Preschool Corner: Apples/Johnny Appleseed

CALEB IS 4 YEARS OLD

Preschool was a little different this week for us. Auntie Sarah, Blythe and Beau were visiting from out of town. So we played, shopped and ate lots of yummy food. I was just going to take the week off, but Caleb wanted to still do some activities. So this week we decided we'd do our unit study activities and not phonics or math, etc. We'll be back to our normal routine next week.

Apples: We read, "Apples" by Gail Gibbons. This book is full of information about how apples grow, different types of apples, what you can make with apples, and even some on the history of apples. Caleb really enjoyed looking at all the different types of apples, over 7,500 varieties!

Of course our grocery store did not carry all 7,500. But we managed to select quite a few different types.

I cut up all the different types we had selected, and we did a taste test experiment. We talked about whether they tasted sweet or tart and if we liked them or not.

Evan walked over from next door to participate. Evan's favorite was the Golden Delicious, a very sweet tasting apple.

Caleb preferred the Granny Smith, a very tart tasting apple. We also tried Gala, Jonathan and Honey Crisp.

Next we discussed the different parts of an apple: Skin, Flesh, Core, Seeds and Stem. We cut an apple open to observe the parts and discuss what each part is used for.

Caleb was very interested in the seeds and the skin. To discuss the skin further we preformed a Quick Spoil experiment. I got this idea from "Nature In A Nutshell", a great nature experiment and activity book for kids.

We cut the apple open, observed the flesh (color, smell, and taste) and then let the apple sit on a plate for a few hours. When we came back we observed the apple again. Of course it was yucky and brown. This is because the skin protects the apple's flesh from oxidation. When the flesh is opened to the oxygen in the air it starts to decay. Caleb decided it doesn't taste very good either.

To end the apple part of our unit we made apple prints. This was one of those process not product crafts. Caleb enjoyed playing around in the red paint and then sticking some of the apple seeds onto his apple prints.

Apple Trees: After talking about apples it only makes since to look at apple trees. So we read, "The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree," did a craft to go along with the book, and participated in stART. To see more about the book and our craft, click here.

Our Big Backyard had a mini book on Apple Trees and the seasons. So Caleb cut that out and put it together.

Johnny Appleseed: To end our unit we learned a little bit about Johnny Appleseed. We read, "Johnny Appleseed," by Reeve Lindbergh. This is a beautiful book. The art work is spectacular as well as the poem. The whole book is quite a work of art. I will be looking for this one used on Amazon so we can read it again and again. Don't judge this book by its cover. You have to check it out for yourself and see how wonderful it is.

We also put apple stickers on our map of America to show which states Johnny Appleseed planted apples and spread the gospel in. As well as watched, "American Legends" an old Disney movie about Johnny Appleseed and others. This movie is very sweet. It tells the whole legend of Johnny Appleseed with songs and rhyme. It does not leave out the large Christian aspect of his life either. There are many books on Johnny Appleseed that leave his faith out completely.

This was such a nice unit to end September with. Now we are excited to start some October Fall fun! To see what other families did for preschool this week head over to Preschool Corner.