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PBS Reno Education Services Delivers Record Number
Curiosity Classroom Workshops in the 2023-2024 School Year
Teachers are encouraged to schedule a free workshop at education@pbsreno.org

 

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RENO, NV (AUG 13, 2024) — PBS Reno is thrilled to have delivered a record number of Curiosity Classroom workshops during the 2023-2024 school year, thanks to its team of trained and accredited facilitators, a growing demand from teachers, more than 1,800 volunteer hours, and the necessary grant acquisition and additional funding that make it all possible!

During the 2023-2024 school year, PBS Reno provided:

  • 6,959 Curiosity Classroom workshops (a nearly 8% increase since 2022-2023)
  • 1,066 robotics-specific workshops
  • 45,692 free books
     

During the 2023-2024 school year, PBS Reno visited:

  • 135,287 student participants
  • 2,773 Reading Buddies participants
  • 8 school districts in northern and central Nevada: Carson City, Washoe, Elko, Douglas, Humboldt, Lyon, Storey, and White Pine
  • 1 school district in northeastern California: Lake Tahoe Unified School District in El Dorado County
     

“We are delighted to provide fun, STEM learning opportunities in Pre-K through 4th grade classrooms!” said Nancy Maldonado, PBS Reno Vice President of Education. “We enhance the teacher’s curriculum and provide all of the materials and an experienced teacher presenter, for an enjoyable, hands-on learning experience. Our workshops are popular with teachers and students alike.”

PBS Reno Curiosity Classroom workshops are presented free of charge to Pre-K through 4th grade classrooms, and include high-quality video clips, a read-aloud, and a fun hands-on activity. Each workshop is a lesson in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and is aligned to Nevada Academic Content Standards, Common Core Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards. All materials are supplied, and students receive free books to build their own libraries at home. In 2020, Curiosity Classroom workshops were endorsed by the University of Nevada, Reno College of Education.

“We have had the absolute honor of being a part of the PBS Reno Curiosity Classroom workshops during the 2023-2024 school year,” said Kathleen McNamara, a 2nd/3rd grade teacher from Gerlach K-12 School. “Living up to her name, Ms. Joy (Joy Foremaster, PBS Reno Director of Education) has brought knowledge, curiosity, and of course, joy, to our rural K-12 school. Gerlach often seems too far to go the distance, but Ms. Joy and PBS Reno went above and beyond to make sure our students got to have the same experiences as “regular” schools within the Reno area. The lessons were the perfect blend of hands-on fun and education. The students got to learn about architecture (building a “house” from cards), buoyancy (building boats that actually float!), and unique mammals (koalas are in fact, NOT bears). The best way to ensure lasting learning is to make it fun, and Ms. Joy hits the mark.”

Curiosity Classroom workshops are free of charge and available October through June. Learn more at pbsreno.org/education/curiosityclassroom.

“Our in-school workshop program continues to grow to meet the demand for these engaging, hands-on, literacy and STEM based workshops,” said Kurt Mische, PBS Reno President & CEO. “These are provided without charge to the schools, parents, teachers or students. The financial commitment of our community makes these workshops possible and for that we are grateful. These workshops supplement our exceptional on-air children’s programming which gives our young ones a strong start in their education.”

Finally, PBS Reno received 2,777 entries in the 2024 Writers Contest. The next Writers Contest launches in January 2025. Stay tuned!


About PBS Reno

As of February 2024, PBS Reno is enjoyed by more than 288,000 monthly viewers in northern and central Nevada and northeastern California across several platforms including three broadcast channels (PBS Reno 5.1, Reno Create 5.2, and PBS KIDS on PBS Reno 5.3), a YouTube channel, YouTube TV, online, livestreams, and digital platforms. PBS Reno provides PBS national programming and award-earning, locally-produced content, with many local segments posted weekly to PBS Reno’s YouTube Channel. PBSReno.org provides engaging interactive content, including the video portal at watch.PBSReno.org that streams all locally-produced content and most PBS national content. PBS Reno serves students, teachers, parents and caregivers through immersive educational services including Curiosity Classroom Workshops that bring classroom lessons to life with standards-based lessons and activities. Through the support of local corporations and foundations, as well as thousands of individual members, PBS Reno has been delivering public television and educational services to the communities it serves since September 29, 1983.

Contact us:

Membership Questions: membership@pbsreno.org
Programming Hotline: programming@pbsreno.org

Phone: 775.600.0555
Address: 1670 N. Virginia St. • Reno NV 89503