NURTURES (Networking Urban Resources with Teachers and University to enRich Early Childhood Science)

NURTURES (Networking Urban Resources with Teachers and University to enRich Early Childhood Science) is a partnership consisting of University of Toledo faculty from the education, engineering, and natural sciences departments, Toledo Public Schools, local daycare centers and nursery schools, informal science centers, and community resources, working together to create a complementary, integrated system of science education for preschool through third grade in the Toledo area.

NURTURES is a newly funded partnership and is currently in its first year, which is an intensive time of planning and piloting activities. Following the complementary learning model developed by the Harvard Research Group, NURTURES plans to create a replicable, effective complementary science education model for PreK through third grade. Project goals include increasing student achievement and interest in science, as well as increasing parental involvement and awareness of science education both inside and outside the classroom. We aim to do this by improving teacher’s science content understanding and pedagogy and creating opportunities for parents to engage in both formal and informal scientific activities with their child.

In all, we estimate to provide professional development to 495 preschool through third grade teachers across 50 preschool/daycare facilities and 300 classrooms over the five-year project. With our family activities and community events, we anticipate reaching approximately 10,000 students and families.