Weekly Media Roundup: August 14, 2019

Connecticut Students Explore Plastic Consumption Project, Greenwich Time (Connecticut)

A group of rising seventh graders in Greenwich, Connecticut spent their summer learning about environmental sustainability and interviewing local business leaders about plastic use as part of the Horizons Summer Learning Program. The free, six-week program aims to combat summer learning loss by engaging students in hands-on, community-based projects. After drawing conclusions about plastic usage in their own lives and at local businesses, students practiced public speaking by presenting their findings to school administrators. “Summer learning is so different,” Toni Jones, superintendent of Greenwich Public Schools, told the Greenwich Time. “It is not driven by state scores. It’s freeing for educators to focus on joy.”

Tenacity Continues to be Attractive Program for Worcester Children, Go Local Worcester (Massachusetts)

For more than 10 years, the Tenacity program in Worcester, Massachusetts has combined tennis and reading to give children active, enriching summer experiences, free of charge. This year, nearly 700 students ages 6 to 16 are participating in the six-week program. Each day, students practice tennis, read, and complete literacy activities such as playing word games or designing their ideal hypothetical communities. “It’s wonderful to see the children engage in tennis/fitness and literacy during the summer months for it allows them to stay sharp, utilize creative outlets to express themselves and assist in closing the achievement gap,” Program Director Kate Breen told Go Local Worcester.

Academia OKC to Offer Fall Mariachi After School Program Beginning Aug. 26, The City Sentinel (Oklahoma)

This fall, students in the Academia OKC Mariachi After School Program in south Oklahoma City will learn about Hispanic heritage, practice playing musical instruments and rehearse for live Mariachi performances each day after school. The program aims to develop students’ creativity and critical thinking skills while engaging their families and celebrating Hispanic culture. Principal Amando Ayala told the City Sentinel, “Only 5 percent of our kids were ready at grade level or higher schoolwide. So, we did a lot of reforms and Academia has been essential in helping us to stimulate higher order thinking skills. Because kids are using a lot of brainpower in the reading of the music… this translates into learning in math, science, reading, and everything.”

The Art of 'Imagineering': Teaching Kids to Problem Solve Through Math, Science and Teamwork, The Berkshire Eagle (Massachusetts)

At this year’s Summer Science Camp in North Adams, Massachusetts, elementary students have designed boats out of foil, built sandcastles that can hold books and more. The free program is funded by a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant and uses an ‘imagineering’ approach to encourage students to develop their own ideas, test hypotheses and adjust designs. Along the way, they learn about science and math as well as ‘soft skills’ including problem solving and teamwork. “I like this because we have the nicest teacher and it's fun. It feels like I'm at home,” student Maya Berthelly-Jimenez told the Berkshire Eagle.