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At East End House, we prepare children and youth to thrive academically and professionally. In the 21st century, this involves building the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills that are growing increasingly essential in almost every field. East End House has become a leader of out-of-school-time STEM education.
This month's newsletter provides a glimpse of how East End House provides children and youth with unique STEM learning opportunities.
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The US Department of Commerce reports that STEM jobs grew three times as fast as non-STEM jobs in the last 10 years.
This trend is predicted to continue in the next 10 years, as well.
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How do we ensure our STEM programs are achieving the desired outcomes? One way is through East End House's work with Program in Education, Afterschool, and Resiliency (PEAR), an affiliate of McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
This article, co-authored by PEAR and East End House, highlights East End House as a case study in the development of a quality assessment tool that evaluates STEM activities in out-of-school time programs. The article was published in the most recent edition of Afterschool Matters.
East End House would like to thank the Biogen Idec Foundation and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's 21st Century Community Learning Centers program for their generous support of this work. Read the article here.
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It's never too early for STEM! In fact, children as young as 15 months are already engaged in STEM activities and scientific observation in East End House's Child Care Program. "The children are naturally curious," says Director Camille Platt, "We just design activities to encourage them to explore, question and experiment. The more visual and hands-on you can make it, the more they understand." Do you have a young friend at home, or are you just young at heart? Try this activity at home! Read more »
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"The difference between science and the arts is not that they are different sides of the same coin...or even different parts of the same continuum, but rather, they are manifestations of the same thing. The arts and sciences are avatars of human creativity." - Mae Jemison
Jemison was the first African American woman in space, a doctor, and also a dancer. Her quotation articulates a false dichotomy in much of public thought: science and art are, in fact, integral to one another. East End House joins with others in Cambridge and nationwide to insert creativity to STEM education, by adding an "A," and introducing STEAM. Read more »
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Lined up along the classroom wall, the kindergarteners anxiously await the signal to launch.
"3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF!"
Paper airplanes float across the classroom, children scurrying after them to measure the flight distance. The group hypothesizes that pink will fly further than green. How will they use the scientific method to test their hypothesis? Read more »
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Thanks to a generous donation from IBM, children in our School Age Program recently spent the afternoon exploring the Museum of Science. Build-a-Fish was a favorite exhibit where students learned characteristics of different sea creatures while designing their own fish. After choosing their own mix of unique characteristics that determined the fish's place in the food chain, each child's creation then appeared on a life-size electronic aquarium screen in front of them!
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Our Mission
East End House community center uses a holistic approach to promote the well-being, academic achievement, and successful transition to adulthood of children and youth from under-resourced families in Cambridge and surrounding communities. As part of the approach, East End House provides support services to a diverse population, from infants to seniors, to strengthen family and community.
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
As part of the Cambridge Science Festival, East End House is hosting a roundtable discussion about the power of partnership in STEM education. This session will bring together specialists from different fields to discuss ways that child care centers, K-12 schools, afterschool programs, universities, businesses, government offices, research companies, and community members can work together to inspire and support the next generation of young scientists, innovators, designers and leaders. The event will take place at the Microsoft NERD Center, located at 1 Memorial Drive in Cambridge.
Saturday, February 1st, 2014
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
East End House, ARAMARK, and Cambridge Community Center are putting on a Health and Wellness Fair at Cambridge Community Center's Winter Farmers Market! There will be food tastings, fitness demos, vendor exhibits and medical screenings. For more information contact Tim Severyn, Director of Community Programs, at 617-876-4444 or timothy@eastendhouse.org.
Tuesday, February 11th, 2014
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Join us at Community Ice Skating @ Kendall for a fun-filled evening of ice skating with friends and family! All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Enjoy free skate rentals, Kettle Cuisine chili, and hot cocoa to warm you up. For more information contact Tim Severyn, Director of Community Programs, at 617-876-4444 or timothy@eastendhouse.org.
Thursday, March 13th, 2014 9:00 AM - Thursday, June 12th, 2014 11:00 AM
The Nurtured Heart Approach teaches social emotional competencies and develops character strengths. This Nurtured Heart Affinity Group will share best practices, challenges and questions about how to implement Nurtured Heart concepts, principles and approaches. It is designed for out-of-school time professionals, educators, and professionals who work with children. The group will meet once a month from March to June 2014 to discuss ways to deepen the understanding and effectiveness of practices. For more information see our flyer.
Friday, April 4th, 2014
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Please join us for the 11th annual Cooking for a Cause event at the MIT Media Lab. The event will bring together some of the top chefs, drink experts and specialty vendors in the area for an extraordinary evening to benefit the essential programs East End House provides to the community. Chef Will Gilson, Owner and Chef of Puritan & Company, will serve as the Culinary Chair. Mary Stout, Beverage Director of Coppa and Toro, will be the 2014 Wine Chair. Check out our event page here.
Other News
Do you have a passion for working with youth and a background in STEM education? If so, East End House has an exciting opportunity for you. We are currently accepting applications for a new STEM Coordinator position. This position will provide leadership for the organization's initiative to provide transformational STEM experiences for children and youth in the organization's Child Care, School Age and Middle School Programs. Visit our Career Opportunities Page for a full description.
Interested in helping a child learn to read? Engaged in a STEM field and eager to share what you know? Become an Academic Support Volunteer at East End House! We are seeking volunteers who can make a commitment, weekly or monthly, to supporting the academic success of the youth we serve. Volunteers can work on literacy activities, tutor, assist with homework help in our learning centers, or do STEM projects with children of all ages. For more information on volunteering in this and other roles at East End House, contact Tim Severyn, Director of Community Programs, at 617-876-4444 or timothy@eastendhouse.org.
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