Discuss: How could you grow your own sweet apples?
Here's one idea we had
You could plant the seeds from (inside) the sweet apples you find at the grocery store!
Discuss:
In what ways are you different than your siblings?
Discuss: How could you grow an EVEN SWEETER apple, using the seeds from your new apples?
Here's an idea we had
You should take seeds from the SWEETEST APPLE you have and grow MANY more trees.
Discuss: How did we get from small crab apples thousands of years ago to large red and green apples today?
Reveal answer
Every few years, farmers grew bigger and bigger apples by selecting their favorites from apple trees.
Below are ideas for extending this topic beyond the activity & exploration which you just completed.
- End of Mystery Assessment and Answer Key
- Reading: "Weird Sunflowers, Wonderful New Traits"
- Reading: "Giant pumpkins grow fast!"
- Activity: How Many Seeds Are in an Apple?
- Math Extension: Graph the Apple Taste Test
- Language Arts Extension: Once Upon an Apple
- Web Resource: Apple Varieties
Cut an apple in half horizontally, and you'll see five seed compartments arranged in a star. How many seeds are in each compartment?
Your students will find out in this activity from the Willet Garden of Learning. Students predict the number of seed they will find in each apple, then work in groups to count seeds and compare the results.
Apple growers use seed counting to find out how successful the bees in their orchard have been. Empty seed compartments mean that some of the apple flower's eggs were not pollinated. Some farmers think that apples with more seeds are bigger or juicier. Ask your students what they think, after observing their apples and counting the seeds. (You'll find more information about apple seed counting here.
Use sticky notes to make a bar graph showing students' apple preference. Draw a horizontal axis and a vertical axis on a large piece of paper. On the horizontal axis, make four columns, each the width of a sticky note. At the bottom of each column, write the name of an apple variety.
Give each student a sticky note and have them place it neatly in the column of their favorite apple. The notes will form the bar of the graph.
For more on graphing with sticky notes, visit Schoolhouse Diva.
Apples often play an important role in fairy tales, myths, and folklore. In a class discussion, ask students if they know any stories in which apples are important. Possible examples are Snow White and William Tell. You'll find other examples from around the world at The Fairy Tale Cupboard.
Ask students to write a story that begins: "Once upon a time, I found a magic apple in my lunchbox." Encourage them to describe what the apple tasted like—and what happened when they ate it.
If your students are intrigued by the Apple Taste Test, there are many other apple varieties to sample. You'll find them listed by name (with a description of each) at the Apple Journal.
If you want to find a apple orchard that your class could visit, check Orange Pippin for one near you.
