RAFT Blog, News, and Events

Featured Articles and News

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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Thank You, Teachers: KLA Foundation Partners with RAFT to Support Educators

Apr 30, 2024 | Comments Off on Thank You, Teachers: KLA Foundation Partners with RAFT to Support Educators

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, the KLA Foundation and Resource Area For Teaching (RAFT) will provide all TK-8 teachers at Santa Clara Unified School District and Milpitas Unified School District with a year of RAFT membership and $50 in-store credit to support their…

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From Screens to Hands-on STEAM

Feb 28, 2024 | Comments Off on From Screens to Hands-on STEAM

In the wake of a global pandemic that required students to do much of their learning from home in front of a screen, hands-on experiences that spark joy and discovery are more relevant-and needed-than ever.  Long before 2020, however, RAFT (Resource Area for Teaching)…

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RAFT Puts “Science in Motion” and Launches Course on Infosys Foundation USA’s Pathfinders Online Institute

Feb 7, 2024 | Comments Off on RAFT Puts “Science in Motion” and Launches Course on Infosys Foundation USA’s Pathfinders Online Institute

Thanks to a generous donation from the Infosys Foundation USA, RAFT has launched our Science in Motion course on the Pathfinders Online Institute.  RAFT’s Science in Motion course explores 10 of our STEAM Project Kits to better understand the concept of motion. Each lesson…

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Watch out 2024! RAFT’s Education Team Leadership is expanding with 2 exciting additions 

Nov 10, 2023 | Comments Off on Watch out 2024! RAFT’s Education Team Leadership is expanding with 2 exciting additions 

If you’ve heard of RAFT before, odds are it’s been in connection with our STEAM Dream Camp or Maker Mobile programming, both of which have been favorites among the SF Bay Area’s student and educator community alike.  This year, we’ve seen enormous success in…

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A Magical Night to Remember

Sep 25, 2023 | Comments Off on A Magical Night to Remember

On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, RAFT hosted its annual fundraising event: The Magical Maker Mobile. Over 140 supporters were present at RAFT, which was transformed into a beautiful space for the special event that evening. That evening, we honored the individuals and organizations that…

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RAFT Hall of Fame | Class of 2023

Sep 25, 2023 | Comments Off on RAFT Hall of Fame | Class of 2023

Congratulations to our 2023 STEAM Teachers of the Year, RAFT Heroes, RAFT Volunteer Awardees, and RAFT Partners of the Year! Thank you for all you do for our educators, students, our community, and RAFT! STEAM Teachers of the Year Michele Huesties STEAM Teacher, Sierramont…

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