Share it! Science

K-12 Enrichment Company Brains & Motion Education (BAM!) Launches Today

I'm excited to have Brains and Motion Education (BAM!) as a guest blogger. Read on to learn about the new STEM, arts, and sports enrichment after-school and summer camp programs they are offering nationwide. 

After-School and Summer STEM, Arts and Sports Programs

Today marks the launch of enrichment provider Brains & Motion Education (BAM!), a tech-enabled company unlocking the potential of students year-round through after-school, structured recess, and summer camp with STEM, arts, and sports programs. As the only nationwide provider with a focus on whole-child development, BAM! aims to stimulate young minds while keeping growing bodies joyfully active. 

 

In an ideal world, formal education inspires students and prepares them for the future in ways that build social and emotional skills, confidence, and subject matter expertise through a wide variety of hands-on, project-based activities. In reality, too much of the formal school day is boring for students due to constraints caused by standardized testing, teacher shortages, and how difficult it is for teachers to provide differentiated instruction to large groups of students. Additionally, more than 25 million students have no place to go after school and lack access to structured opportunities to develop skills outside of the school day.

“Many schools would love to teach students how to play chess, program robots, develop computational thinking skills, create sophisticated digital artwork, become strong creative writers, and provide students with meaningful exposure to artificial intelligence systems through project-based learning,” said Bart Epstein, BAM!’s CEO. “There just isn’t enough time in the school day. These types of enrichment activities can and should be available to every student, regardless of their zip code.”

Epstein, an education industry veteran, was brought in to launch the company from the assets of an enrichment company. An entrepreneur with decades of experience, Epstein’s work has impacted over twenty million students through his leadership at companies including Tutor.com, The Jefferson Education Accelerator, The Princeton Review, ASCD, ISTE, and as the first general manager of a Department of Defense education program that supports U.S. military families worldwide. During his years as a professor at the University of Virginia School of Education, Epstein founded and ran a national nonprofit that helps schools learn how to effectively implement complex STEM programs.

Epstein credits much of his success in life to the teachers who sparked his curiosity and confidence through an after-school aviation and rocketry enrichment program. Twenty years later, he became a commercial pilot and civilian test pilot for NASA, and then an educator and entrepreneur.

The BAM! leadership team features other executives with extensive experience driving growth, scale, and successful implementations, including COO Kristopher Kasper, CMO Christina Yu, VP of Sales Lori Todd, VP of Product Jody Nova, and CFO Jennifer Thresher.

Due in part to the success of its after-school programs, BAM! has received extraordinary interest in its summer 2024 camp programs that include RoboKids, GameCraft, and MakersQuest which reflect new career exploration curriculum and new interdisciplinary STEAM programs, including animation, game design, creative writing, and machine learning.

For schools, offering high-quality enrichment that includes a mix of physical activity and inspirational hands-on learning addresses an array of challenges in an easy, practical, and cost-effective way. “Providing our families with access to enrichment activities after 3 pm and during dedicated break times throughout the academic day helps us with some of the biggest problems in education at a fraction of the cost of formal education and at a small percentage more than basic after-care,” said Lesem Puerto, Community School Partnership Manager at the Children's Institute. “Students who attend inspiring project-based enrichment programs during recess and lunch, and beyond, are more engaged during the school day. That’s something that we all love to see.”

The company currently has a presence in ten key regions - notably San Francisco, San Diego, New York, Chicago, Boston, Denver, and Seattle - and intends to scale its after-school, summer camp, and structured recess programs nationwide.



BAM! is supported by institutional investors including New Markets Venture Partners, LearnStart, Sand Hill Angels, Women’s Venture Capital Fund, JFFVentures, and Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator, whose collective investments in the venture now total more than $18 million.

The company’s Board includes Gerard Robinson (former Secretary of Education in Virginia and Commissioner of Education in Florida), Juan Zavala (New Markets Venture Partners), Mark Chernis (Princeton Review, SchoolNet, Pearson), and Rob Cohen (2U, Princeton Review, Oasis).

“We believe there is strong demand for BAM!’s products and are excited to support the company in driving improved academic outcomes and equitable access to enrichment beyond the school day for students across the country”, said Juan Zavala, Principal at New Markets Venture Partners, the lead investor in BAM!. “Bart and his leadership team have deep industry expertise and experience in scaling solutions for student success. Their mission is perfectly aligned with New Markets Venture Partners’ double-bottom line investment goals.”

“In after-school and summer programs, students are given the chance to discover their strengths, explore their interests, and connect the dots between disciplines in a safe, supportive, and fun environment,” said Gerard Robinson, now professor of practice at the UVA Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, and former Virginia Secretary of Education. 

 

 


Everything You Need to Know to Safely View Total Solar Eclipse 2024

On April 8th, 2024 there will be a total solar eclipse viewable across North America, passing through the United States from Texas to Maine. A partial eclipse will be visible across all 48 contiguous states. 

Will you be observing this awesome celestial event? Did you catch the "Great American Solar Eclipse" in 2017? These total eclipses have been such a fantastic opportunity to bring so many of us together to observe a scientific phenomenon. I love it when we all have something science-related to get excited about! 

Find out here what happens during a solar eclipse, when and where to observe the solar eclipse in April, and most importantly, how to observe it safely.  

How to Observe Total Solar Eclipse 2024 Safely

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission from purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Please see disclosures for more information.

What is a Solar Eclipse?

There are two types of eclipses, a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and Moon, blocking the Sun's light and casting a shadow on the Moon. You probably have observed at least one of these in your lifetime. 
 
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. In this case, the Moon blocks the Sun's light from reaching Earth. It is a little more rare that we are able to view a solar eclipse. 

The diagram below helps to illustrate these concepts. See how little of the Earth is in darkness during the solar eclipse on the top half of the diagram? This is why it is rare that we get a chance to see it. 
 
The Lunar Eclipse, in the bottom half of the diagram, is visible from any place on Earth that is facing the moon at that time. This is why it is easier to catch a glimpse of a lunar eclipse.  
 
solar and lunar eclipse diagram 2024

How to View a Solar Eclipse Safely 

 
SAFETY FIRST! Whether you are in the path of totality for the next eclipse or will only see the sun partially obstructed, it is not safe to look directly at an eclipse! Just as looking at the sun can cause permanent damage to your retinas, so can looking at the sun during an eclipse. Regular sunglasses will not protect your eyes for this!
 

Solar Eclipse Glasses

 
There are several ways you can avoid damaging your precious eyes while eclipse viewing. You can purchase ISO 12312-2 certified solar eclipse glasses. Be cautious about your solar eclipse glasses purchase. Back in 2017 many counterfeit, unsafe glasses labeled with the ISO certification were on the market. Pretty icky stuff. Hopefully that is not the case this time around. Luckily, there are many companies that are well-known and trusted by the American Astronomical Society (AAS) as well as being certified safe. 

These are a few examples of AAS trusted solar eclipse glasses:
  1. Celestron: EclipSmart Safe Solar Eclipse Glasses
  2. American Paper Optics Eclipse Safety Glasses
  3. Lunt Solar Eclipse Glasses
If you are a public school looking for funding for solar eclipse glasses you can apply for a grant here.


Solar eclipse watch party

Build a Pinhole Camera

 
Another safe way to view an eclipse is to find a way to project the image of the eclipse somewhere else. One method is to make a pinhole camera, or pinhole projector. There are many easy ways to DIY your own. You can use the instructions here to make one out of a cardboard box.

Build a solar eclipse projector with me! If you have kids ages 8-11 then they can join me for my online class on solar eclipses. We will learn all about eclipses as well as how to view this one. Then we will make a solar eclipse projector out of common household materials. 
 
Check out more details for my class on Outschool- Solar Eclipse Science: Build Your Own Solar Eclipse Projector! here. (Even better, you may be able to enroll for FREE with my referral code or at a discount with my coupon code. You will find the codes and details here.

Outschool class build your own solar eclipse projector


When and Where to View Total Solar Eclipse 2024

 
On April 8th, 2024 the solar eclipse will pass over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The eclipse will reach Mexico's Pacific coast shortly after 11:00 AM, PDT. States in the U.S. that will experience a total eclipse include: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. 
 
You can learn more about the path and the timing for the total eclipse here on NASA's solar eclipse site.
 
You can also research when the eclipse will be arriving to your location on the Great American Eclipse site.
 
Even if you are not in the path of totality, you will witness a partial eclipse in any of the 48 contiguous states. It's sure to be a fascinating event! 

2024 Total Solar Eclipse NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
credit: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
 

During the Solar Eclipse

 
During the total eclipse you will see the sky darken and it will seem like night time. The birds and other animals will stop making noise as if night has come. What a strange and beautiful experience!

Some people may witness the "diamond ring effect" which occurs just a few seconds before the Moon completely covers the Sun. For just a second there is a a ring shape and a flash of bright light on one side of it. Pink or reddish flickers are solar prominences, or little bursts of hot material that shoot out from the Sun.

If you will view a partial eclipse you will see the Moon's shadow pass over a portion of the Sun.
 
Eclipse Progression from Batam, Indonesia