Exploring Apples

Cut two apples in half (long & wide). Let the children explore the different parts of an apple (skin, stem, core, meat, seeds, etc) by touching, tasting and smelling. They can also listen when they bite the apple to the crunch sound that is made. Explain that an apple is a fruit because it contains seeds.

Apple Painting

Cut apples shapes from sponges. Provide shallow pans of red, yellow & green tempera paint, along with paper. The children can use the apple sponge as a painting tool, or it can be dipped and placed on the paper to create a print.

Applesauce

Core and cut 4 large apples. Place the apples in a pot with 1/2 cup of water. Simmer the apples on low heat, stirring occasionally , until soft. Add 3 Tbs. of sugar and sprinkle with cinnamon. Simmer and stir for a few more minutes. Cool & eat.

Apple Stand

Provide children with bags, plastic or wooden apples, cash register, money, stand & bushels. Encourage buying, selling and packaging of the apples through pretend play.

All About Apples

Using the attached apple information sheet or read an apple book. Talk about the different varieties of apples, uses of apples and facts about apples. You can also use a world and country map to show the different places where a lot of apples are grown (see attachment).

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Apple Orchard

Visit an apple orchard and observe the workers picking, sorting, and/or selling apples. Call attention to the different colors and types of apples. If possible, let the children pick an apple (or more) each to buy. Children can enjoy looking at and tasting the different types of apples grown in the orchard.

Apple Weighing

Provide a scale and let the children experiment by weighing different kinds and sizes of apples. You can also provide paper & pencils so the children or you can make note of the differences in weight.

Climbing and Apple Tree

Let the children explore by climbing an apple tree. Make sure you pick safe And sturdy trees to climb and talk to the kids about climbing safety. Or the children can climb on jungle gyms and pretend like they are climbing up apple trees.

Apple Tree Fingerplay

Way up high in the apple tree (stretch arms up high)
Two little apples smiled at me (show 2 fingers)
I shook that tree as hard as I could (shaking motion)
Down came the apples (downward motions)
Mmmmm----they were good. (smile and rub stomach)

Apples Journal Page

Read a book about apples then hand out a journal sheet with this question on it: "How do you like to eat apples?" Record the children's responses and let them draw a picture to go along with their response.

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Apples and Oxygen

Cut and core an apple into sections. Dip half the apple into lemon juice & place it on a plate. Place the remaining sections of apple on another plate. Label the plates. What happens to each plate of apples? Discuss how lemon juice keeps oxygen from the apples and they don’t discolor as rapidly.

Dried Apples

Peel, core & cut apples into slices or rings (1/8" thick). Prepare a saltwater solution (1 Tbs. salt to 1 gallon of water). Place the sliced apples in the solution for several minutes. Drain the apples. Place them in the oven (180°) for 3-4 hours or until dry. Turn the apples occasionally.

Apples Lesson

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