Apples Core Lessons for Our First Graders

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Apples -Core Lessons forOur First Graders

• Mrs. Susan Caldwell
• Mrs. Michelle Worsencroft
• The First Grade of
• Keowee Elementary

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We began our study of apples by investigating all
the different varieties. The children each
brought an apple to school. They made drawings
of their apples in their science notebooks and
wrote descriptions. After the apples were all
mixed and placed on the carpet, each child had
to find his or her own apple.
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We used our math and science skills as we
observed and measured the apples, recorded
information, and graphed results.
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Zachary Haddan led a student activity to explore
the conditions for sprouting apple seeds. He
explained what is needed for the seeds to grow.
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The children worked in small groups and were
assigned tasks to do. Apple seeds were planted
in soil, sand, and vermiculite. We made
predictions.
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What were the results?
None of the seeds sprouted! ????????????????????
????????????? It may be the seeds needed to be
chilled for a few months before planting!
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Now it was time to prepare apples for cooking!
We investigated the star and seeds inside.
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Chopping, stirring, cooking Soon we had
delicious applesauce!
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We made apple prints and wrote number stories and
number models to add red, green and yellow
apples. We wrote apple stories on apple shaped
paper!
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The children cut and tore paper to make collages.
An apple tree appeared in each story!
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One of the moms baked delicious apple pies for
our classes!
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We attended the Oconee County Farm City Day in
October. Apple product samples were provided by
the South Carolina Farm Bureau Womens Committee.
Students were treated to tasty apple butter and
juice.
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On a warm fall afternoon we took a field trip to
the Hollifields Apple Orchard in Long Creek,
South Carolina! We learned that the orchard has
been family owned and operated since the late
1800s. George Matheson came from England and
started the orchard. His son Harley Thrift and
later his grandson Bill Hollifield operated the
orchard.
Now a fourth generation, Doug and Susan
Hollifield, own and operate the orchard.
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Originally, 400 trees were planted on 3 acres of
land. Everything was done by hand and a horse
and wagon were used to take the apples to
sale. Today, trees are planted closer together
and more varieties are growing. Doug Hollifield
has 20 acres planted with 4,000 trees!
Apples are still picked by hand. Up until
several years ago, apples were shipped to many
locations, but today, all the apples are sold
locally at the roadside apple stand in Long Creek.
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Mr. Hollifield explained how the machine he made
sorts the apples by size as they move down a
conveyor belt. The children were fascinated!
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We climbed into the trailer pulled by a tractor
and headed out through the orchard to see the
trees.
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The apples were beautiful!
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Mr. Hollifield showed us how to collect apples in
a special sack. The bottom opens to let the
apples drop into the wagon.
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Mrs. Hollifield and Zachary helped serve
delicious, cold apple juice!
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The First Graders had a great day at the
Hollifields Apple Orchard!
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Keowee Elementary held a school-wide celebration
of reading with a Character Parade. Our class
choose a favorite book, Ten Red Apples, by Pat
Hutchins. We made masks and story boards to help
act out the events in the story!
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Thinking maps, fact/opinion exercises, and poetry
were additional ways we studied about apples.
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Table of Contents Apple Cakes 1 Apple Pies
9 Apple Bakes 18 Apple Bars and Cookies
27 Candied Apples 31 Apple Snacks 37 Apple
Puddings and Sauces 43 Apple Salads 51 Apple
Pizzas 55
Apple Ice By Kacee Bridgman 5cups peeled and
sliced Granny Smith apples 1 cup water ¾ cup
sugar ½ tsp. finely grated lemon zest In a large
saucepot, simmer apples, water and sugar until
apples are tender, about 20 minutes. In food
processer or blender, puree mixture until smooth.
Stir in lemon zest. Transfer mixture to a 8 or 9
inch metal pan and freeze until
Our students families sent in recipes using
apples. Zachary Haddan, the HHMI SC Life
Project, Brandy Moss and Cora Allard helped
compile a recipe book for each child!
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Before the spring rains came, our custodian, Mr.
Harry, helped us get the ground ready for
planting the apple trees. We dug a large hole
and added soil conditioner.
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Mrs. Caldwells class planted a Honey Crisp Apple
tree!
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Mrs. Worsencrofts class planted a Golden
Delicious Apple tree!
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On the last day of school, we measured our apple
trees and measured ourselves. We will watch our
trees grow outside our classroom windows in
Second Grade. We hope to pick apples from our
trees before we graduate from Keowee Elementary!
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We had a great year! Studying apples was hard
work!
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The End !