Welcome. Nature and Nurture is a Preschool Age Class offered in collaboration with the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Parks District. On our website, you can find this week's lesson plans, this month's snack menu, upcoming events, our policies, and more. Please have a look around.







Thursday, December 27, 2012

Play Date

I sent around an email a couple days ago but I don't think everyone got it. Evann would like to invite everyone to a playdate tomorrow (Friday 12/28/12) 10:00 at the park on Bridgehampton Way near Spring Park Rd. Hope to see you there!

If you did not receive an email from me, please add naturennurture@ymail.com to your contacts so that you get emails in the future.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Lesson Plans 12/17/12 - 12/19/12

Songs       The Hokey Pokey
                Put Your Finger on Your Knee
Sensory    Instant Snow

Monday
Circle       Sink or Float
Book        Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
Art           Pinecone Painting

Wednesday
Circle      Patterns
Book       Winter Is the Warmest Season By Lauren Stringer
Art          Roller Painting

Wednesday is our Winter Party! Come one, come all!

Put Your Finger On Your Knee

Tune:  “If You’re Happy And You Know It”

Put your finger on your knee, on your knee.
Put your finger on your knee, on your knee.
Then turn yourself around,
Stamp your feet upon the ground,
And put your little finger on your knee.

Continue singing and pointing to additional body parts.

The Hokey Pokey

You put your left foot in
You put your left foot out
You put your left foot in
And you shake it all about
You do the hokey pokey
And you turn yourself around
That’s what it’s all about!
Continue singing and pointing to additional body parts.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Developmental Preschool

What is my child actually learning in preschool? It looks like all you do is play.

            I get this a lot. A LOT. The short answer is, yes, we are playing. And yes, your child is learning. The long answer is, well, considerably longer. How much time have you got?
            Nature and Nurture is a developmental or play based preschool. We feel that children learn best through play, through actively exploring their environment and through actively manipulating materials. We carefully set up the environment (i.e. the classroom) to provide a variety of activities that children can engage in. A cozy corner with books, pillows, and stuffed animals encourages children to enjoy reading. A dramatic play area with a play kitchen, dishes and food, and dress ups encourages children to use their imagination and engage in pretend play. A block area (and train area as it happens) encourages children to think about spatial alignment and physics, such as gravity. Math and science toys encourage hands on exploration of concepts like weight, patterns, measurements, and quantity. Fine motor toys such as lacing beads and puzzles encourage children to improve their dexterity. A drawing table encourages creativity as well as fine motor skills. A sensory table allows children to experiment with different sensations. Children are very tactile and learn a lot about how materials behave by feeling them. A sensory table provides both sensory input and a chance to get messy. Playdough, shaving cream, dried beans, fabric scraps, etc are all engaging sensory materials. A one person table provides a safe, quiet place for a child who is feeling overwhelmed or just wants some space.
            The next component of a developmental preschool is how teachers interact with children. We get down on their level to talk to them. We avoid interrupting their play unless they are doing something potentially problematic. We encourage them to be active participants in their environment. We respect possession and ownership. We respect a child’s use of materials and we do not arbitrarily end their turn with an item. We encourage children to find their own solutions to problems and are there to provide options and oversight.
            The final component of a developmental preschool is the curriculum. It may appear that we are randomly moving through a series of art projects, books, and songs but that isn’t the case. A great deal of thought goes in to providing a variety of activities to meet children at their developmental level, to use children’s interests to drive learning, and to provide challenges and opportunities to grow. We don’t just offer finger-painting and gluing. We offer art projects that encompass a variety of materials and techniques. We don’t just sing songs at circle time. We sing songs that relate to the books we read, the activities we do, or the world around us. We sing songs that use a variety of rhythm schemes and some that incorporate sign language or body movement. We don’t just play a game at circle. We do a science experiment or a math project that we chart out. We learn about patterns, quantity, cause and effect, and problem solving. We don’t just eat snack. We eat a variety of all natural foods. We talk about nutrition and balance. We show the children how to wash produce or how to mix ingredients for salad dressing. We expose the children to new flavors to expand their palette.
            So what IS your child learning at preschool? Your child is learning that he is valued and respected. Your child is learning how to help her friends. Your child is learning how to share, how to navigate social cues, how to be an active participant in a community. And somewhere in there, your child is learning the academic skills necessary for kindergarten.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Lesson Plans 12/10/12 - 12/14/12

Songs      Little Penguin
               Teddy Bear Teddy Bear
Sensory   Shaving Cream

Monday 12/10/12
Circle      Cooking Project
Book      Clay Art by Gloria Elliott
Art         December Gift

Wednesday 12/12/12
Circle     Sorting and Weighing
Book      The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson
Art         December Gift

Friday 12/14/12
Circle     Bug Bug Under the Rug
Book     Curious George in the Snow by Margaret and H.A. Rey
Art         Collage

Little Penguin

Wibble wobble wibble wobble
to and fro
I'm a little penguin
don't you know?

Wibble wibble wibble wobble
one two three
I'm as happy
as can be!

Monday, December 3, 2012

Winter Party

We are throwing a Winter Party
Wednesday December 19th from 10:30 - 12:00

This is a chance to get to know your child's teachers better
and to meet the other families that make up Nature and Nurture. Siblings and other family members welcome.

Please let us know if you would like to bring a snack to share.

I'm a Little Teapot

I'm a little teapot,
Short and stout,
Here is my handle,
Here is my spout,
When I get all steamed up,
Hear me shout,
Tip me over and pour me out!

If It's Windy

Tune: “If You’re Happy And You Know It”
If it’s windy and you know it swing and sway.
If it’s windy and you know it swing and sway.
If it’s windy and you know it,
Then your clothes will surely show it.
If it’s windy and you know it, swing and sway.
If it’s sunny and you know it, then go play.
If it’s sunny and you know it, then go play.
If it’s sunny and you know it,
Then your clothes will surely show it.
If it’s sunny and you know it, then go play.
If it’s rainy and you know it, splash about.
If it’s rainy and you know it, splash about.
If it’s rainy and you know it,
Then your clothes will surely show it.
If it’s rainy and you know it, splash about.

Lesson Plans 12/3/12 - 12/7/12

Songs        If It's Windy
                 I'm a Little Teapot
Sensory     Sand Activities

Monday
Book        DW Goes to Preschool
Circle        Comparing Sizes
Art            Sponge Painting

Wednesday
Book        Hide and Sheep
Circle       Ice Cube Science Experiment
Art           Cotton Ball Sheep

Friday
Book       From Head to Toe
Circle       Soda Bottle Cyclone
Art           Macaroni Art