NURTURES Family Engagement provides opportunities to extend science learning from school to home with fun, educative activities for the entire family. Activities and supporting materials are designed to support and encourage families to have meaningful science discussions, use scientific vocabulary, promote interest in science learning, and reinforce math and literacy concepts.
Family Packs are designed to extend science learning from school to home with fun, educative activities for the entire family. Each pack features activity directions, a journal sheet for children to record data or visually represent their understanding, and a list of necessary materials.
Family Packs are designed to support and encourage families to have meaningful science discussions, use scientific vocabulary, promote interest in science learning, and reinforce math and literacy concepts.
Families make observations of the night sky, then discuss and draw a constellation.
Families discuss and sort different animals into habitats, then they create their own animal and discuss which habitat(s) their animal would live in.
Families make observations of the sky, describing and classifying clouds using a cloud guide. They record their cloud observations over several days.
Families use their senses and science equipment to examine and sort various rocks by their observable properties, then draw a rock and identify its characteristics.
Families construct a windsock, then observe and track local weather conditions over time.
Families make observations of the Moon and track the changes of Moon phases over time.
Families use their senses and science equipment to examine and sort various rocks by their observable properties.
Families classify “critters”, use science equipment to find living things around the house, draw observations, and collect data on living things in their neighborhood.
Families explore forces and motion through a game-based challenge. They discuss, observe, and document the role force plays in their game results.
Families make observations about trees near their home, exploring different types of trees and tree leaves.
Families investigate the physical properties of water by collecting data and observing changes in small ice sculptures placed in different locations.
Families explore the needs of living things through an investigation involving the observable effects of varying sun and water on plant growth.
Families explore forces and motion through a game-based challenge. They discuss, observe, and document the role force plays in their game results.
Families explore the characteristics of various extinct animals, then identify and describe living animals that are similar.
Families investigate the temperature in and outside of their homes using thermometers and recording data to test their predictions.
Families explore characteristics of tornadoes by making observations using a tornado model made from plastic bottles, water, and a special connector.
Families experience the Engineering Process by designing and building air racers, testing to see which air racer can go the farthest, using only wind power.
Families investigate how different household substances affect the rate at which an ice cube melts.
Families make observations, using science equipment, of a living animal and identify adaptations that help it survive.
Families investigate their household trash, then use the data to develop a plan to help reduce, reuse, or recycle.
Family Event Activities are designed to enhance family engagement in science with fun, educative activities for the entire family. Events featuring these activities be hosted by classroom teachers at schools or local community settings.
Events featuring these activities provide multiple opportunities for families to experience science and engineering. Activities are designed to support family discussions about science & engineering and encourage children to communicate ideas and make conclusions.
Families build a boat that can hold as much weight as possible without sinking.
Families build a maze for a ball that incorporates multiple forms of motion between the start and finish.
Families build a house for a plant that provides the necessities for survival and growth.
Families build a rocket; then test their design to see how far it can fly!
Families construct the tallest free-standing tower that can hold weight and withstand winds.
Families work together to observe and identify living & non-living things in mini- ponds or mini-plots of soil.
Family Videos are 1-minute learning segments aligned with science and engineering practices and reinforce the Explore, Discuss, Think learning philosophy by briefly detailing an exploration and encouraging families to talk together about what happened during the exploration and why they observed the things they did.
Other topics include: Animal Habitats, Wind Socks, Force & Motion, and Sediments
Other topics include: Rocks, Terrariums, Egg Drop, and Rain Jar
Over the past decade, NURTURES has worked with hundreds of PreK and Elementary teachers along with thousands of students and families nationwide.
NURTURES (Phase 1: 2011-2017) was founded on the goal of creating an integrated system of science education for PreK-3rd grade, transforming the way in which PreK-3rd science is taught through the development and implementation of a complementary science education learning model that combines inquiry and learning, formal and informal education, teachers and parents, schools, and the community, in a comprehensive effort to improve science subject interest and science achievement.
Building on the success of the initial phase of the program, the aims of NURTURES (Phase 2: 2017-2020) were to transform early childhood science teaching based upon Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and engage families of PreK-3 students in science inquiry practices to measurably improve student science, literacy, and math achievement. A particularly important facet of this follow-up project was to research how each component (teacher professional development versus family engagement) impacts student learning.
NURTURES (Phase 3: 2020-2024) is funded to specifically work with military-connected teachers and their classroom families. In this latest phase, NURTURES is working with multiple site teams to implement teacher professional development and family engagement programming on a nationwide scale. The foci of this latest phase necessitates further program development and iterations on delivery methods as well as the development of formal facilitator training components to support the addition of multi-site teams.
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