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 Receives $15,000 Grant From StopWaste

Aug 11, 2015 | Comments Off

StopWaste supports Resource Area for Teaching in upcycling repurposed materials into inspiring hands-on learning tools August 11, 2015 – Resource Area For Teaching (RAFT) has just been awarded a “Reuse Operating Grant” from StopWaste, a public agency responsible for reducing the waste stream in Alameda County.…

Giving Positive Reinforcement to Inspire Your Students

Aug 6, 2015 |

By Eric Welker, Master Teacher and Activity Developer, RAFT Positive reinforcement is simple and necessary in all classrooms – but can be forgotten while class rigor becomes more demanding. Here are some easy tips to remind ourselves to praise our students daily. 1. Have…

New Colorado STEMworks database spotlights successful STEM programs

Jul 24, 2015 | Comments Off

Expanding database connects educators to the state’s successful STEM supporters Denver, Colo. – A powerful new resource for Colorado educators, students, and STEM supporters — the Colorado STEMworks database — will make it easier than ever to partner with successful STEM (science, technology, engineering,…

Hope Services Team Up With RAFT

Jul 16, 2015 | Comments Off

July 16, 2015 – Hope Services volunteer at Resource Area for Teaching to help improve the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities. Resource Area For Teaching (RAFT), the San Jose-based nonprofit organization committed to hands-on learning, has long focused on supporting teaching…

Let’s Talk Innovation: Adapting Ideas From RAFT’s Innovation Institute for Your Curriculum

Jul 15, 2015 |

By Jen Rodgers, 8th Grade Science Teacher Last summer I attended RAFT’s two-day “Innovation Institute.” It would take several posts to share with you everything I learned and was able to apply to my classroom. However I would like to share one activity with…