What can we make with apples?
LESSON 3
Children taste and compare various apple varieties, assist in chopping and mixing ingredients, and crafting their own mini apple pies.
Variety of apples to taste test and use for pie filling.
Muffin pan
Cutting board
Child safe knife
Adult cutting knife
Cup or biscuit cutter
Cookie cutters (optional)
Ingredients:
2 pie crusts (homemade or store bought)
¼ cup sugar
2 tbsp flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
⅛ tsp nutmeg
Materials
Gather materials, and prepare the kitchen to make mini apple pies with your child.
Preparations
Ensure that safety and sanitation rules are reviewed and followed by the children during the kitchen activity.
Guide children in tasting and describing the sensory attributes of various apple varieties.
Provide assistance and supervision as children chop apples into small pieces for pie filling.
Support children in adding ingredients to the apple filling mixture and mixing them effectively.
Oversee the process of rolling out pie crust, cutting circles, and placing them in muffin cups.
Assist children in filling pie crusts with apple pie filling, ensuring proper portioning.
Encourage creative expression as children craft tops for mini pies using different techniques.
Objectives for Teachers
Children understand and follow kitchen safety and sanitation rules.
Children observe and analyze a variety of apples based on color and size.
Children taste different apple varieties, describing their taste, texture, smell, and sounds.
Children participate in chopping apples into small pieces for pie filling.
Children engage in hands-on pie crust preparation, cutting circles and fitting them into muffin cups.
Children express creativity by crafting tops for mini pies using various techniques.
Children learn to appreciate the process of making a delicious treat and enjoy the outcome of their efforts.
Objectives for Children
Collect and Connect
Way Up High in the Apple Tree
Way up high in the apple tree (Stand tall, hold up both hands, and spread fingers to represent a tree)
Two little apples smiled down at me (Turn your hands into two fists, and shake them)
I shook that tree just as hard as I could (Pretend to hold the trunk of a tree and shake it)
Down came the apples (Fall to the ground)
And mmm they were good! (rub your tummy)
Another way to practice this poem is by saying five apples instead of two, and showing five fingers. Instead of saying “Down came THE apples,” you would say "down came AN apple," and then repeat the poem, counting down from four, until you reach one.
Activity Flow
Washing hands with warm soapy water before handling food.
Avoiding touching mouth and eyes while preparing food.
Reserving sharp knives and tools for grown-ups only.
Using a cutting board for food preparation.
Maintaining a safe distance from hot stoves and ovens.
Emphasizing the importance of good listening while in the kitchen.
Prepare your child for the kitchen activity by reviewing safety and sanitation rules. Some rules we follow in our kitchen include:
2. Once your child is ready for cooking in the kitchen, start by selecting a variety of different apples. Take a moment to observe the color and size of each apple. Then inform your child that they will be tasting each apple to determine their favorite variety. Utilizing a child-safe knife, assist your child in cutting a small piece from each apple to sample. Encourage them to describe the taste, texture, smell, and even the sounds they experience while eating the apple. Is it juicy, sweet, sour, crunchy, or soft? After trying each apple, ask which one is their favorite and why.
3. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees fahrenheit.
4. Now it's time to chop the apples. We used the apples from step 2 to create our pie filling. Begin by cutting each apple into large slices, then involve your child in cutting those slices into smaller, bite-size pieces. Transfer the apple pieces into a bowl. Aim for approximately 2 and a half cups of chopped apples.
5. Next, allow your child to help you in adding the flour, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and nutmeg to the bowl of chopped apples. Mix the ingredients together and set the bowl aside.
6. Sprinkle some flour on a clean work surface and proceed to roll out your pie crust. Use a cup or biscuit cutter to create circles from the pie crust. Gently press each circle into the muffin cups, ensuring that the edges slightly overhang the top of the cup.
7. Spoon the apple pie filling into each cup.
8. Next, you will craft a top for each mini pie. Here are a few ideas:
Weaving the crust.
Using a shaped cookie cutter.
Placing a solid circle with a few small holes.
9. Once the tops are created, position them atop each pie. Bake the pies in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the crust achieves a golden brown hue.
10. After removing from the oven, allow the pies to cool. Serve on their own, with whipped cream, or alongside ice cream. Enjoy your delicious hard work!