Archived Message

Message from the SEE Project Director

Lessons to Be Learned

Did you know that according to the 2000 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s Report Card, the average math scores of students in grades 4, 8, and 12 have improved only slightly?

Did you know that 82 percent of our nation's 12th graders performed below the proficient level on the 2000 NAEP science test? For African-American students, these numbers, although improving, are more dismal. In the 2005 NAEP, mathematics assessment showed a national average score of 237 (on a 0-500 scale), while African-American students averaged 220.

Did you know that Delta SEE (Science & Everyday Experiences) has trained members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., in over 556 chapters across the United States, Germany, Korea, Japan, the Virgin Islands, and Jamaica to do math, science and technology activities with African-American school children?

Did you know that Delta SEE has designed a versatile educational tool that combines mathematics, science, and technology facts as well as providing biographical information on African-American scientists to assist parents and caregivers in engaging their children in learning while playing? It is our Did You Know playing cards.

Since 2003, Delta SEE has engaged 12,731 girls and 5,864 boys in a range of math, science, and technology-related activities in an effort to improve mathematics and science literacy in an informal science education (ISE) environment. ISE-related activities include trips to science museums, hands-on activities at community events, after-school programs and tutoring, and in the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy. Delta SEE has also reached 22,603 women and 3,462 men who are parents and caregivers of African-American children.

Use the Did You Know playing cards with the SEE fractions hands-on activity. The cards are fun for all ages. Read the facts to the younger children and let the older ones explore the facts on their own during a game of War. Do they still play War with cards as I did as a child? If not, maybe we should introduce them to a much less violent form of War and there can be some lessons learned. Click here to order your cards today or explore our website for many other activities to help your children and to improve the Nation’s Report Card.