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.







Saturday, September 29, 2012

Oat Fruit "Cookies"

I call these cookies for lack of a better word. They are not muffins or bars but they are considerably more nutritious than your average cookie.

You could easily substitute vegan shortening and 1 Tbsp flaxseed mixed with 3 Tbsp water for the egg if you wanted to make these vegan. Some vegans do not consume honey but other liquid sugars such as agave nectar could be used in place of the honey.

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup honey
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 c flaxseed
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups oats
1 apple, cored and chopped
1/2 c raisins

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, honey, egg* and vanilla until smooth. Combine the whole wheat flour, 1/4 c flaxseed, baking soda and cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in oats, apple and raisins. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets.
Bake at 375 for 8 to 10 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

*If you are using flaxseed as an egg substitute, mix 1 Tbsp flaxseed with 3 Tbsp water in a small bowl and let sit for two minutes before adding it to the other ingredients. 

Friday, September 28, 2012

Baby Bumble Bee

I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee
won't my mommy be so proud of me
I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee
ouch, it stung me!

I'm squashing up my baby bumble bee
won't my mommy be so proud of me
I'm squashing up my baby bumble bee
yuck, all over me!

I'm wiping off my baby bumble bee
won't my mommy be so proud of me
I'm wiping off my baby bumble bee
look, all done!

Lesson Plans 10/1/12 - 10/5/12

Songs: Baby Bumble Bee
           ABCs
Sensory: Cotton Balls

Monday 10/1
Book  Curious George's First Day of School
Circle Graph Making: What colors are you wearing?
Art     Liquid Watercolor Butterflies

Wednesday 10/3
Book First Day Jitters
Circle Science Experiment: Germs
Art     Bag Painting

Friday 10/5
Book Someone Says
Circle Simon Says
Art     Tempera Paint with Brushes

We will begin introducing some ASL signs. Both songs this week will use sign language and we will learn the signs for "more" and "all done"

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Lesson Plans 9/24/12 - 9/28/12

Songs: Old MacDonald Had a Farm
           Rocking Fishies
Sensory: Ice

Monday 9/24
Book  Curious George Plants a Tree
Circle Taste Testing Pasta Salad Ingredients
Art     Scratch Art
Other Planting Flowers in our Garden

Wednesday 9/26
Book The Little Pea
Circle Freeze Dancing
Art Painting on Plates
Other Science - Sink or Float

Friday 9/28
Book Food for Thought
Circle Patterns
Art Marble Painting

Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Old MacDonald had a farm
e i e i o
and on that farm he had a cow
e i e i o
with a moo moo here
and a moo moo there
here a moo, there a moo
everywhere a moo moo
Old MacDonald had a farm
e i e i o

(repeat with other farm animals and sounds)

Rocking Fishies

One little fishy swimming in the sea
splishing and a'splashing
rocking to the beat
in comes a friend
ooh say hello
two little fishies swimming in a row

(repeat until you get to five)

Five little fishies swimming in the sea
splishing and a'splashing
rocking to the beat
in comes a wave
whoops say buh-bye
no more fishies swimming in the tide.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Graham Crackers

  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup milk 

  • In a medium bowl, cream together the shortening and brown sugar. Stir in the vanilla. Combine the whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, stir into the creamed mixture alternately with the milk. Cover and chill dough until firm.
      Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into rectangles. Place 1/2 inch apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.

      Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until crisp. Edges will be golden brown. Remove from baking sheet to cool on wire racks.

      Granola Bars

      These are easy and yummy and pretty healthy, depending on what mix-ins you use.

      4 1/2 c granola (I usually use oats and honey granola by cascadian farms)
      1/2 c flour - you can use whole wheat flour, oat flour, whatever
      3/4 c apple butter*
      1/4 c honey
      1/2 tsp vanilla
      1 c mix ins such as dried fruit, nuts, chocolate chips, etc

      Mix everything except granola in large bowl. Gradually add granola and mix well.
      Press into 13x9 pan that has been sprayed with olive oil
      Bake at 350 for 20 minutes

      *I usually use pureed sweet potato in place of apple butter. Scrub sweet potatoes and poke with a fork a few times. Wrap in foil or place in large pan and cover pan with foil. Bake at 450 for an hour. Let cool and puree (use a food processor or an immersion blender if you have one - a regular mixer may not be strong enough). Spoon into ice cube trays or small containers and freeze. Use as needed in baked goods, soups, stews, or to make sweet potato pancakes.

      Carrot Muffins

      Carrot (or Apple or Zucchini) Muffins

      1/2 c water (use a little more for carrot or zucchini)
      1 c brown sugar (I actually normally use a little less - say 3/4 c brown sugar)
      1 c grated apples or carrots or zucchini (the food processor is your friend)
      1 c raisins
      1/2 c vegetable oil
      1 tsp cinnamon
      1 tsp nutmeg
      1 tsp baking soda
      1 3/4 c flour (I'd do half whole wheat and half white - all whole wheat makes them a little dense and grainy)

      Combine water, sugar, apples, raisins, oil and seasonings in saucepan over medium heat. Bring to boil.
      Remove from heat and let cool completely.
      Add flour and baking soda (you can also add 1/2 c nuts here if you want to) and stir til blended.
      Fill greased muffin tins with batter to the top.
      Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
      I used a silicone muffin tin and 25 minutes was perfect. You may need to adjust the time for different pans.

      *For a little extra nutrition, you can always sneak in 1/2 c pureed butternut squash to the ingredients on the stove. Cut a butternut squash in half the long way and scoop out the seeds. Place cut side down in a pan with an inch of water in it and roast at 400-450 for about an hour. Scoop the roasted squash out into an ice cube tray or small containers and freeze. Defrost and use as needed in a variety of recipes such as baked goods, soups, stews, pasta sauces, etc.

      Friday, September 14, 2012

      Lesson Plans 9/17 - 9/21

      Our theme this week is Families!
      Songs: My Mommy Comes Back
                 If You're Happy and You Know It
      Sensory: Shaving Cream

      Monday 9/17
      Book  I Love My Daddy Because... by Laurel Porter Gaylord
                When Dads Don't Grow Up by Marjorie Blain Parker
      Circle Who's In Your Family?
                Making Salsa
      Art     September Gift*

      Wednesday 9/19
      Book Where's My Mum? by Julia Donaldson**
                My Mommy Hung the Moon by Jamie Lee Curtis**
      Circle Dice Game
      Art Cookie Cutter Painting

      Friday 9/21
      Book What Matters Most by Kristin Carter
      Circle What's Missing?
      Art Roller Painting

      *The September gift will be wrapped before it is sent home. The child may choose who to give it to.

      ** Julia Donaldson and Jamie Lee Curtis are both favorite authors of mine. They both have several adorable children's books.

      If You're Happy and You Know It

      If you're happy and you know it
      clap your hands
      if you're happy and you know it
      clap your hands
      if you're happy and you know it
      and you really want to show it
      if you're happy and you know it
      clap your hands.

      Repeat with stomp your feet, shout hooray, do all 3, or any other motions you can think of.

      My Mommy Comes Back

      My Mommy comes back
      she always comes back
      my Mommy comes back
      to get me

      My Mommy comes back
      she always comes back
      she never would
      forget me

      (Sing again with Daddy and/or anyone else who picks up child from school)

      Monday, September 10, 2012

      Committment to the Environment

      Nature and Nurture is committed to protecting the environment and encouraging children to do the same. Here are just a few of the "green" things we do:
      • Serve all natural snacks that often use local and/or organic produce
      • Use reusable snack dishes instead of paper products
      • Use environmentally friendly cleaning products (such as vinegar and baking soda)
      • Use cleaning cloths instead of paper towels to wipe down tables and surfaces
      • Use repurposed materials for toys, learning materials, art projects, etc
      • Use 100% recycled paper for paper work, flyers, brochures, business cards, etc

      Lesson Plans 9/10 - 9/14

      Our theme this week is Dragons!
      Songs: 5 Green Dragons
                 All Around the Castle
      Sensory: Playdough with Cookie Cutters

      Monday 9/10
      Book Me and My Dragon
      Circle Taste Testing with Salad Ingredients (Graph)
      Art Group Collage

      Wednesday 9/12
      Book Good Night, Good Knight
      Circle Group Puzzle/Flannel Board
      Art Group Collage

      Friday 9/14
      Book Dragon Dancing*
      Circle Dragon Parade
      Art Dragon Painting with different textures

      *Dragon Dancing by Carole Lexa Schafer is a favorite of mine

      My Philosophy

      I won’t give you the moon but I’ll help you build your spaceship.

                  This is my child development philosophy in a nutshell. Being a perfectionist, I debated endlessly over the wording. Won’t or can’t? Will not or cannot? Can’t implies that if I could give my child the moon, I would do so. That just isn’t accurate. Won’t is a word, or contraction, that you don’t hear very often. It sounds abrasive, rude even. I won’t give you the moon, even if I could. While it almost sounds petty to say that, there is a deeper meaning. Even if I could give her the moon, I wouldn’t. What good would it be to her? Would she appreciate it? Probably not. But if she strives and struggles and reaches for the moon, and I support and encourage her along the way, what then? She’ll feel successful, confident, and proud. She will have truly accomplished something. That’s what I want for my child and the children I work with.
                  So what does it mean? How does that apply to my school? People familiar with child development may recognize my attitude as similar to Vygotsky’s concept of scaffolding. Vygotsky felt that children could attain quite a bit, if we would just give them the help they needed and no more. Why no more? Too much help can backfire. Some children get the message that they are incompetent or that mommy or daddy can accomplish something better, faster, easier so why bother? When put that way, it almost sounds as though we would do best to sit back and do nothing. Let our children struggle for themselves. But that also sends the wrong message. It says, “I don’t care about your effort, only results.” It leaves children feeling alone and unsupported. It’s tough to find the right balance. To give children just enough help that they feel both challenged and successful, supported and yet independent.
                  I want children to dream big and to feel loved. Whatever my child decides to do with her life, I will be right there with her, offering support, encouragement, and guidance. If that means I need to brush up on my astrophysics and start building a spaceship with her, I will.
                  For my preschoolers, it means I will strive to provide an environment that is engaging and challenging. I will use their interests to drive the lesson plans and activities. I will ask for their input and their ideas. I will foster their love of learning.

      Illness Policy

      If your child is contagious or unable to participate in the classroom and yard activities, we ask that you keep your child home.

      Signs of being contagious:
      green or yellow nasal congestion
      fever
      vomitting
      diarrhea

      Your child needs to remain at home until symptom free without medicine(s) for 24+ hours.

      If your child is on an antibiotic, he/she must be on it for 24+ hours before returning to class.

      FAQs


      What are your ratios?

      1:6 with a max of 12 children enrolled. Please see our teacher bios on the right hand side of the page for more information about our teachers’ qualifications.

      What should my child wear to school?

      Anything that is weather appropriate, comfortable, and OK to get messy in will be fine. We recommend closed toed shoes that your child can take on and off.

      What should my child bring to school?

      Your child does not need to bring anything to school except a jacket on cold days and a water bottle for the yard on hot days. We will provide a healthy and nutritious snack. We even have extra clothes in case of accidents. If your child wants to bring a small lovey to school, this is fine. The lovey can remain with your child or we can place it in a safe spot if/when your child is done with it. We cannot guarantee that a lovey will remain clean at school. If this is a problem, please do not send one.

      What about food allergies?

      In the case of food allergies, we would like to post a small photo of your child with any allergies listed on the photo in our snack prep area. This is to ensure that no one mistakenly gives your child the wrong food. We can provide alternative snacks for most food allergies and will be happy to work with you on this matter. Our snacks contain no peanuts or peanut products.

      What holidays does Nature and Nurture celebrate?

      Because we are an inclusive and secular program, we do not specifically celebrate any holidays. We will celebrate the seasons, the environment, and each individual child. Children and families are welcome to share their traditions with the class. We invite you to bring items from home or tell stories that are meaningful to your family. Please speak to a teacher if you would like time on our class schedule to share family traditions with the class.

      In the interests of diversity and inclusiveness, we will not celebrate any religious holiday, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. We will give the children an opportunity to make one gift item every month to be sent home and given to the friend or relative the child chooses.

      What about birthdays?

      If you would like the class to celebrate your child’s birthday or a special day in your child’s life (for example, if your family prefers to celebrate a milestone or an anniversary as opposed to a birthday) please let the teachers know. We supply the (all natural, made from scratch) cupcakes!

      We invite you to make a small contribution to the class such as a book or puzzle. This is completely optional. Teachers will keep a running list of needed items if you would like suggestions. Your child will get to present the item to the class at circle time and will get to be first to use the item in the classroom.

      How can I be involved in the classroom?

      We welcome family involvement in the classroom. Family members are invited to share traditions, help with special projects, or chaperone field trips. We also need two or three family members who may be available to volunteer in the classroom as a substitute teacher on occasion. If you are interested in substitute teaching, please let the teachers know. You will need to fill out a PVRPD Volunteer Application and be fingerprinted.

      We hold seasonal parties 4 times a year. Families are encouraged to attend.

      Do you do parent teacher conferences?

      Yes, we will hold parent teacher conferences in May to discuss your child’s development throughout the year. We will also hold parent teacher conferences as needed. Just ask!

      Do you track how children are learning/progressing?

      Yes, we do. We keep detailed developmental portfolios. Every month, we look at what each child is doing in several domains: cognitive, language and communication, social skills, self help, gross motor, fine motor and creative development. In addition, the portfolios often include photos and samples of art and writing.

      Twice a year we fill out a developmental assessment called the Desired Results Developmental Portfolio. The DRDP looks at 43 skills that preschoolers are developing.

      Our portfolios and assessments allow us to track your child’s development, look for patterns, guide our lesson plans, and give children extra support as needed.

      What does your program cost?

      The short answer is that we charge approximately $60/week. The longer, more accurate answer is that PVRPD charges class fees based on how many class days there are in a month. So a month with 8 class days will cost less than a month with 12 class days. PVRPD also adds a $3 administration fee to every class they operate. Tuition is paid to PVRPD by check or by credit card.

      We charge a $25/month materials fee, paid by check or cash directly to the teachers, that covers our snacks, consumable art supplies, field trips, and special projects. PVRPD does not collect this money, nor do they take a cut of it, which is why this money is separate. If it was collected along with tuition, we would have to charge roughly $40 to get the equivalent $25. We regret this inconvenience but it is a cost cutting measure.

      Including the materials fee, our program for the 2012/2013 school year cost a total of $2804. If you divide that by 12 months, it was an average cost of $234/month. This is one of the lowest cost programs in Camarillo yet we are adamant about providing the highest quality of care with low ratios, highly educated teachers, healthy snacks, etc.

      Furthermore, we promise not to nickel and dime you. We do not charge a yearly registration fee or an activities fee. We do not charge extra for field trips or class gifts. We do not ask families to provide supplies or go to fundraisers. We do not ask you or your children to sell anything.

      Collaborating with PVRPD allows us to share their site and keep our overhead costs low. We are very fortunate to be working with them.

      What IS a "Preschool Age Class" ?

      Preschool Age Class simply means that we are a class offered through PVRPD rather than a free-standing preschool. Free-standing preschools and child care facilities are licensed in California under the regulations of Title 22. These regulations ensure things like the qualifications of staff, the ratios of teachers to children, the safety of the site, etc. Programs offered by existing parks and recreation districts that meet for 12 hours a week or less are considered license-exempt. This does not mean that we relax our high standards though. For example, Title 22 licensing requires 1 teacher per 12 children, we have 2. Title 22 requires that teachers have at least 12 college units of education. Michelle has a bachelor's degree; Kristin has both a bachelor's and a master's degree. PVRPD maintains the safety of the site. Both Nature and Nurture and PVRPD are committed to offering an exceptional experience for young children.

      I’m interested in enrolling my child in your program. What do I do now?

      We recommend all families come in for a tour before their child starts attending. Please email Kristin at naturennurture@ymail.com to set up a tour. This gives your child a chance to see the classroom and meet the teachers. It gives you a chance to ask any questions you may have.

      We will add you to our roster if there are openings or to our wait list if we do not have openings. Once you are on the roster, PVRPD will be informed and you may register by calling them at 482-1996 or going in to the park office at 1605 E Burnley St

      Illy Ally Oh

      There's a big ship sailing on the Illy Ally Oh
      The Illy Ally Oh The Illy Ally Oh
      There's a big ship sailing on the Illy Ally Oh
      Hey-Oh Illy Ally Oh

      Well you pull on the rope and you hoist up the sail
      hoist up the sail, hoist up the sail
      well you pull up the rope and you hoist up the sail
      Hey-Oh Illy Ally Oh

      Well you throw out the nets and you haul in the fish
      haul in the fish, haul in the fish
      well you throw out the nets and you haul in the fish
      Hey-Oh Illy Ally Oh

      There's a big storm raging and it's rocking on the sea
      rocking on the sea, rocking on the sea
      There's a big storm raging and it's rocking on the sea
      Hey-Oh Illy Ally Oh

      The sailors get tired and they lie down to sleep
      lie down to sleep, lie down to sleep
      the sailors get tired and they lie down to sleep
      Hey-Oh Illy Ally Oh

      All Around the Castle

      (To the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush)

      All around the castle
      The knight chased the dragon
      The dragon thought it was all in good fun
      ROAR went the dragon

      5 Green Dragons

      5 green dragons all let out a roar
      1 flew away and then there were 4
      4 green dragons dancing 'round the tree
      1 flew away and then there were 3
      3 green dragons dancing around YOU
      1 flew away and then there were 2
      2 green dragons dancing in the sun
      1 flew away and then there was 1
      1 green dragon having lots of fun
      She flew away and then there were none