by Christine Scott
Apple Science
Grade level: Pre-Kindergarten through third grade
Introduction:
Do you believe that "an apple a day keeps the doctor away?" I'm not sure, but the children will make many discoveries as we begin this unit on Apple Science. Through active exploration and interaction , they will become more aware of different flavors of apples, colors of apples, and ways apples can be prepared and eaten.
Objective:
the children will learn parts of an apple
an apple as a fruit
apple grows on trees
textures, sizes and colors of apples
the origin of an apple
In this unit the focus will be on math, language art, music social studies and science
OBJECTIVES: Students should be able to:
identify parts of an apple.
identify textures, sizes and colors of apples.
identify the five parts of an apple.
recognize the different taste of apples.
realize that apples grow on trees.
VOCABULARY:
apple-a fruit that is grown on a tree.
texture-how something feels
core-the parts of the apple that contains seeds.
apple blossom- a flower on the tree.
apple butter- a spread for bread made from apples.
CONCEPTS FOR THE CHILDREN TO LEARN:
an apple is a fruit.
an apple grows on trees.
a group of apples is an orchard.
some apples are sweet; others are sour.
apples can be large or small.
seeds from an apple can grow into a tree.
There are over 7,500 known varieties of apples in the world. About 2,500 varieties are grown here in the United States.
Nearly 100 varieties are grown commercially in the U.S., but a total of fifteen popular varieties accounts for over 90 percent of production (listed in order of 1991 production):
1.Red Delicious 6.Jonathan 11.Winesap
2.Golden Delicious 7.York 12.Empire
3.McIntsh 8.Stayman 13.R.I. Greening
4.Granny Smith 9.Idared 14.Cortland
5.Rome Beauty 10.Newton 15.Northern Spy
Fuji and Gala apples re among the newest and fastest growing varieties to gain foothold in the U.S. market.
The Granny Smith variety is expected to replace McIntosh in 1992 and the #3 most popular apple.
Apple growers produce 39 pounds of apples per person in the U.S. in 1991. That's over 100 apples per person for one year alone.
According to the familiar saying, eating one of these apples a day will keep you healthy. Apples are definitely nourishing as well as tasty. This fruit contains a natural sugar that makes a great snack food because it supplies the body with a quick energy source while being low in calories-an average apple contains only about eighty calories. Apples are low in sodium, high in fiber, and contain no cholesterol-all important for maintaining a healthy body. As a bonus, the crisp juicy texture of the apple helps to message gums and clean teeth.
Different kinds of apples are different in colors, shapes and sizes. Their flesh is also different colors and textures and these vary in how sweet they taste.
Apples are another example of a food most people like. Maybe that's because there are so many kinds of apples.
No doubt you have heard of Johnny Appleseed. He was a bit of an apple fanatic. His real name was John Chapman, but not too many people would recognize him by that name.
1.Visit an apple orchard! Pick your own apples!
2.Have an apple tasting experiment. Bring in lots of varieties of apples-Winesap, McIntosh, Delicious, Granny Smith.
3.Make apple prints.
4. Make a waldorf salad for a classroom snack.
Cut apple shapes of various sizes from construction paper. Let the children sequence the shapes from smallest to largest.
Place a scale and various-sized apples on the math table. The children can experiment by weighing the apples.
MUSIC
"Apples Off My Tree"
(sing to the tune of "Skip to my Lou")
Pick some apples off my tree,
Pick some apples off my tree,
Pick some apples off my tree,
Pick them all for you and me.
FINGERPLAY
Apple Tree
Way up high in the apple tree
(stretch arm up high)
Two little apples smiled at me.
(hold up 2 fingers)
I shook that tree as hard as I could
(make shaking motion)
Down came the apples
(make downward motions)
Mmmm--they were good
(smile and rub stomach)
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Place the children in relay teams of 8-10 members. Give each captain an apple and place it under his/her chin. Have each team pass the apple down his or her team line, from chin to chin, using no hands.
Make apple prints. Cut apples in half and place cut side down in pans of autumn colored tempera paint. Press the apple onto white construction paper to create an apple print.
ORAL QUESTIONS:
What is an apple?
Can you name the parts of an apple?
Where do apples grow?
What color are apples?
What size is an apple?
What are apples use for?
CONCLUSION:
After exploring this unit on apples the students will have gained a tremendous knowledge about apples. Through active exploration and interaction, the children will become more aware of different flavors of apples, colors of apples and ways apples can be prepared and eaten.