STEAM
Cornell University's 4-H Tech Wizard mentors and the Naturalist Outreach program have provided extensive activities addressing: predators and prey, insect mimicry, honeybees vs. wasps, the food chain, neurology, fruits and fractions, mathematics and directions, the physics bus, and so much more. Additionally, Cornell University's 4-H Youth Development and plant sciences have scheduled valuable community experts and certified 4-H volunteers to teach several hands-on activities ranging from seed germination, herb gardens, plant anatomy, evergreen vs. deciduous trees, and a fabulous neighborhood project to complete for Arbor Day. The Lehman Alternative Community School has generously granted full access to school resources, including the media lab, where we learn to type, create, and maintain this website. Ithaca College lent us a valuable volunteer, Professor Scott Thompson, who taught us the art and science of public speaking for a community project we completed with Samite Mulondo, thanks to the Erin Aljoe Schlather Dedicated Memorial fund and Community Foundation of Tompkins County. To engage students, we split into two small groups to alternate two 30-minute mini-lessons with hands-on activities.
[ Science / Technology / Engineering / Art / Mathematics ]
2016-17 Highlights
homework assistance
Learning healthy study habits will go far, which is why we schedule homework and snack first, typically from 2:45 - 3:30 pm daily. Students are taught that if they do not have assigned homework, then they have choice reading to do which can be shared with a peer, mentor, or completed independently. Thanks to our 4-H Urban Outreach mentors and Public Services from Cornell University, our youth are now able to receive independent and/or small group assistance as needed. We even have dedicated LACS high school volunteers who step-up as true leaders to mentor and assist our youth with academic and other needs.
[ No assigned homework => Reading ]
Literacy & Culture
This year, we've been reading a chapter book, The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros as a whole group at the end of program. We've learned the name Esperanza is Spanish for "hope" which is exactly what this book teaches us: We must keep hope. We must persevere. No matter how stacked the odds are against us or our neighborhood(s), we need to never give up (persevere) and do what we can to make positive change. In each chapter, we explore Esperanza's new community and culture a little further.
Of course, this is not the only book we have. On-site, we also have several STEM-related books
appropriate for ages K-5 currently - and welcome middle and high school youth to join us from west hill to grow with us and our library resources.
Lastly, this year we also must recognize our community project with Samite Mulondo titled "Children
Sing Their Stories" which gave our kids an important voice and opportunity to share the stage with a professional musician and Uganda refugee. Thank you.
[ Celebrate Literacy & Diversity ]
Activities
