SNBC's afterschool programs include a variety of project-based learning activities supporting homework, language arts, creative arts, IT skill development and civic engagement.

Currently, SNBC's Afterschool Programs engage more than 750 participants each day in elementary, middle and high school programs. Waiting lists at each site total more that 250 children and middle school youth. All programs are offered free of charge for these youth and their families.

The Goals of SNBC's afterschool programs:

• To help youth meet the California Department of Education's Content Standards through the quality curriculum
• To prepare youth for 21st century and provide real-world skills, and career development
• To enhance positive youth development that supports learning in a safe environment, and promotes a strong relationship with parents and teachers, and community involvement

Program Activities

Project-based learning "clubs" employ a range of experiential approaches. All of the clubs are encouraged to integrate technology based on state goals and standards. In addition to homework assistance, the clubs include diverse activities such as Urban Dance, Newsletter/Movie-Making, MOUSE Squad, Urban Music, Peer Resources and a variety of athletic activities. When appropriate, the participants use a high-speed Internet connection and a variety of technologies and software including iMovie, FruityLoops Studio, Adobe Photoshop and the Microsoft Office suite to accomplish club goals.

"Our instructors are knowledgeable about the State Content Standards. First, they choose a standard to address what they want to do formally in their clubs. While setting the standard-specific goals, they also design learning objectives for their project clubs based on youth development and specific technology standards."

 

Kristin Moran, ASLC Curriculum Developer

Every project-based learning club addresses multiple school subjects with particular emphasis on English language arts. For example, the MOUSE Squad has strong reading, writing and comprehension components while simultaneously emphasizing mathematical reasoning, scientific investigation and experimentation, and technical skill-building. Urban Dance addresses content in the arts, social studies and mathematics. Participants learn about break dancing as part of hip-hop culture and how it has evolved over time. When the young people are performing the basics of break dancing, they use addition and division patterns to keep rhythm and visualize the overall pattern of the dance form.

SNBC AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS
Learn more about the activities and schedules of the following programs: