All Things Apple for Autumn

This year I'm thrilled to read one of my favorite science books to my kindergartner. The Apple Pie tree is a wonderful picture book both for simple autumn reading and a nice lesson on seasons and bee pollination! The story follows two children, an apple tree and a nest of robins through each season of the year, with the apple tree culminating in a robust harvest and an apple pie. Included at the back of the book is a healthy apple pie recipe and a simple explanation on how bees help apples grow. (Perfect for kindergartners)

Day One - I read the story and we learn where apples might grow. (They don't grow in Florida!)

Day Two - We discuss the seasons, contrasting and comparing them.

Day Three - We read about bees and pollination...then we go outside to see if we can spot a few!

Day Four - We visit the local fruit market and purchase fresh apples for our pie.

Day Five - We make our pie crusts, chop apples and carefully measure our ingredients and bake. (Don't forget to include safety rules for sharp knives and hot ovens!)

In past years, I've also combined this book with How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman

This story follows a young baker who would like to make an apple pie, but the market is closed! So she embarks on a journey to find the finest ingredients from all over the world. A simple recipe for an apple pie is included.

Many lessons can be drawn from this neat picture book. Keywords for unit studies might be:

Italy - Semolina Wheat

France - eggs

Sri Lanka - Kurundu tree for cinnamon

Jamaica - sugar cane

Vermont - apples

For the mid-elementary student (3rd grade up), you might introduce the economy with terms such as:

imports, exports, capital resources, productive resources. For more information go here.

Lastly, no autumn can go by without a reading of Steven Kellogg's "Johnny Appleseed." Wonderfully illustrated and well told, Johnny Appleseed tells the larger than life story of John Chapman, the beloved gentleman who planted apple orchards along his journey into the west.

We keep this reading very simple. We usually discuss the idea of myth vs. fact and relish the tale while sipping hot apple cider and yummy donuts. If you really wanted to get serious about your study of Johnny Appleseed, perhaps you might:

Discuss Westward Expansion

Have your older students find the easiest route from Massachussetts to Ohio on a relief map.

Have them make a list of what Johnny Appleseed took with him on his journey west and then compare that with what a family might need.

~~~~~

Enjoy!



©2008 Y.M.F.