Young children may be the most curious creatures on the planet. Whether they are following up the question they asked with another question (Why?) or seeing what exactly is under that rock, kids are constantly investigating their world.
Nurturing curiosity can help prepare little ones for school and beyond. When I was teaching science to middle and high school students, helping students learn the content was important. At the same time, I encouraged them to be make observations and ask questions. These skills form the basis of scientific research. PBS NATURE frequently shows scientists challenging assumptions and gathering evidence as they investigate sloths, beavers, albatrosses and the many other animals that have been featured on the program.
We wanted to share NATURE with a younger audience in a way that met their needs and helped them explore the world. That’s why we’re rolling out NATURE NUGGETS–a brand new and free texting initiative that brings NATURE to the mobile devices of parents, caregivers and educators. We designed NATURE NUGGETS to include these kid-friendly (and caregiver-friendly!) features:
- Mobile Delivery People who sign up for this campaign (instructions for joining are below) will receive a text message each week for eight weeks with a link to a NATURE NUGGET video. By sending content to a smartphone, parents and caregivers will be ready to share it with their kids whenever it is convenient.
- Short Segments NATURE NUGGETS are one minute long. These short clips are a launching point for questioning and exploring.
- Narration-free Video In order to help early learners focus on what the animals are doing, we removed the narration. Children can see and hear what is happening without being distracted by words they may not understand.
- Discussion and Investigation Tips Along with the weekly video link, we will send questions to ask before and after viewing. We will also include suggestions for follow-up activities that help extend the experience.
Here is a first look at NATURE NUGGETS:
Please help us spread the word about NATURE NUGGETS and let anyone who takes care of young children know how they can participate. We’d love to hear how people are using NATURE NUGGETS—feel free to leave comments below.
Interested in getting NATURE NUGGETS sent directly to your smartphone?
Text NATURE to 30644 to sign up.
Standard data and messaging rates may apply. Opt out anytime.