RAFT Blog, News, and Events

From Honoree to Advocate: A STEAM Award’s Ripple Effect

May 14, 2025

At RAFT, we believe in celebrating educators who bring STEAM to life through hands-on learning. Our STEAM Teachers and Administrators of the Year Awards honor those who go above and beyond-and sometimes, that recognition inspires something even bigger. Just ask Bryan Williams, a past STEAM Teacher of the Year award recipient who later nominated another…

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…

RAFT Hosts Public Review of the New California Science Curriculum on January 13th

Jan 11, 2016 | Comments Off

RAFT will host a public review of the new California Science Curriculum at their San Jose location co-sponsored by the California Science Teachers’ Association On January 13, 2016, Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) will hold a public review of the CA Science Curriculum at…

Over 200 Cisco Employees Volunteer at RAFT During the Holiday Season

Jan 4, 2016 | Comments Off

Cisco employees donated time and money to RAFT during the holiday season to help support hands-on learning. Bay Area tech company Cisco volunteered by the masses during this holiday season at Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT). Seven groups led by department heads participated in…

RAFT Unveils Four New Hands-On Idea Sheets

Dec 15, 2015 | Comments Off

Four new Idea Sheets were introduced by the RAFT team to help reinforce deeper levels of hands-on learning. December 15, 2015 – Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) added four new Ideas Sheets aligned to national curriculum standards to their library of over 700 free, downloadable Idea…

Learning the Art of Engagment

Dec 8, 2015 |

By Earlene Coleman B.A.,M.Ed It can be a little unsettling when you think you’re teaching the perfect lesson and actually very few students are paying attention. Teaching has often been called a “noble profession,” one requiring diligence, patience, and a great sense of…

RAFT Honors Michelle Steever with Teacher of the Year Award

Nov 30, 2015 | Comments Off

Michelle Steever, Physics teacher at Pioneer High School, earns the Robert Brownlee Award from RAFT. Each year Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) selects a leader in hands-on science education to receive the Robert Brownlee Teacher of the Year award. This year, the award…

Creative Reuse Center Established in Taipei

Nov 19, 2015 |

By Betty Ko, Director, Lovely Taiwan Foundation Tricycles made of chairs from bus and classroom In the center of a busy and bustling Taipei, lies a cleverly titled building called the Creative Reuse Center (CRC). The CRC is a place that’s based on creativity as…