Apples in Arizona?

 

Introduction

Apples are very important in America. They taste good, they're good for us, and we even have an American legend named Johnny Appleseed. Have you heard the popular saying about being "as American as apple pie"?

So many people eat apples, the Apple Growers of America want to find more places for orchards. You have been hired to find out if Phoenix would be a good place to do this.

The Task

Work with your partner or in a group; use the computer and other resources in our classroom to learn what apples need to grow. You'll have to decide if Phoenix is a good place to grow apples. Are you ready to start? Let's go!

Process

These are the steps you will follow to complete your task:

1. Find the name of one red apple, one yellow apple and one green apple variety.
2. Where do they grow now?
3. What is the hottest temperature there?
4. What is the coldest temperature there?
5. How much rain falls each year?
6. What is the hottest temperature in Phoenix?
7. What is the coldest temperature in Phoenix?
8. How much rain falls each year?
9. Compare what you found out - should we grow apples in Phoenix?

Use your Apple Questions sheet to record information you get from the following sites. 

After gathering your information about what apples need to grow, what have you decided about planting apple trees in Phoenix? Report your findings to the class and we'll take a vote - will we tell the Apple Growers of America to locate their new apple orchards in Phoenix?

Now try some other apple activities. Keep a journal about your favorites.

 

Other Apple Activities

The word APPLE begins with the letter A

Write an acrostic poem using the word APPLE

Apple grab bag - pull an apple from the bag - read the letter or number

For each child, cut a big apple and print the alphabet on it. When the child names the letter, put a sticker on that letter; continue until all letters are identified.

Think of words that describe apples - their color, texture, taste, size

Do you know these apple sayings?

Cut an apple in half (how many pieces do you have?). Dig the seeds out of one half - count them. Dig the seeds out of the other half. How many? Add the seeds together. How many in all? Make and use apple seed addition cards.

Compare the weight of your apple to another. Predict which is heavier. Put the apples on a balance scale to check you prediction.

Measure the circumference of an apple using a piece of yarn. Lay the yarn on a ruler to check.

Predict what will happen to an apple when it is placed in water. Will it sink or float?

10 Apples Up On Top booklet - each page has an animal or tree with a number on it. Students use an apple stamp to put the correct number of apples on top of the animal's head or in the tree.

Use weekly food ads to find the cost of apples. Are they more or less than oranges, bananas, other fruits? Are they sold individually or by the pound?

Use apple number cards for number recognition. Put them in correct numerical order.

Before students bring apples to school, predict how many red, green, yellow will come in. Do actual count; compare to prediction.

Patterning with apples - use apple cut-outs of different colors to make your own pattern - rgy rgy rgy; rrggyy rrggyy; ggrr ggrr ggrr, etc.

Sequence apple bite cards - whole, 1 bite, 2 bites, 3 bites, core

 

Apple Geography 

On a map of the United States, use sticky dots to chart where Johnny Appleseed traveled and planted apple trees.

Talk about states known for apple production - California, New York, Michigan, Washington, Oregon - send email to someone

Look through magazines for pictures of apples and orchards. Where are the orchards located? How are the apples used? 

 

Apple Science

Dissect an apple and talk about the parts.

Sequence the four seasons apple cards (spring, summer, fall, winter). What is your favorite season? Why? Find magazine pictures of different seasons.

Observe apples as they are cut open and exposed to air. Use magnifying glasses to get a closer look.

Discuss and observe the life cycle of an apple. 

 

Apple Art 

Make an apple core mobile.

Make apple prints.

Use red playdough with cinnamon.

Make apple trees by making the apples out of thumbprints dipped in red paint or ink pad.

 

Apple Technology

The Apple of My Eye Bulletin Board - Use digital camera to take pictures of each class member; crop and print; cut a large apple for the bulletin board; cut holes and place student pictures showing through.

Meet AJ & the Juicers - games and puzzles on the net from Motts.

 

Apple Snacks

Teeth Treat - Core and slice an apple. Spread peanut butter on one side of each slice. Place four tiny marshmallows on top of the peanut butter of one slice. Top with another apple slice, peanut butter side down. Gently squeeze together. The red skin of the apple will look like the lips, the peant butter will look like the gums and the marshmallow will look like the teeth!

Caramel apples

Mini Apple Turnovers - use canned biscuits and apple pie filling. Give each student a biscuit; have them roll the biscuit flat. Add a little filling to each biscuit and fold in half. Press the edges closed and bake according to the biscuit instructions.

Applesauce - Peel, core and cut up 6 apples. Cook in a crockpot with 1 cup water, 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon.

Zapples

Dried Apples

Apple Butter

Michigan Apple Recipes

Games to Play with Apples

 Bob for apples - put several apples in a big tub of water. Try to grab an apple with your teeth. You can't use your hands!

Make a silly apple face - click here to go to Apple Corps

Try an apple word search

Try an apple juice word search

Try an apple maze

Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

The Story of Johnny Appleseed by Aliki

Apple by Nonny Hogrogian

Rain Makes Applesauce by Julian Scheer

Ten Apples Up On Top by Theodore LeSieg

Apple Orchard by Irmengarde Eberle

Apples, How They Grow by Bruce McMillan

The Apple and the Moth by Iela Mari and Enzo Mari

The Seasons of Arnold's Apple by Gail Gibbons

Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell

Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble

From Seed to Applesauce by Hannah Johnson

An Apple Tree Through the Year by Claudia Schnieper

 

 Other Resources

Apple Clip Art and Photos - from Washington State Apple Growers

Mott's HomePage - the applesauce and juice company

The Chalkboard - This is the place to get up-to-date information on free education resources (things for class, lesson plans, materials, grants,tours, workshops, etc.) offered by corporations.

Washington Apple Growers - Healthy choices lesson plans

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