If you haven't read that one, check it out here.
This week I want to give you some ideas to extend the learning in the areas of math and science using apples. Just a reminder, Johnny Appleseed Day is the 26th of this month.
Math
-Count Apples
Using either real apples or manipulatives(things that kids can manipulate for the purpose of learning a mathematical concept) to have your child count. These can be erasers, apple post-it notes, hand drawn apples on pieces of paper, pom poms, beads, or apple manipulatives. Practice counting by ones, fives, tens, and if you want to challenge your older student, by threes. Have your student count the apples and write down the number or match it to a numbered flash card.
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| you can have your student fill out an apple ten frame after counting |
Cut an apple in half from top to bottom. Have your student observe the halves to see if they are the same size and shape. Have your student notice if there are areas of symmetry and asymmetry.
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| after checking their apple for symmetry, have them draw a symmetrical apple of their own |
Give your student a whole apple. Ask them what they would do if a friend wanted to share with them. They would want to cut it in half. Then ask them how they would divide the apple between 4 people, 8 people, 12 people. Help your younger student to cut the apple into these fractions. Older students could cut the apples themselves.
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| check out this book for more fun |
Have your student estimate how many seeds will be found within an apple. After they have made their best guess, have them(or you) cut the apple in half and spoon out the seeds. Count the seeds and see how close(far) their estimate was from the actual count.
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| here is an example |
What better way to teach your student about money? Help your student make apple treats to sell and set up a stand, much like a lemonade stand. Have them price items and practice making change for many denominations of money. If you do not want to have an actual stand with real product, you can play pretend with selling apples. Have your student price their manipulatives and play with funny money.
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| photo credit here |
Using a food scale, weigh multiple apples. Record the weights. Determine which is the heaviest, lightest, and in between. Ask your student to figure out the average weight of an apple. Once they have figured out the average weight, ask your student to figure out how many apples it takes to make a pound of apples.
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| photo credit here |
This one is interesting for students that are not aware of this unit of measurement. A peck of apples is about 11 apples. There are 4 pecks in a bushel. Have your student determine how many apples would be in a bushel. How many in 3, 4, or 10 bushels.
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| photo credit here |
Have your student take a poll of their friends and family members to discover which type of apple is their favorite(red delicious, granny smith, jonagold). Once they have tallied all of their answers, instruct them to make a graph using their data. They can make a bar graph, pie graph, or a pictograph. Each tally can be represented in 1 to 1 correspondence in the graph or 2 to 1 correspondence.
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| here is an example of a bar graph |
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| here is an example of a pie graph |
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| here is an example of a pictograph |
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| here is a downloadable form for your student to use |
Using apple stickers, have your student make up math problems for you to solve. For example, they may put 3 stickers + 2 stickers = ?, and you would need to fill in the answer. Your student may choose to do addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.
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| here is an example |
PreK - 2
Apple Tree Math Game-Could be used for counting or one to one correspondence
Apple Tree Addition Game-Use this game with addition flash cards
Apple Fractions File Folder Game-This has a free download to practice fractions
Apple Addition File Folder Game-Another free download for simple addition
Simple Apple Addition-A fun hands-on approach to solving simple addition equations
Appleseed Clip Counting-Helpful for little ones practicing counting and number recognition
Pick an Apple-Using a tree and pony beads you can get your student counting to win
Cardboard Tube Apple Games-Your student will practice fine motor skill as they make the trees themselves
Apple Tree Playdoh Math-Teaches your student subitising(click link to learn more)
Candy Apple Tree Sorting and Counting-Using candy helps any student learn
Apple Tree Math-Great for use with multiple students with different levels of learning
3-6
Bushel of Apples and Fill Your Basket Games-All you need are dice to play these games
Apple Tree Math-Great for use with multiple students with different levels of learning
Science
-Make an Apples for Each Season Poster
Your student can look at the life cycle of an apple tree by illustrating how an apple tree appears in each season of the year, winter, spring, summer, and fall. There is a variety of ways of showing the season poster.
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| here is an example |
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| or you could complete this sheet here |
Another way to show the life cycle of an apple tree is to show the progression from seed to apple. You and your student can illustrate and discuss how an apple tree grows.
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| here is an example |
Let your student make a list of new science words as you study apples. Words may include sepal, calyx, petal, pollen, pollinate, nectar, bud, fruit, glucose, and many more. Then your student may make a dictionary using index cards with definitions for each word.
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| you can buy this dictionary here |
Your student may want to try and sprout an apple seed. To give it a try, you will need to mimic a cold winter period for the seed. Apple seeds won't sprout until they have rested through a cold winter period. To simulate that period, you and your student will need to put the apple seeds in the fridge for 6 weeks. To sprout the seeds, put them in a tray of moist sand inside a plastic bag or between layers of moist paper towels. Keep them cool and moist until they sprout. It may take six more weeks! When tiny roots and tiny shoots emerge, plant the apple seeds in soil and watch the apple tree grow and produce leaves. It will take 15 years to produce fruit from your apple seed.
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| follow along with this 'nutty' family as they grow their own apple trees |
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| here is information to get you started |
Let your student compare a number of different apples by tasting them. Give them a small slice of each apple along with a glass of water. Have your student taste each variety, rinsing their mouths with water between tastes. Ask them to make notes about the tastes and textures by writing in a journal. You could remind your student that the taste buds for sweetness are at the tops of the tounges, and the taste buds for tartness are at the sides of our tongues. Together decide on adjectives to describe each variety of apple.
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| here is an example of doing a taste test with your student |
Once you have completed the taste test. Have your student chart the apples, marking whether they were sweet, tart, crispy, or soft. Once they have viewed the information, blindfold your student and have them taste each apple again. Can they guess which apple just by taste? Next, have them blindfolded and hold their noses. How do they do now? You can try and trick your student by giving them a slice of potato as well. With their noses closed, they may have a hard time telling apart raw potato from raw apple.
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| here is an example |
Give your student an apple and a copy of the activity sheet below. Have your student answer the first five questions on the sheet. Then cut their apple in half and have them answer the last two questions. Next, your student can draw a realistic picture of the apple and print the variety name next to it.
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| download here |
Apple Science and Math Center Booklet
Here is a free printable of a Science and Math Center that can be used at home or in the classroom. Work through each section of the book and have your student mark the book with notes and observations as you move along.
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| download here |
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