Something about September encourages us to think apples. School starts (apple for the teacher), we learn about the letter A (is for apple), we take the annual field trip to the orchard, we bake pies, and everything is red delicious. If September has you thinking apples, you’ll appreciate these apples-study resources.
Table of Contents
- Investigate Apples
- Enjoy an Apple Unit
- Make an Apple Lapbook
- Complete Activities
- Read a Book About an Important Apple
- Learn About Healthy Food Choices
- Experiment
- Other Suggestions
Investigate Apples
Investigating Apples from Ag in the Classroom is a free five-day lesson plan featuring apples:
Students will use their five senses to investigate apples, identify and model the parts of an apple, make homemade applesauce, and learn how apples are grown.
Some of the links have changed:
Enjoy an Apple Unit
Karen Caroe unit studies are among our favorites — all of the subjects are usually incorporated, at least to some degree, “busy work” is avoided, thinking is applied, research and investigation is open ended (leaving the learning to the student), and the heart is at the center.
Apple a Day provides many ideas leaving the final direction up to you. You can spend as much or as little time as you desire. Books and other resources are recommended.
These units were made available years ago, so some of the internet links are a bit dated. We’ll provide the redirects:
- Johnny Appleseed
- Apple Facts (archived)
- For Teachers
Make an Apple Lapbook
At HomeschoolShare.com you’ll find book studies, units, a book list, and other apple resources at Connections: Apples.
Their lapbooks are a favorite feature there. Apple-related lapbooks include Johnny Appleseed and Apple Pie Tree units. You’ll also find apple math and games.
Complete Activities
An Apple a Day is another Ag in the Classroom download for the younger set. It focuses more on reading and comprehension skills. It includes worksheets and recipes.
Students will read words related to apples and find words that rhyme with each one. Students will use decoding skills to decode words related to apples. Students will read about apple trees and Johnny Appleseed. They will then complete comprehension pages to demonstrate their understanding of the reading passages. Students will taste apples and create a class graph to show which apple the most
students like, as well as the least. They will write a sentence to describe their favorite apple.
Read a Book About an Important Apple
The Apple and the Arrow by Conrad Buff
This 1952 Newbery Honor book tells the story of William Tell. This book makes a nice spine or jumping off point for other studies:
- Listen to the William Tell Overture @ ClassicsForKids.com.
- Develop storytelling skills.
- Try the Wodehouse version.
Learn About Healthy Food Choices
A is for Apple is a fun way for young children to learn why an apple is a healthy food choice. This lighthearted download from the Florida Department of Health includes a variety of activities, crafts, coloring pages, and printables.
You’ll find more healthy food choice information in our fruits and veggies unit.
Experiment
Learn about:
- Trees.
- Fruit trees.
- Seed holders (fruit).
(From our free nature series).
Other Suggestions
- Draw an apple tree for each of the four seasons using this printout from EnchantedLearning.com as an example.
- Create an acrostic poem for A-P-P-L-E.
- Draw a diagram showing the parts of an apple.
- Narrate the story of Johnny Appleseed using the book by Steven Kellogg.
- Make a diagram and label the parts of an apple seed (archived).
- Plant seeds.
- Do a picture study of Apples and Oranges by Paul Cezanne.
- Family read aloud: “The Conceited Apple-Branch” by Hans Christian Andersen.
- Make or eat apple pie or apple crisp.
- Make a list of the properties of apples (nouns) on apple-shaped paper (archived) from EduPlace.com.
- Map where in the United States apples are grown.
- Make a list of apple products.
- Write an apple cinquain using this form from ReadWriteThink.org.
- Study the nutritional benefits of apples.
- Copy and illustrate the idiom “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
- Take a field trip to an apple orchard.
Additional Resources
Johnny Appleseed Song
“The Lord is Good to Me”
(You may want to install an ad blocker before viewing.)
Books
An Apple a Day by Jennifer Storey Gillis
Subtitled “Over Twenty Apple Projects for Kids,” this now out-of-print Storey publication is a fun favorite around here with crafts, recipes and puzzles. Check your library!
Apples by Gail Gibbons
“Apple trees grow in more parts of the world than any other fruit tree. From blossom to pollination to picking, here is information about how they grow, their various parts, and the different varieties.” Learn more about apples from one of our favorite authors!
Printables & Notebooking Pages
Apple Nutrition Facts & Health Benefits
Colorful infographic from Ag in the Classroom.
Apple Shape Book (archived)
Simple notebooking page at EduPlace.com for copywork, narrations, or wrapping up.
Keep Reading
Gail Gibbons Educator Guides ~ Free!
Free educator guides to go with science books by Gail Gibbons!
Activity: Slicing Verbs
Sometimes it is a good idea to illustrate or reinforce a concept with a hands-on approach.
Things to Do: September
Sharpen the new pencils and enjoy these free books, units, and other finds in our September Learning Calendar.