Preschool Ecology Extended Day program
Fall 2014 – Spring 2015
Orientation and Open House
Welcome to the Friends of Rye Nature Center Preschool Ecology program! We’re so
happy your family is joining our program to enrich your child’s education by building a strong
connection to nature. Our education team will build on your child’s natural curiosity for the
world around them by engaging them in age-appropriate, hands-on activities in science, the
arts, music, and play. Our approach to environmental education is place-based, meaning that
we want children to become familiar with and comfortable in their local, “native” surroundings.
The goal of Preschool Ecology is not to memorize every tree, rock and creature in Rye, but to
learn how to look closely at one’s surroundings, and to take the time to enjoy it!
The program is divided into different units, starting with “Earth and the Changing
Seasons.” This will be the theme from September through the end of October as we look at the
different life cycles and patterns that occur during the harvest months. In early November the
theme transitions into “Living Things and their Habitats.” We will be categorizing and
contrasting living things versus non-living things, as well as determining the ways in which
plants and animals have adapted to live in cold environments. As we move into the cooler
winter months, the focus will move to “Physical Properties of the World” which will focus on
utilizing the scientific method to explore matter, energy and cause and effect relationships. As
winter comes to an end we will transition to “Recycling and Earth’s Helpers,” followed by our
final unit on “Spring and Life Cycles”. Please continue to check your e-mail, as you will receive
regular updates from your child’s teacher about the weekly topics and lessons.
Outdoor time may involve organized activities such as a “listening walk” through the
woods and working in the garden, or an unstructured playtime that facilitates social interaction
between the children. Art activities will utilize a large variety of different media and techniques
including collaging, stamping, drawing, painting, and sculpting. We understand that children
produce a lot of art, but space on the fridge is limited; therefore, many of our art projects will
be large, collaborative projects that will be displayed here at the Nature Center, with the
occasional special piece sent home. There will always be a fine motor activity set up in the
classroom, and many of our science and art activities will practice hand and finger dexterity as
well.
Our science component will focus on developing observation skills and introduce the
scientific method beginning with asking questions. We have a Discovery Table, which will
change weekly to complement our lessons. We’ll introduce technology through the use of our
Smart Board and microscopes, as well as age-appropriate math activities like charts and data
tables. Engaging all senses will be a priority as we look, touch, hear, smell and taste the natural
world around us.
*Please view the included sample lesson plan for the unit “Earth and the Changing Seasons” at
the end of this packet.
Pick-up & Drop-off Logistics:
Monday, Wednesday Afternoon, Friday
FRNC staff signs out children from RPNS and
CCNS between 11:30 – 11:45, parents from
other schools drop off at 12:00 at Nature
Center.
2:20 p.m. pick-up.
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Tuesday, Wednesday Morning, Thursday
9:20 drop-off at Nature Center.
FRNC staff signs children into CCNS and RPNS for
PM classes by 12:15. All others pick up at 12:00.
On Mondays, Wednesday afternoons, and Fridays, FRNC staff will sign children out of
their morning preschool classes at Rye Presbyterian Nursery School (RPNS) Christ
Church Nursery School (CCNS).
Children arriving from RPNS will walk from the school building to the house directly
across from the Nature Center driveway. Children will walk down the driveway; a
Nature Center staff member will then stop traffic on Boston Post Road. Children hold
onto a walking rope with handles, while one teacher stays in the front and another at
the back. Traffic remains stopped until the last child is safely on the Nature Center
driveway.
Children going to / from Christ Church will walk along the sidewalk down Milton Road to
the Boston Post Road then cross at the Nature Center driveway following the same
procedure.
Children attending our program from other schools will need to be dropped off and
picked up by parents. For Monday, Wednesday afternoon, and Friday please drop off at
12:00 and pick up at 2:20. For Tuesday, Wednesday morning, and Thursday please drop
off at 9:20 and pick up at 12:00.
During Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday classes, FRNC staff will reverse the
procedure. Kids walk to Boston Post Road and then cross together. FRNC staff will take
children to their classrooms for afternoon preschool class at RPNS and/or CCNS.
Preschool teachers will sign in each child.
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The rules for crossing the street are reviewed daily. They are:
o We wait until cars coming from both directions are completely stopped,
o One hand stays on the rope, the other is a stop sign (held up to cars),
o There is no talking during crossing, and
o We walk quickly & quietly!
Weather and conditions permitting, we will utilize the trails to get to the Nature Center
building rather than staying on the driveway. If the kids are on the driveway and a car
arrives, they are instructed to move to the rocks alongside the driveway and freeze like
a statue. Once the car has safely passed by walking resumes.
Please note that we cannot accommodate early/late pick-up or early drop-off times.
Please e-mail or call to let us know if your child will not be attending on a particular day.
Please send the following items with your preschool ecology student:
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A complete change of clothes: Please label a bag with your child’s name and include a
shirt, pants, socks and underwear. This will stay at Rye Nature Center for the duration
of the preschool ecology program.
Lunch: Please pack a healthy, hearty lunch for your child. During lunch we emphasize
the proper eating order: healthy foods / main dish first, then snacks. Please keep in
mind that fewer options equals more eating. We can heat up your child’s food in the
microwave if requested. In order to cut down on waste we will be teaching the children
how to compost and recycle. Please note that all other lunch waste will be sent home
with your child to reduce the amount of trash generated at the Nature Center.
*Due to allergies, we ask that students enrolled in the Monday and Wednesday classes do
not bring peanut or nut products in their lunch. On other days we will have a nut-free lunch
table.
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Shoes & Clothing: Sturdy, closed-toed shoes such as sneakers or lightweight hiking
boots are ideal for preschool ecology class. Flip-flops, crocs, open-back or open-toe
sandals are not appropriate. Please dress your child for the day’s weather conditions.
Send your child in clothing that can get dirty since we spend a lot of time outdoors and
create science and art projects that can get messy!
Rain & Snow Gear: When rain is in the forecast, please send a rain coat and boots or
extra shoes (no umbrellas). We will go on hikes and play outdoors in light rain. During
the crossing to / from school, our staff will carry large umbrellas to help keep the
children dry. We also go out in the snow- full gear including boots, snow pants, gloves
and hats are needed on snowy days.
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Water bottles: A small water bottle for outdoor playtime and hikes help keep your child
hydrated and cuts down on our disposable cup use.
Please label everything you send with your child- jackets, shoes and especially water bottles!
We ask that you do not send your child with toys from home; these have a tendency to get lost
during hikes and games. No electronics are permitted at the Nature Center.
Inclement Weather & Cancelations:
If Rye City Schools close due to inclement weather Preschool Ecology will be canceled. In the
case of a delay, morning classes will start at 9:45, afternoon classes will start at the usual time.
We will go outdoors in light rain and snow, but not downpours, thunderstorms or heavy snow
conditions. If there is a thunderstorm during walking times, we wait at the preschool or Nature
Center until the weather has improved. Whenever emergency conditions occur we will
communicate through e-mail, phone, and social media.
Our Staff:
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Allison Bedosky, Education Director: allisonbedosky@ryenaturecenter.org
Allison currently holds a Master’s degree in Education from Manhattanville College. She has
been the Education Director since December 2013 and is the Camp Director for our summer
programs. She co-taught in our Preschool Ecology program for the past two years. She will
be teaching the Monday sessions.
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Jeni Casinelli, Education and Program Coordinator: JeniCasinelli@ryenaturecenter.org
Jeni has been working in the environmental education field for over four years. Jeni has
spent the past two years working with the Preschool Ecology program as well as being our
preschool specialist during summer camp. She has enjoyed the outdoors for as long as she
can remember. Jeni graduated from Siena College where she majored in Environmental
Science. Jeni will be teaching the Monday, Tuesday and Thursday sessions.
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Mary Gillick, Program Director: MaryGillick@ryenaturecenter.org
Mary has over twenty years of environmental education experience and has been at the
Rye Nature Center for ten years. In addition to preschool, she teaches our Wild Outside
after school program as well as many of our other programs and school classes. She earned
her Bachelor’s degree from Iona College. Mary will be teaching Wednesday preschool
sessions.
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Henry Myers, Environmental Educator, HenryMyers@ryenaturecenter.org
Henry returned to the Nature Center three years ago after spending five years with the
Madden Nature Center in Carmel, NY. Henry re-joined the preschool ecology program two
years ago and is looking forward to another year. In addition, Henry currently leads many
birthday party programs as well as various public programs at the Nature. Henry attended
West Virginia University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Parks and Tourism
Resources. He is a recent graduate from SUNY Purchase where he earned another
Bachelor’s degree in Biology. He will be teaching Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
sessions.
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Courtney Turner, Environmental Educator, courtneyturner@ryenaturecenter.org
New to our program this year, Courtney graduated from Hamilton College in 2010, and has
since trained at the Sheldrake Environmental Center in Larchmont. Here, she gained
experience working with local ecology and using various teaching techniques and strategies
for leading elementary school trips in the local nature preserves. Prior to joining the RNC
team, Courtney worked at the Hell’s Kitchen Farm Project in NYC where she was a youth
educator. Her responsibilities included designing and implementing a four-season farmbased curriculum to serve elementary and middle school students. Courtney will be
teaching our Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday pre-school sessions.
• Taro Ietaka, Director of Conservation and Land Stewardship,
taroietaka@ryenaturecenter.org
Taro graduated SUNY Geneseo and worked the last seven years in various parks and nature
centers throughout the country. He will be making special visits to our preschool classes
teaching your young ones about the local forest and his lessons will incorporate our current
unit topic. Taro Ietaka will also be assisting with crossings when needed.
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Christine Siller, Executive Director, christinesiller@ryenaturecenter.org
Christine first became involved at the Rye Nature Center in 2006 when her son began
Preschool Ecology at the Center. Driven by a passion for the outdoors and ecological
responsibility, she began volunteering at the FRNC and took on various projects including
grant writing, marketing, and fundraising. Thereafter, Christine joined the Board of
Directors and was chosen to lead the organization in 2009. Prior to the Nature Center, she
worked as a Marketing Consultant in the financial services and publishing industries.
Christine completed her Bachelor’s at New York University and Master’s at McGill
University. Christine Siller will be assisting with crossings when needed and will be handling
the administrative aspects of the program.
If you have any questions at all, please reach out to our staff at 914.967.5150, or by email. We’re looking forward to an amazing nature experience for your family!
Sample Lesson Plan:
Preschool Ecology
2014-2015
Unit 1: Earth & the Changing Seasons
Apples in fall; Properties of Matter and Parts of an Apple
September 29-October 1
Purpose: Children will participate in making apple cider in order to demonstrate the properties of
matter, and identify the parts of an apple.
Objectives:
Students will be able to label the parts of an apple
Students will observe as apples are transformed from a solids to a liquids
Students will use a graph to organize data
Pre-k Common CORE:
1. Domain 3: Social and Emotional Development
a. Relationships with others-4.a: Approaches children already engaged in play; 4.c:
Shares materials and toys with others
b. Accountability-6.b: Engages easily in routine activities; 6.c: Uses materials
purposefully, safely, and respectfully as set by group rules
2. Domain 4: Communication, Language, and Literacy
a. Motivation-1.b: Asks questions
b. Background knowledge-2.c: Uses new vocabulary correctly
c. Viewing-3.b:Identifies emotions by observing faces in pictures and faces of peers and
adults; 3.d:Makes inferences an draws conclusions based on information from visual
text
d. Representing-4.a: Uses facial expressions, body language, gestures, and sign language
to express ideas; 4.c: Uses visual media to represent an actual experience
e. Vocabulary-6.c: Makes use of new and rare words introduced by adults or peers; 6.d:
Correctly names pictures when asked, “What is this?”
3. Domain 5: SCIENCE
a. Scientific thinking-1.c: Makes observations and describes changes in objects, living
things, and natural events in the environment; 2.d: Records and organizes data using
graphs, charts, science journals, and other means of recording
b. Earth and space-4.d:Observes and discusses changes in weather an seasons using
common weather related vocabulary; 4.e: Expresses ways the environment provides
natural resources that are needed by people
c. Living things-5.g: Describes simple life cycles of plant and animals; 5.k: Observes,
records, and explains how plants and animals respond to changes in the environment
and changes in seasons
d. Physical properties-6.f: Investigates common interactions between matter and energy
Materials:
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6 apples for slicing
Enough apples for each child to put into cider press
Cider Press
Chart on Ipad or poster board
Assessment handout
Procedure:
1. Arrival/lunch/Group Play
2. Circle time/meeting/schedule
3. Smartboard: half the group then switch
a. Put up picture of the parts of an apple
b. Go over the parts, and describe what the role is of each of the parts
4. Table: half the group then switch
a. Have 2-3 apples, and cut them vertically into slices
b. Each time you make a new cut, have the children say the different parts of the apple
that they see
5. Go outside under the tent and make apple cider
a. Go over the parts/and process of making cider
b. Allow each child to sip on the apple cider
6. Use a chart to display data (who liked/disliked the apple cider)
a. You can also do a comparison for who prefers a solid apple fruit to the liquid cider
Assessment:
Using template below or one similar, the children will cut out the parts of the apple and glue them in the
correct spots. You can put the original image back on the Smartboard to help them. They can also
decorate their sheets.