Parent workshop panels
STEM Resources and Learning Activities
Parent Resource List
Click here for a comprehensive list of resources ranging from STEM activities to college preparation.
Engineering Pathways
https://engineering.berkeley.edu/admissions/pathways-college
Information and guidance for Bay Area students who plan to study engineering in college
DiscoverE
http://www.discovere.org/
K-12 support, outreach and resources for engineering and technology
Ask Dr. Math
http://mathforum.org/dr.math
Purple Math
http://www.purplemath.com
Algebra lessons. Good explanations.
Khan Academy
https://www.khanacademy.org
a) Provides videos and explanations of math in K-12 and beyond.
b) Drawback: sometimes need to know the name of the math concept in order to look up the correct video.
c) The One World Schoolhouse: Education Reimagined by Salman Khan, provides background on the philosophy behind Khan Academy
Hand2Mind
http://www.hand2mind.com
Activity books and hands-on tools to help assist with learning new concepts in many subjects, including many math and science topics.
a) Geometry: “Relational GeoSolids” $12.65, M5-9310. 14 pyramids, prisms, cones, cylinders, to help with visualizing surface area and volume.
b) Basic math facts: “Learning Wrap-ups”, $8.95 each, IN7261. Basic arithmetic: multiplication, division, addition, subtraction, fractions; self-correcting and tactile.
c) Algebra: “VersaTiles Readiness Answer Case”, $12.95. self-correcting answer case to use with the activity books. “VersaTiles Algebra 1, starter Set”, $69.95, INP76990. covers algebra and trigonometry, self-correcting answer case plus activity books.
Helpful tools for high school math courses
Supplies: graph paper, ruler, colored pencils, protractor.
Calculators:
a) For middle school, a basic scientific calculator is useful: example: TI-30XS for $14.22 on Amazon. You can get decent calculators for under $25.
b) At some point in high school it will be handy to have a good calculator such as a TI 83/84 (easier to learn), or TI 89 (harder to learn) (both around $120-$140). These have all the basic functions, plus alphanumeric storage, graphing, etc.
How Stuff Works
http://www.howstuffworks.com
A source for clear, reliable explanations of how everything around us actually works.
Brain POP™
http://www.brainpop.com
Educational animated movies for K-12 created to help explain concepts and to demystify math, science, health, technology, and English topics in an entertaining way for both children and adults.
The Carnegie Mellon Robots Academy
http://www.education.rec.ri.cmu.edu
This website is an excellent resource for everything robotics. Curriculum can be previewed, robotics equipment purchased, and information on the latest robotics news.
Kidsites For Parents
http://www.kidsites.com/sites-grownups/parents.htm
Your kids will think you are the BEST parent when you show them fun web sites. The web sites have been selected as kid-safe and kid-friendly.
Imagiverse
http://www.imagiverse.org
Imagiverse.... the universe of our imaginations has no boundaries. Imagiverse believes that imagination is the key to learning. Teachers can teach, but learning comes from within. The web site's goal is to spark the flame that will lead young and old to pursue learning as an adventure through imagination. Activities, resources, and lots of information are available for all to see and use.
National STEM Video Game Challenge
http://www.stemchallenge.org/stem/#/home
Middle school (5-8), high school students (9-12), and educators are invited to design games that incorporate STEM content or STEM themes in innovative and engaging ways. Home schoolers are eligible to enter as well. Sign up to be notified about the 2013 competition.
eGFI: Dream Up the Future
http://www.egfi-k12.org
Promotes engineering education with K-5, 6-8, 9-12 lesson plans, activities, outreach programs, and links to web resources. Teachers and students can download the first three issues of eGFI magazine.
STEM Career
http://stemcareer.com/parents
Website to help parents support their children that are interested in STEM.
More STEM websites
http://www.mastersindatascience.org/blog/the-ultimate-stem-guide-for-kids-239-cool-sites-about-science-technology-engineering-and-math
This list is created by the members Master’s in Data Science. The list includes websites for ages K-12.
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College Preparation
California Colleges Transfer Information
www.assist.org
Official repository of articulation for California’s public colleges and universities. Identifies pre-requisites for transferring from a California Community College to California four year institutions.
Berkeley Academic Guide
bulletin.berkeley.edu
Website that helps students explore the many intellectual paths you can pursue at Berkeley.
(http://guide.berkeley.edu/undergraduate/degree-programs) is especially useful in helping students choose prospective majors.
CNR Prospective Student Page
nature.berkeley.edu/prospective-students
The College of Natural Resource's website for prospective students. CNR has 7 STEM-based majors for students to choose from ranging from Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology to Molecular Environmental Biology.
Center for Educational Equity and Excellence (Ce3)
ce3.berkeley.edu
Resources for current and prospective 1st generation, underrepresented, and undocumented students, as well as for transfer, re-entry, and student parents.
Biology Scholars Program (BSP)
bsp.berkeley.edu
Biological sciences-based study groups, advising, internships, and research opportunities for students at Cal.
Disabled Students Program (DSP)
dsp.berkeley.edu
Services and accommodations for Cal students with disabilities.
Student Learning Center (SLC)
slc.berkeley.edu
STEM and social science-based tutoring, study groups, adjunct courses, and workshops for students at Cal.
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Bay Area STEM Museums
Moffett Field Historical Museum National Steinbeck Center |
Chabot Space and Science Museum 925.935.1978 1931 1st Ave, Walnut Creek, CA 94597 http://wildlife-museum.org/ |
STEM Toys and Games
Goldie Blox Lottie |
Ne Ne Imagination Puzzles http://neneimagination.com/ Magnatiles http://magnatiles.com/ Thames & Kosmos https://www.thamesandkosmos.com/ Little Bit Circuits |
Financial Aid Information
FAFSA
fafsa.ed.gov
Free Application for Federal Student Aid is used by all institutions that award federal, state and in some cases, institutional aid including Federal Pell Grants, Cal Grants and university grants and scholarships.
They have a FAFSA Forecaster (https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e1s1) for students not yet ready to fill out a FAFSA – allows them to better understand options for paying for college. Students provide some basic information and will receive an estimated eligibility for federal student aid. This can be used to begin thinking about creating a budget or savings plan for future college costs.
California Student Aid Commission
csac.ca.gov
Website includes information about Cal Grants, including information on Cal Grant awarding criteria and deadlines.
Federal Student Aid Website – Department of Education
https://studentaid.ed.gov
Federal resources for student and parents, including preparing for college, types of aid, who qualifies for aid, how to apply and loan borrowing and repayment. It also has information about how to prepare for college, how to create a budget to help with saving for school, as well as how to manage funds while students are in school.
Budgeting: https://studentaid.ed.gov/prepare-for-college/budgeting/creating-your-budget
Types of Loans: https://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans
Grants & Scholarships: https://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships
Tips on Completing the FAFSA (includes a helpful video): https://studentaid.ed.gov/fafsa
FastWeb
http://www.fastweb.com
Free scholarship & financial aid search engine
Chegg scholarships
http://www.chegg.com/scholarships
Free scholarship search engine with over 25K scholarships and personalized filters (like GPA and age) available for students in high school, college, grad school and beyond.
FinAid
http://www.finaid.org
A comprehensive source of student financial aid information, advice and tools. This is just one of many tools available to students and families. They have a number of different budget calculators for determining degree costs, loan repayment, savings, and EFC info. It also has instructions for filling out various financial aid forms and a free Scholarship Search engine
Gates Millennium Scholarship
gmsp.org
The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program, funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was established in 1999 to provide outstanding African American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian Pacific Islander American**, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline area of interest.
California Dream Act
dream.csac.ca.gov
The California Dream Act allows undocumented and nonresident documented students who meet certain provisions to apply for and receive private scholarships funded through public universities, state-administered financial aid, university grants, community college fee waivers, and Cal Grants. Students start by completing the Dream Act Application for financial aid. Students do not need an SSN to apply. Parents’ citizenship status will not affect student’s eligibility for Dream Act Aid.
Berkeley Financial Aid – Build a Budget
http://financialaid.berkeley.edu/build-budget
One of the first steps in good financial management is to create a budget so that you can monitor your income and expenses.
CSU Mentor
https://secure.csumentor.edu
Apply for CSU admission, and estimate student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and eligibility for grants and loans at a California State University campus.
Cash For College – Cal Grants FAFSA Workshops
https://www.csac.ca.gov/post/cash-college-workshops
Local workshops to help with filling out FAFSA. Most workshops are held at local high schools and colleges. Workshops are usually held prior to the March 2 FAFSA priority deadline
Webgrants for Students – California Student Aid Commission (CSAC)
https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov
After filling out FAFSA, students can create an account and monitor their Cal Grant eligibility. Often, CSAC will request verification of a student’s high school graduation date before they will release Cal Grant eligibility information for that student to the student’s school. Students can complete that and any other CSAC-required verification items via this website.
CSU Transfer Agreement
http://www.calstate.edu/transfer/degrees/
Information regarding transfers between California Community Colleges and CSU
- Many community colleges also have cross-registration programs with partner schools (CSU and UC) to take courses at community college rates. Please check specific schools for their partner programs.
- Community colleges allow high school students to take courses for $1/unit. Check your local community college website and search for “High School” or “Concurrent Enrollment” options.