RAFT Blog, News, and Events

DreamBox Impact Series: Milpitas Unified School District

April 1, 2025

Engaging EL and SPED Learners Through Hands-On STEAM For the past two summers, RAFT has partnered with Milpitas Unified School District to bring hands-on STEAM learning to the district’s Extended School Year (ESY) summer program. This past summer, 230 fourth- through sixth-grade Special Education (SPED) and English Learner (EL) students became environmental engineers-designing water filtration…

Bringing Stories to Life: RAFT’s Intersession Program at Northwood Elementary

March 18, 2025

This winter, Northwood Elementary students in Berryessa School District embarked on a creative journey through RAFT’s three-day Intersession program. Designed to spark imagination and hands-on learning, the program engaged 66 students in grades K-5 in the art of puppet-making, storytelling, and performance, culminating in a special showcase for families. Student-made marionette puppets displayed with crafting…

DreamBox Impact Series: Oak Grove School District

February 27, 2025

Empowering Newcomers Through Hands-On STEAM Learning In Summer 2024, students at Oak Grove School District‘s Newcomer Summer Academy embarked on an innovative hands-on STEAM adventure. Through RAFT’s creative reuse materials and engaging activity kits, 75 students explored the mysteries of space while strengthening their English language skills, guided by 3 dedicated teachers. Hands-on learning is…

Sparking Curiosity through Hands-On Learning with Jeffrey and Maureen Fox

February 26, 2025

For over 30 years, RAFT has provided resources and support to local educators and students. RAFT’s commitment to hands-on learning for STEAM subjects has evolved to include activities such as STEAM Project Kits, as well as programs like our Makerspace and Maker Mobile activities, and most recently a STEAM Dream Summer Camp for students around…

RAFT Celebrates Our Youngest Learners®

Apr 5, 2016 | Comments Off

Resource Area for Teaching celebrates National Week of the Young Child April 5, 2016 – As part of the national Week of the Young Child™ (April 10-16, 2016) celebrated across the country, Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) locations in California and Colorado are honoring young children and…

The Importance of Play in the Classroom

Mar 31, 2016 |

By Rita Mercado, First Grade Teacher, Serendipity School I have taught first grade for the last 12 years, and it seems like every year I get questions about what we do during our “Choice Time.” The number one thing that my students learn how…

RAFT Kits Help Make STEM Learning Accessible in South Sudan

Mar 29, 2016 | Comments Off

In a country ravaged by war, floods, and famines, Loreto Primary School in South Sudan takes a stand for education using RAFT hands-on learning kits. In a country where half of its people live below the poverty line and onechild in three is stunted…

RAFT Presents Award at San Mateo County STEM Fair

Mar 22, 2016 |

On March 29th, the SMCOE STEM fair was held at the Hiller Aviation Museum. Every year, RAFT is allowed to pick a special winner who has demonstrated an exceptional skills in science. The RAFT special award winner this year is Maya Ellis, a fifth…

RAFT Prepares for Pi Day Event on March 5th

Mar 3, 2016 | Comments Off

RAFT San Jose gets its teachers in gear for International Pi Day. Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) the San Jose-based nonprofit organization committed to hands-on learning, will host a Pi Day event on March 5th in honor of International Pi Day on March 14th.…

Juggling the Work/Life Balance

Feb 25, 2016 |

By Michael Rosenberg, Teacher, Stratford School There are few professions outside of teaching that can empathize with the struggle of being an educator. As a teacher, our days in the classroom can be a physical and mental roller coaster. Then at day’s end, stacks…