Apple Week
Using hands-on activities, nature exploration, and a lot of creativity, our guides make early learning a joyful experience. We use techniques such as nature walks, hands- on lessons to learn about apples, sensory play, and science experiments.
Print-at-Home PDF
Science-based program
Begins October 13th
Lesson Plans and Activities
The resources below are designed to accompany our membership or the full version of Nature Studies for Kids program (scroll down for details).
Lesson 1: Bobbing for Facts
Lesson Plan
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Begin your exploration of apples with a classic, fun-filled activity: bobbing for apples! After the fun, dive into the fascinating world of this popular fruit, learning that apples first originated in the mountains of Kazakhstan and are related to peaches and pears. Your child can also discover some of the 7,000 different types grown worldwide! To conclude the lesson, they can sketch the apples they are most familiar with in their Field Journal.
Lesson 2: An Apple's Story
Lesson Plan
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Explore the incredible journey of an apple, from seed to fruit. Your child will learn how a tiny seed sprouts and grows into a mature tree, produces beautiful blossoms, and relies on bees for cross-pollination to grow fruit. The lesson begins with a hands-on flashcard activity to identify the parts of an apple and concludes with a Field Journal exercise to review the five main stages of its life cycle
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Introduce children to the anatomy of an apple through means of observation and exploration.
Develop an understanding of the benefits our bodies gain from eating healthy foods
Understand the apple life cycle and identify each phase of its development
Engage fine motor skills
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Shallow container (large enough to hold a couple inches of water and several apples floating)
Towels
5-9 apples (choose different kinds so it adds variation to the activity)
Cutting board
2-4 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup unsalted butter
Knife
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How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro
Food Anatomy by Julia Rothman
Apples, Apples, Everywhere by Robin Koontz
The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Johnny Appleseed by Reeve Lindbergh
Apples by Gail Gibbons
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Download the Child Field Journal and use this article’s lesson plans to learn all about apples!
Children may be very familiar with apples, as they are a common fruit to eat. They may wonder about all the different kinds of apples, where they come from, how they are harvested, and how they are nutritious to our bodies.
Encourage your child to think more about apples and point out some of their characteristics such as color and the fact that they have seeds inside.
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Set up a nature table to introduce your children to apples beyond a snack. Include a variety of apples such as honey crisp, granny smith, Fuji, and pink lady. Leave some whole and cut others in half so that they can see the inside. Cut one from top to bottom and another sideways so that they can see the cross-section of the core.
Sensory Play
Make a sensory bin that includes playdough. Have your child sculpt apples with the playdough and use cinnamon sticks as the stem!
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Lesson 3: Apple Investigators
Lesson Plan
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Engage all five senses in this hands-on lesson that explores the anatomy of an apple. Your child will carefully dissect an apple, discovering and identifying all its parts, from the outer skin and stem to the inner core, flesh, and seeds. After the dissection, learn about the fascinating process of apple harvesting and why farmers must pick the perfect time to get the best apples. The lesson concludes with a Field Journal activity where your child will sketch and label the parts of the apple, solidifying their new knowledge.
Lesson 4: The Sweet Science of Apples
Lesson Plan
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This delicious lesson brings learning into the kitchen with a hands-on recipe for apple crumble! While it bakes, discover the truth behind the saying, "an apple a day, keeps the doctor away," by learning about the amazing health benefits of this popular fruit. Your child will also explore all the different ways apples can be enjoyed, from apple juice to apple pie, and will conclude by drawing their favorite apple treat in their Field Journal.
