For Ages: 4-8 years
Big Idea: Explore apples using the five senses, learn about apple parts, make a simple apple model, and make homemade applesauce!
What You’ll Need:
Exploring Apples Activity:
- One red, one yellow, and one green apple
- Cutting board and knife (adult use)
- Paper and crayons
Apple Parts Activity:
- One apple
- Cutting board and knife
- Small cards or paper pieces for labeling
Making Applesauce Activity:
- 8 tart apples
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Slow cooker
- Peeler, corer, and slicer
- Wooden spoon
- Cups and spoons for tasting
Directions:
Exploring Apples Activity:
- See: Look at the different apples and notice their colors.
- Touch: Feel the apple skin and describe how it feels.
- Smell: Cut an apple in half and take a sniff—what does it smell like?
- Hear: Bite into a slice—what sound does it make?
- Taste: Try each apple slice and decide which you like best!
- Draw & Write: Draw your favorite apple and write a word that describes it (like “crunchy” or “sweet”).
Apple Parts Activity:
- Cut the Apple: (Adult help) Cut the apple in half and point out the parts: skin, flesh, seeds, stem, and calyx (the bottom flower part).
- Label: Use small cards or paper pieces to label each part.
- Talk: Discuss how each part is important to the apple and what it does.
Making Applesauce Activity:
- Prepare: Peel, core, and slice the apples (adult help).
- Cook: Put apples, sugar, cinnamon, water, and lemon juice in a slow cooker. Cook on high for 3-4 hours.
- Mash & Taste: Once soft, mash the apples and serve warm applesauce in cups.
- Enjoy: Talk about how the apples changed from slices to sauce!
Discussion Topics:
- Apples float because 25% of their volume is air!
- There are over 7,500 types of apples worldwide.
- An apple a day doesn’t guarantee health, but it’s a great snack!
Activity originally created by National Ag in the Classroom
