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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RAFT – Found Engineering

Nov 3, 2022 | Comments Off on RAFT – Found Engineering

At RAFT we strongly believe that hands-on learning is crucial to a student’s development and learning. Students who are more physically engaged in the learning experience tend to have a deeper understanding with higher engagement and improved outcomes.  Hands-on activities require materials that can…

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Arista Funds RAFT Makerspace Build at Local Elementary School

Oct 20, 2022 | Comments Off on Arista Funds RAFT Makerspace Build at Local Elementary School

With its goal to provide educators with STEAM learning resources, Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT), a non-profit organization founded in 1994, organized a makerspace build for the Kathryn Hughes Elementary School in Santa Clara. RAFT believes that makerspaces are a great way to encourage…

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RAFT Participates in Viva EscuelaSJ

Oct 12, 2022 | Comments Off on RAFT Participates in Viva EscuelaSJ

October is International Walk to School month! The CDC recommends that children ages 3 through 5 years need to be active throughout the day, while children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 need to be active for 60 minutes every day (see here for…

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2022 Fall Sale & Membership Drive

Oct 2, 2022 | Comments Off on 2022 Fall Sale & Membership Drive

As we were welcomed by cooler temperatures and falling leaves, RAFT held its annual Membership Drive on October 1st and 2nd, 2022. On Saturday, RAFT brought out its best and deeply discounted items from the store for a Parking Lot Sale open to the…

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RAFT Hall of Fame | Class of 2022

Sep 21, 2022 | Comments Off on RAFT Hall of Fame | Class of 2022

Congratulations to our 2022 STEAM Teachers of the Year, RAFT Heroes, RAFT Volunteer Awardees, and RAFT Partner of the Year! Thank you for all you do for our educators, students, our community, and RAFT! STEAM Teachers of the Year Kim Brown STEAM Teacher, Raymond…

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CSI:RAFT 2022 Annual Fundraiser

Sep 21, 2022 | Comments Off on CSI:RAFT 2022 Annual Fundraiser

On September 21, 2022, RAFT hosted its annual fundraising event. This year’s event, CSI:RAFT, highlighted what resources are needed to have an engaging classroom. We had over 100 in-person attendees while 20 joined us online. During the hybrid event, guests were able to learn…

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