IT’S APPLE PICKING TIME

Children learn at a very early age that “A” is for apple.  In fact, with every alphabet book read, every bowl of applesauce served and every green, yellow or red variety packed in a lunch, apples become a child’s most recognizable fruit.  Since fall is the time of the year when apples are harvested, why not take the time to educate your group on this sweet and juicy fruit?  Before you lug home that five-pound plastic bag of apples from the supermarket, consider an outing that takes you right to the source—an orchard where you can pick your own (if available in your state).  Some farms even offer horse drawn wagon rides into the orchard, making the excursion a real adventure for children.  To locate a farm near you, call your state agriculture department.

Everyone knows that eating apples is healthy.  Containing vitamins A and C, apples are also a good source of potassium.  And despite their many uses, over half of the apples grown are eaten fresh.  Pies, cakes, turnovers, muffins, apple butter and applesauce are only a few of the ways to use the apple.  Approximately one out of every five apples is used for making juice and cider.  This time of year, children and adults enjoy “bobbing for apples” at fall festivals and carnivals usually offer the ever-popular candied apple.

 

“A” IS FOR APPLE  (Baby and Toddler)

Toddlers may enjoy this fun apple tree craft.  Draw a tree on a sheet of white paper.  Color the brown tree trunk and the green treetop together.  Invite your little ones to dip their thumb into red paint and print the thumbprints on the tree to represent the growing apples.  Below is a little poem to write under the tree.

 

THESE ARE SPECIAL APPLES,

HANGING ON THIS TREE.

I MADE THEM WITH MY FINGER PRINTS.

THEY ARE A PART OF ME!

 

Send this picture home to hang on the refrigerator reminding the children and parents of your apple-theme.

 

 

THERE IS SO MUCH TO LEARN ABOUT APPLES  (Preschool +)

 

Dissecting an apple is an easy science project to do that teaches children about fruit in general.  On a sheet of paper, write the words leaf, stem, flesh, core, seeds, and skin.  Give each child a half of an apple.  Ask him to look at it carefully, as you ask questions such as: Does your apple have a stem or leaf?  If it doesn’t have a stem, can you find the place where the stem was? What color is the skin on your apple?  Can you name the different colors of apples?  What color is the flesh of the apple?  Where is the apple core? What is in the core?  How many seeds are there?  Now, bring out the paper and crayons and have your group draw this apple half and help them label it.

Since the science lesson went so well, make “apple smiles” as a fun treat.  Cut the apples into wedges.  Smear peanut butter on one side of two wedges.  Stick a few miniature marshmallows on the peanut butter on one of the apple wedges and top with the other apple wedge—peanut butter side down.  When you look at this it looks like a smile (the red part of the apple are the lips and the marshmallows are the teeth).  Your group will be smiling too after they taste this delicious snack. NOTE: Some children may be allergic to peanuts. In this case—try cream cheese.

 

 

EXPLORE THIS APPLE LEGEND  (School Age)

 

Perhaps there is no greater apple legend than that surrounding the man from Massachusetts named John Chapman, better know as Johnny Appleseed.  For 50 years, from 1795 to 1845, he is said to have planted apple seeds throughout the Ohio Valley.  In fact, many of the apple trees found in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania are descended from trees that were originally planted by Johnny Appleseed.  Since September 26, 1774 is his birthday, you might want to check out a book from the library and read about this famous apple lover.

Later invite children to the kitchen to help you make this classic gooey extravaganza—the caramel apple.  This recipe makes a glossy caramel coating that sticks to the apples without pulling out your fillings.  Melt 1 ½ tablespoons butter in a saucepan.  Add 1 ½ cups of light brown sugar and 6 tablespoons water.  Stir until it has a smooth consistency.  Gently bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 3 minutes, until the pan’s sides get steamy and the mixture is thin but somewhat sticky.  Remove from the heat.  Pierce the center of each apple with a Popsicle stick, and then swirl in the caramel syrup until coated.  Place apples on a greased cookie sheet to harden.  Refrigerate for at least 1 –2 hours.  Makes 8-10 apples (McIntosh apples work well).

 

Fall is a fun season of the year—what better way to start your autumn themes but with the apple. Enjoy!

 

Tania

Associate Editor/ EverydayTLC Online