Subject Area: Science and Math

Book Summary
Join the bunny family on an apple-picking trip to the Long Hill Orchard. The story incorporates fiction with informational text to teach children all about apples. Includes an applesauce recipe and several apple-related activities. The perfect fall book for any classroom planning a trip to an orchard or farmer's market.

Objective
Children will develop science and math skills as they learn about different types of apples, identify characteristics of apples, and engage in cooking and graphing activities.

Before Reading
On a sheet of chart paper, write the following question: What can you do with an apple? Show the children the book Apples, Apples, Apples. Ask them to look at the cover and describe what the bunny is doing. Review the question that is written on the sheet of chart paper. Ask the children to think of different things that can be done with an apple after it has been picked from the tree. Record their responses.

Teaching Plan

Learning About Apples, Apples, Apples
Materials

1. Chart paper
2. Markers
3. Several color varieties of apples (red delicious, golden delicious, granny smith)
4. Soil
5. Plastic cups
6. Masking tape
7. Construction paper: white, brown, red, yellow, green
8. Glue sticks
9. For planting: soil, apple seeds, plastic cups or pint-size milk cartons

In advance: Read the book Apples, Apples, Apples with the class. Plan a class trip to an orchard, farmer's market, or local store to purchase different varieties of apples. Explain to the children that they will engage in a variety of activities using apples, including the activities that are presented in the book.

Observing Apples. Show the graph of the different varieties of apples depicted in the book. Review the information with the class. Explain that they will learn about different types of apples. Place the apples in the middle of the meeting area or on a table. Invite the class to look at and compare the shapes of the apples. Ask them to describe the differences and similarities. Invite the children to feel the different apples. Prepare a sheet of chart paper to record their observations.

Smelling Apples. Place one of each type of apple in a small basket or container. Tell the class that they will each have a turn to smell the different types of apples. Ask them to compare the different apple smells. Do the different-color apples all smell similar? It is important to encourage hands-on sensory exploration of the apples. Record their responses on chart paper.

Comparing Apple Seeds. Show students the page in the book where Mr. Miller cuts an apple in half to reveal a star and the seeds. Ask them to recall how many seeds an apple can have. Have an adult cut each apple in half. Invite the children to predict how many seeds they will find in each apple. Do they think that different types of apples will have more or less seeds? Will the seeds all be the same shape or color? Cut all of the apples in half and show the section with the seeds. Record their observations on a sheet of chart paper listing the type of apple, number of seeds, and any other information that the children would like to include.

Apple-Seed Study. Save the seeds from each apple for a planting activity. Place each type of apple seed in a separate labeled plastic cup or bag and set aside. Ask the children if they think they can grow an apple tree from the seeds. Provide them with plastic cups or pint-size milk cartons for planting, seeds, and potting soil. Label each planting container with the type of apple seed it contains. Assist students as they fill the containers with the soil and seeds. Add water to moisten the soil. Encourage the children to find an area inside the classroom to place the containers. Plan to observe the apple seeds over a two- to three-week period. Prepare a weekly observation chart to record information about the growth of the plants.

Tasting Apples and Graphing Our Favorites. Make a graph on a large sheet of chart paper to record the children's favorite apples. Write the following question on the top of the graph: What is your favorite kind of apple? Divide the paper into vertical columns for each type of apple that the children will taste. Label each column with the name of each type of apple. Use colored construction paper to make apple cutout shapes to depict the different types of apples the children will taste. Cut the apples in advance, giving a slice of each type to the children. Invite the children to taste each type of apple. Engage the children in a discussion about the different tastes and textures. Is the apple sweet or tart, crisp or soft? Show the children the graph and review the question with them. Invite them to glue a cutout paper apple in the column that represents their favorite apple. Encourage the class to observe the information on the graph as it is being completed. Invite the children to read the completed graph and develop a summary sheet. What was the most popular apple? What was the least popular? What was the taste and texture of the most popular apple?

Apple Parts Collage. Show the children the page in the book that illustrates an apple cut in half and the parts of the apple. Explain to the children that they will use construction paper to make a similar apple collage. Provide the children with pre-cut construction paper representing the stem, skin, core, flesh, seeds, and leaf of the apple, and a sheet of blue paper and glue sticks. Invite a small group of children to the art area to assemble their apple collage. Offer assistance if needed. Encourage the children to label the parts of the apple. Children can also label the leaf and seeds of the apple. Who remembers the other name for an apple seed?

Book Activities. Don't forget to incorporate the various activities presented at the end of the story into your "Apples" study! Follow the recipe to make delicious applesauce. Collect small baby-food jars and send home a sample of the applesauce along with the copy of the recipe. Invite families to send in additional easy apple recipes that the children can use for further classroom cooking activities.

Other Books About Apples
Johnny Appleseed
by Steven Kellogg
This beloved folktale describes the legendary hero, John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed), who plants apple trees across the American wilderness.

The Apple Pie Tree
by Zoe Hall
An enchanting story about two young girls who care for their apple tree through all seasons.

I Am an Apple
by Jean Marzollo
Hello Reader Series book describes the life cycle of an apple.

Other Books by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Paperwhite
Rabbit's Bedtime Spanish/English Edition: Hora de dormir del conejo
A Taste of Honey

Teaching plan written by Risa Young