Daily Question: Have you ever made applesauce?
Toys: Apple Books and Alphabet/Number tracing books.
Applesauce activity: We had so much fun peeling the stickers off our apples; giving them a bath/rinse in hot, soapy, water and then taking turns using an Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer to help us make our very own applesauce! An abstract recipe:
Homemade Apple Sauce
Peel several apples (different varieties make it especially sweet. Great for older "grumpy" apples).
Core and slice up the apples.
Place in pot with a shallow layer of boiling water and a pinch of salt.
Turn apples down to a simmer and partially cover.
Refill water when pan sounds "dry."
When apples turn somewhat translucent (after 10-15 minutes), take off the heat and allow to cool some.
Use a potato masher to squish up apples (my children love to help with this) or ladle apples into a blender and gently process.
When finished to desired consistency, ladle into bowls and top with cinnamon and or cream and enjoy!
APPLES!
Science: Do apples float? Initially, our apples sank to the bottom of the sink (with little water) and many students guessed that an apple would NOT float. As the water rose, so did the apples! Apples FLOAT in water! The principle behind this is that anything that is less dense than water will float and apples contain about 25% air and are less dense that water and so they float--leading to a fun game in the Fall, Bobbing for Apples.
Apple Facts: We learned that another word for apple seed is a pip. (Lemons seeds are also called pips.) Also, we cut an apple in half and learned that it hides a star inside.
Finger Painting Activity:
We learned that A the alligator is angry because ants took his adorable apples, "A a a! Bring me back my apple!" he calls. Students make their hands into fists and shout "a" with A the alligator. In the finger painting activity, student made an ant path up the maze to the apple.
While washing Seth's hands, "Look teacher, I made the water colored! " "Yes, you mixed red and blue and made purple!" "Why (is it purple)?"
Comments:
- Hugh suggested then when his family makes applesauce, they call the apple peels"candy!"
- I was proud of Eli for trying the apple peels. That's what preschool is all about--trying new things! Our class gobbled up the skins and small left over apple bits!
- We had a "teaching moment" when Susie did not care for part of our snack--we learned we can simply throw it away or leave it on our napkin and then ask politely for the part we do want more of.
- Parents, please help your student use the toilet fifteen minutes BEFORE school.
There are still several students doing the potty dance each day shortly
after coming. This allows students time to participate in class. You
might try saying something like, "Let's try to go potty before
school, so you can feel nice and dry and not have to worry about going
potty when you get to school. You will have more time to play!"
- Also, please send your son or daughter in shoes that they can put on and off by his/herself. This will save us a lot of class time.
- Thank YOU for all you do! I love teaching (and learning) from your child.
Books Read:
Apples Here!
Ten Apples Up on Top by Dr. Suess.
Song: Johnny Appleseed Grace (Song)
(For a link to the music and other verses click on the above underlined song title.)
Oh, the Lord's been good to me.
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need:
The sun, the rain and the appleseed;
Oh, the Lord's been good to me.
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need:
The sun, the rain and the appleseed;
Oh, the Lord's been good to me.