 Now Your Turn
Please take a minute to respond to the
following Google Form

Once you’ve submitted your form, turn and talk to a

neighbor and discuss: How do you envision using the
provided resources with your students or at our school?