Apple Trees and Apple Blossoms Unit Study
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Under the Apple Tree
When Garner Rix moved with his family to Vermont in 1780 he brought apple seeds with him. He carefully planted those seeds which grew into trees and produced apple blossoms in Springtime and bushels of apples in the fall.
It has been 200 years since he planted those apple trees and some of them are still there. The blossoms still bloom in the Springtime and produce bushels of apples in the fall.
Apples are a symbol of learning and this lens serves up a sauce of learning activities all across the curriculum.
It has been 200 years since he planted those apple trees and some of them are still there. The blossoms still bloom in the Springtime and produce bushels of apples in the fall.
Apples are a symbol of learning and this lens serves up a sauce of learning activities all across the curriculum.
Photo Credit: Apple Trees
Used under creative commons
Apple Tree Table of Contents
The apple trees that Garner Rix planted are the inspiration for this unit study about apples and apple trees. You will find dozens of apple related activities to learn all across the curriculum. Read, write and count apples. Recite poems, make apple star prints and put them all together in an Apple Study Lapbook.
Baby Sleeps in Its Cradle Among the Apple Blossom Unaware of the Danger That
Greenaway, Kate
Buy at AllPosters.com
Apple Trees
Will you plant an apple tree this year?
Did you know that an apple is a fruit that develops from the blossom of an apple tree. Bees are needed to pollinate the apple blossoms in order for the apples to develop. When I was researching for this unit study I was very surprised to discover that apples are a member of the rose family.Here in Vermont apple blossoms form in the spring. Sometimes there is snow on the ground when the blossoms open. Ice formed on apple blossoms can cause the blossoms to die and fall off. When this happens there are little to no apples the following fall.
An apple tree in full blossom appears pinkish white. This is because the leaves are just beginning to appear and are hidden behind the showy pink and white apple blossoms. Each blossom has five petals which are reflected in the seedpods inside each apple. That is why when you cut an apple in half you will find a five pointed star.
Once the apple blossom had been pollinated, the apple fruit begins to grow. At first it is green and hard. As autumn approaches the apple swells with juice and the skin begins to turn red. My favorite apples are the ones picked and eaten right there in the apple orchard. What kind of apples do you like?
Did you know that apple trees originally came from Central Asia? I was surprised to read that China was the number one producer of apples with the USA coming in second. Apple are also grown in Turkey, France, Italy and Iran. These last four countries are leading exporters of apples.
Photo Credit: Apple Tree
on Wikipedia, Creative Commons
Celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day, September 26
Celebrate Apples
Photo Credit: johnny appleseed
on Flickr, Creative Commons.
Celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day but learning about apples, tasting some fresh pressed apple cider and reading about the life of Johnny Appleseed aka John Chapman.
You might start the day by bringing in an apple in a paper lunch bag. When you gather your children at circle time, tell them that there is something in the bag and they need to try to guess what it is in 20 questions. Remind them that asking about characteristics will help them solve the mystery faster than if they try to guess specific objects.
Tell the children that at each of the learning centers today they will be learning about apples. One center might have apples and plastic knives for trying to discover the star. These cut up pieces could then be sent to the center for making apple sauce.
Cut one of the apples in half to reveal the star and use it at the art center for making apple star prints with paint.
Just before dismissing the children to centers, read the story of Johnny Appleseed. Talk with them about the parts that are factual and those that fictional. How does adding fiction to a factual story make the story more interesting and readable?
Johnny Appleseed
Amazon Price: $3.45 (as of 05/27/2012)
Johnny Appleseed plants Apple Trees
Planting apple trees
Photo Credit: Picking Apples
on WPClipart
This book in video form tells not only the life of Johnny Appleseed but also hints at the life lived by common people at the time that Garner Rix and his family were starting to farm in Vermont.
Clearing acres of land and trying to raise enough crops to feed the family must have been difficult. Despite these difficulties, Garner and Betsy Rix the foresight to plant apple trees in the apple orchard as well as sugar maples near the house for shade, making making maple sugar and syrup. Some day the maple sugar would be used to sweeten the apple pies that Garner's wife, Betsy would bake.
Notice how old Johnny Appleseed was at the end of the book. His hair was gray but finally he was able to see the fruits of his labor. The trees were finally full of apples, the smell of apple pies wafts through the air thanks to Johnny Appleseed and all the farmers, like Garner Rix who had the foresight to plant apple trees.
curated content from YouTube
Planting the Apple Orchard
Apple Trees in the Orchard
The Apple Orchard
Available on Allposters
Colonists like Daniel Rix brought many apple seeds with them to their new land and planted their apple orchards right away. The apple trees are still there. They are old but apple blossoms in the spring and apples in the fall still grow on them.
With little care in many years the apples are wormy but by carefully cutting out the bad spots you can make some delicious apple sauce.
Read the poem The Planting of the Apple Tree by William Cullen Bryant.
The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree
Apple Trees all year round
Photo Credit: The Apple Tree
Used under creative commons
In the winter the bare branches are ideal spots to hang fruit for the winter birds.
In spring we watch the leaves and flowers begin to open up and blossom.
In summer we watch the fruit begin to ripen.
In fall we eat the juicy fruit, cut apples and dry them for apple pies and make applesauce to go on our oatmeal as the winds start to blow the leaves off and the apple tree rests for another year.
We have an apple tree outside in our yard. We watch the change of seasons as reflected by this tree. We reflect those changes in our Nature Table.
Apple Tree Arts and Crafts
Apple Trees through the Seasons
Celebrate all four seasons of the Apple Tree with simple arts and crafts projects.
Susannah Rix might have stitched an apple tree into a sampler.
These apple art projects could be turned into Skip Counting Bulletin Board displays by having children assigned to create trees with certain numbers of apples or blossoms in their trees. Skip Counting 3's for example, have the first child put only 3 apples in the tree, the next puts 6 apples... finally the last one will have 30 apples. The apples should be placed in groups of threes.
Alternatively, you could have groups of ten apples in baskets under the tree. In other words, the number 24 would have 2 baskets of ten apples each under the tree with four apples in the tree.
Photo Credit: Fingerprint Apple Tree from Preschool Lesson Plans, Used by Permission
Photo Credit: Apple Tree from Foam Core by Susan M. Dailey, Apple Theme, Used by Permission
Photo Credit: Construction Paper Apple Tree From WPClipart
Susannah Rix might have stitched an apple tree into a sampler.
These apple art projects could be turned into Skip Counting Bulletin Board displays by having children assigned to create trees with certain numbers of apples or blossoms in their trees. Skip Counting 3's for example, have the first child put only 3 apples in the tree, the next puts 6 apples... finally the last one will have 30 apples. The apples should be placed in groups of threes.
Alternatively, you could have groups of ten apples in baskets under the tree. In other words, the number 24 would have 2 baskets of ten apples each under the tree with four apples in the tree.
- PreschoolRock.com - Spring Blossom Tree Preschool Craft
- Bring a little bit of springtime indoors with this Spring Blossom Tree Preschool Craft. It uses popped corn as one of the materials so be sure to pop enough to enjoy a snack while you do your preschool craft.
- Fingerprint Apple Tree
- Create an Apple Tree using fingerprints dipped in paint.
- Apple Storytime
- Find delightful stories, poems and activities to accompany your apple themed unit studies.
How do the Apples Feel
Point to the words and read the sentences.
The apple is happy.The apple is sad.
The apple is...
Predictable sentences help children to understand the conventions of reading.
Children love to stand up in front of the class pretending to be the teacher.
Using a pointer with an apple on the end, they get to lead the class in reading poems about apple trees showing how the words flow from left to right and top to bottom.
Photo Credit: Apple Faces by itsmhars
Available on Zazzle
- Kindergarten Apple Unit Study
- Use a pointer to point to the sentences about how the apples feel.
Autumn Is for Apples
Apple Poem
Jucy Bite Apple
Available on Allposters
And here is a bite of one of my favorite apple books, from Autumn is for Apples by Michelle Knudsen
Apples are my favorite snack-
all juicy, red, and round.
I love how every tasty bite
comes with a crunchy sound.
Apples in the treetops.
My favorite Apple Tree Poem
Apples in the treetops.Apples on the ground.
Apples in the kitchen.
Apples all around.
Apples in a basket.
Apples from a tree.
Apples for the neighbors.
Apples for you and me.
This is one of my favorite poems. I printed it out on chart paper and we use it for coral reading after Calendar Time.
You may be surprised to hear that I first ran across this poem while teaching in Costa Rica. Though the children had very limited knowledge of English, I found that poems were a wonderful way to engage them in speaking and learning the language.
We chanted the poem and acted out the words, picking apples from the apple trees and then putting them in the basket. We followed the poem by going outside to examine a mango tree and comparing it to an apple tree. Apple trees didn't produce fruit in Costa Rica at that time, however, there are new varieties growing in Costa Rica so now even the children of Costa Rica can see apple trees and eat the delicious fruit.
Photo Credit:In the Orchard
Alice Havers
Available on Allposters
Ten Apples Up On Top
Counting apples from an Apple Tree
Counting apples and reading a great story. What fun!
We like to use apple stamps piled up in tens on top of stick figures. Then we skip count by 10's to see how mony we have made.
Granny Apples Counting Game
Count the Apples from the Trees
The quick Counting apple dice game. Roll them Apples! In this fast action dice game, race against your opponents to count the exact number of apples scattered in play. Watch out for birds, Worms and apple pies that take away from the total.
Sing about Counting Apples in Spanish
powered by Youtube
Apple Pie Geography
Apple Pie Ingredients from all over the World
Help your children make an apple pie and while it is baking read the story How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World. While you are reading take out a globe and look for all the countries mentioned. Discuss what it is about each of these countries that makes it ideal for producing the ingredient that they export in order to make the apple pie.
Would it be possible to make an apple pie with ingredients found only within 100 miles of your home? (See locovore)
Would it be possible to make an apple pie with ingredients found only within 100 miles of your home? (See locovore)
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World (Dragonfly Books)
Amazon Price: $2.59 (as of 05/27/2012)
Dried Apple Pies
An apple poem for learning synonyms
Photo Credit: Drying Apples
on Flickr, Creative Commons.
APPLE PIE(author unknown)
I loathe, abhor, detest, despise,
Abominate Dried Apple Pies.
I like good bread, I like good meat,
Or anything thats fit to eat;
But of all poor grub beneat the skies,
the poorest is Dried Apple Pies.
Give me the toothache, or sore eyes,
But don't give me Dried Apple Pies!
The farmer takes his gnarlist fruit,
Tis wormy, bitter, and hard to boot;
He leaves the hulls to make us cough,
And don't take half the peeling off.
Then on a dirty cord 'tis strung
And in a great window hung,
And there it serves as roost for flies,
Until it's made up into pies.
Tread on my corns, or tell me lies,
But don't pass me Dried Apple Pies!
This poem just seems irreverent enough that children just delight in it. We have used this poem to increase vocabulary, turned it into an illustrated book with pictures for each line and even written the book in opposites.
You love, adore, ....
Take to your heart moist pumpkin tarts.
Apple Unit Studies and Lapbooks
Apple Tree Unit Study Portfolio
The Apple Tree
Way up high in the apple tree
3 red apples smiled down at me
So I shook that tree as hard as I could
And down came an apple.
It was mmmm, mmmmm good!
- Apple Lapbook
- Print and make an Apple Lapbook.
Favorite Apple Varieties
Which tree would you pick your apples from?
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Apple Train Cars
When the apples are ripe on the trees, Train cars are loaded with apples and are transported to factories to make apple juice, apple sauce and babyfood.
Apples
Apple Lenses All Around
Photo Credit: Apples from a Tree
From Everyday number stories
By George Baker Longan, Emma Serl, Florence Elledge
on Google Books, in the Public Domain
Christmas Apples
Apples in the News!
Photo Credit: Christmas Apples by hajime7
Used under creative commons
- Czech grower grows Christmas apples | Czechmatediary
- Czech apple-grower invents apples with a Christmas motive on them. He is not a genetically modified they just have a ....
Who's Twittering about Apple Orchards
Photo Credit: In the Orchard, aka Gardener near a Gnarled Apple Tree
Van Gogh - 1883.jpg
on WikiCommons
-
- abbycrombie_
- Apple Orchards! #apples #hometownglory #peru #instayum http://t.co/XEZhcCff
-
- dbarrowcliff
- Escaping the city for cows, sheep and apple orchards.
-
- HalRyan
- Orchards growing: Every home that we build, as part of the landscaping will include an apple tree in the front y... http://t.co/sTwT7IOD
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- BrannonBednar
- Cherry Bay Orchards Dried Cherry and Apple Gift Box: Gift Box includes one 14oz Sweetened Dried Montmorency Tart... http://t.co/tUn3q3Wy
-
- DevRickus
- @andy55512000 I am in love with Angry Orchards Crisp Apple. My buddy works for Sam Adams and gave me a shit ton of it.haha
automatically generated by Twitter
Bushels of Apple related ideas:
Apple Blossom and a Bird's Nest
Grey, H. Barnard
Buy at AllPosters.com
Apple Trees grow along the stone walls built by Garner Rix. The bluebirds build nests in the hollows of the apple trees and the stars shin overhead. Explore the fields surrounding the apple trees:
Apple Tree is in the Stone Stoup Homeschooling Online Unit Study Directory
Thank you to the Four Wheelers for having included the Apple Tree Unit Study in their directory. This directory has now been passed on to Stone Soup Homeschooling.
- Unit Studies: Stone Soup Homeschool Network - Stone Soup Homeschool Network
- A free Unit Study Database, featuring unit studies on nearly every subject!
Evelyn's Hands-On Learning Blog
Apple Blossoms, 1856-59
Millais, John
Buy at AllPosters.com
By the time Garner Rix's Grandson, Garner Rix Dewey was building his barn the apple trees were big enough to have a picnic under.
What do apple trees mean to you?
Make your RESERVATIONS today to stay at the Bed and Breakfast on Garner Rix's Farm and learn more about apples, apple blossoms and the apple trees that Garner Rix planted.
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virtualboy
Apr 8, 2012 @ 10:01 am | delete
- thier are so many types of apples to choose from, yummy
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infiniti99 Mar 28, 2012 @ 9:20 pm | delete
- I have 5 apple trees in my landscape yard 1 red delicious 2 granny smith and 2 macintosh.I love them being around the birds and deer love them including my dogs.Great lens thank you for sharing
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emmajo
Dec 22, 2011 @ 12:21 pm | delete
- Apples are amazing! AND each variety tastes so different!
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Paula7928 Oct 9, 2011 @ 8:13 pm | delete
- I love your lens on apples!
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privresearch
Oct 9, 2011 @ 11:24 am | delete
- Love your lens! It inspired me to make a lens on apple recipes
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VLC111
Oct 9, 2011 @ 8:49 am | delete
- what a beautiful lens about apples. never knew that a apple tree can live up to 200 years.
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cffutah
Oct 6, 2011 @ 7:07 pm | delete
- just stopping in again to read some other things I didn't read last time.
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Khaleeka
Oct 6, 2011 @ 3:44 pm | delete
- What a wonderful lens! Blessings from an angel!
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ClassyGals Oct 6, 2011 @ 10:45 am | delete
- I enjoy drinking apple cider, especially during the Autumn months. Picking apples as a child so Mom could make a homemade apple pie brings back wonderful childhood memories, too.
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lasertek
Oct 5, 2011 @ 7:14 pm | delete
- Apple trees bring back happy memories with my parents and siblings.
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williamadam86
Oct 5, 2011 @ 4:40 am | delete
- Nice Lens
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ModernChakra
Oct 5, 2011 @ 12:00 am | delete
- My grandparents always kept two apple trees in the backyard and being around them I always felt inquisitive for sure. Great and thorough lens. Thanks for your hard work and sharing with us. All my best.
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TheGourmetCoffeeGuy Oct 4, 2011 @ 10:52 pm | delete
- Great lens, great ideas for family activities. Thank you for sharing your insights!
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cffutah
Oct 4, 2011 @ 8:16 pm | delete
- love 'em! Don't don't what it is about tress and apples but they make me feel good this is for sure. I'm glad I ventured upon your lens tonight, if you like to browse lens as I do, mine has a great educational topic with poll questions for my readers to enjoy.
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DLeighAlexander
Oct 4, 2011 @ 3:47 pm | delete
- Nice lens on apples. Johnny Appleseed is a relative of mine, he was born John Chapman and is related to my maternal grandmother whose maiden name is Chapman. My great-aunt discovered this information a few years ago.
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Meet the Author of this Apple Tree Lens
Evelyn's Hands-On Learning Blog.
Find out what I'm up to when I'm not sitting under the apple tree:
Find out what I'm up to when I'm not sitting under the apple tree:Photo Credit: Apple Orchard
Used under creative commons
Apple Trees in the Kingdom
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by Evelyn_Saenz
My passion is teaching and finding ways to teach children in fun, hands-on, creative ways. The unit studies I make on Squidoo reflect my view that learning... more »
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