Extending Learning {Apples Pt.1}

This month we celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day.

Now, listen.  No holiday is insignificant when you are teaching school.  If you see a holiday approaching, you start pulling out all of your books and files pertaining to that holiday and you insert learning and fun into your schedule.  Some of these holidays I really didn't even remember existing until I started teaching school.

So now you know, Johnny Appleseed Day is this month...the 26th to be exact.

To help you extend the learning this month, we will be focusing on apples.  A common fruit that is in abundance during the fall.  Today we will be focusing on Language Arts and some yummy Recipes.

Reading

Here is a list of books to possibly check out for reading practice and applied learning pertaining to apples.  Some of these books have links to sites with lesson plans and activities to go along with them.  Don't feel you need to do all of these books.  Pick one for the month.  Or if you are overly ambitious maybe two or three.

These are divided by grade, however, you may find that some books would work great for all ages and others may not hold the attention of a 6th grader.  Each child is different.  If none of these will work, go to your local library and do a keyword search for 'apples' or 'johnny appleseed'.

K-2

Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg link

Apples by Gail Gibbons

The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall  link

Ten Apples Up On Top by Dr. Suess link

Apples A to Z by Margaret McNamara link

Amelia Bedelia's First Apple Pie by Herman Parish link

The Season's of Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons  link link

How do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro link

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein link

Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell link

Rain Makes Applesauce by Julian Scheer

 3-6

The Apple and the Arrow by Mary and Conrad Buff  link

Johnny Appleseed by Eva Moore

The Life and Times of the Apples by Charles Micucci  link

Apples to Oregon by Deborah Hopkinson link

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar  link

7-12 

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire (look for 'The Apples of Love and the Apples of Discord' and 'Hera')

You could also read The Little Red House to your child and see if they can guess what the little red house actually is.  The story is below.

 
Writing

Here are some ideas for practicing writing at home or school.

Write an Apple Tale
  Have younger students work together to make up their own apple tale (with golden apples or magic apples in it).  Ask older students to write individual apple stories.  They might like to rewrite a well-known fairy tale and add a magic apple as part of the plot.

Write Apple Stories
     -About a mean teacher. Like in Mrs. Gorf by Louis Sachar's Sideways Stories from Wayside School.  Your student will enjoy this funny story about a mean teacher who turns her students into apples.  Younger students can make up a story together with a parent and draw the illustrations.
    -About the star in the apple.  Cut an apple in half crosswise )midway between the stem end and the blossom end), so that your student can see the star made by the seeds.  Ask them to write an imaginary story to explain the presence of the star in the apple.  Let younger children work with an adult to make up their stories and illustrate them; then have your student share their story.
   -About worms.  Ask your student to write a story about a family of worms that lives in an apple.  What adventures do the worms have?  What if a bird, an animal, or a person wanted to eat the apple?  Ask your student to draw a picture of the apple house.

Write an Apple Poem
  Have your student write an acrostic poem or apple cinquain.  Or they can make up their own apple poetry.

here

here

Use this free printable for your student to write their apple story or poem.

 Word Work

Do an apple word sort.  For those that don't know about a word sort, it is a collection of word cards that can be sorted by their attributes.  For example, some of the words in the collection would have a short a sound, while others would have a long a sound.

Practice spelling using games with apple cups.

Now, we are finally onto recipes for apples.  I love using apples in recipes.  It helps me feel like I'm eating healthy even when I'm not.  :)

Kids LOVE helping in the kitchen.  It's a fun way to learn to read a recipe, measure ingredients correctly, clean up, and enjoy something they have made themselves.  My kids have been helping me in the kitchen since they were old enough to sit in the Bumbo on the counter (shhhhh, don't tell anyone that I did that...it's NOT safe).   Nowadays, my kids come running to the kitchen at dinner time or when we are making a special snack.

These are recipes that I have tried and tested on myself and my family and friends.  They are winners in my book.

Flat Apple Pie by Ree Drummond

Apple Cinnamon Streusel Dessert Pizza by Mel's Cafe

Butterfinger Apple Nachos by A Pumpkin and a Princess

Apple Pie Cookies by Oh, Bite It!

Freezer Apple Pie Filling by Ball

Chocolate Dipped Apple Slices by Kidspot Kitchen

Homemade Sparkling Apple Juice by One Good Thing by Jillee

Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Apple Bites  by The Comfort of Cooking

Autumn Apple Salad by Home Based Mom

Crunchy Apple and Grape Salad by Tasty Kitchen

Homemade Applesauce by Kids a Cookin'

Remember to have fun with your kids while learning a bit more about apples.  Check back next week for ideas to extend the learning through Math and Science with apples!