Where do apples come from?
LESSON 1
Children investigate where apples come from, exploring local fruit trees, orchards, or grocery stores.
The book “Autumn,” by Gerda Muller
Basket, or reusable bag for collecting apples.
Materials
Locate a nearby orchard or reach out to a friendly neighbor in advance to arrange an apple-picking session. If these options aren't available, consider a visit to the local farmers market or grocery store to select apples during the activity.
Look through the illustrations in the story "Autumn" to gain deeper insights into the images and the story's portrayal of autumnal activities and rituals.
Preparations
Facilitate a guided reading session of "Autumn," encouraging children's engagement.
Guide children in analyzing cover illustrations and promoting critical thinking.
Lead discussions to enhance vocabulary and comprehension.
Organize and supervise a field trip for apple picking, ensuring a safe and engaging learning experience.
Inspire excitement and curiosity about making apple pies and trying different apple varieties in future activities.
Objectives for Teachers
Children participate in a shared reading experience of the wordless story "Autumn" by Gerda Muller.
Children engage in critical thinking by observing and discussing cover illustrations to infer themes.
Children develop observational skills by noticing details in the pictures and sharing observations.
Children enrich vocabulary and comprehension through guided discussions about story elements.
Children deepen understanding of quantities by counting or weighing apples for future lessons.
Objectives for Children
Play a simple game.
Practice saying the poem with the actions.
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
Start by showing your child the cover of the story and introducing it by stating the title while noting something specific about the cover illustration. For instance, say, "This story is called 'Autumn.' I can see brown leaves, acorns, berries, and an apple on the cover. I wonder if these images are telling us something about autumn."
Proceed to ask your child if they know what Autumn is, explaining that it's a season similar to Winter, Spring, and Summer, each with its unique activities.
Initiate a discussion about their favorite summer activities and then transition to the theme of the book, sharing that it's about activities enjoyed in Autumn.
Encourage your child to share their observations about the cover's illustrations, prompting further with questions as desired.
Begin activity by reading the story “Autumn,” by Gerda Muller with your child.
Pre-story interaction:
2. Reading and Exploration:
This is a wordless story, filled with pictures that convey the narrative.
Turn to the first page and engage your child by sharing what you notice in the picture, such as children playing in a puddle with sticks and boats.
Encourage critical thinking by asking questions like, "Why are they wearing rain boots?" Let your child offer their thoughts.
Prompt your child to observe details in the picture and share what they notice. Expand discussions about the illustration's elements, like the man picking apples in the orchard.
Continue through the story talking about the illustrations and activities people enjoy during the autumn season.
3. Post-Story Activity:
Turn to the first page of the story and suggest the idea of going apple picking, inspired by the man picking apples.
Ask your child where they think they can find apples, guiding them with specific questions if needed.
Organize a visit to a local orchard, farmers market, neighbor, or grocery store to select apples for the week.
Mention making apple pies as an upcoming activity and trying various apple varieties to discover preferences. Discuss the quantity of apples needed for making apple pies in lesson 2, involving your child in counting or weighing the apples.
