Back to School Month
August is National Back to School Month! Check out all these amazing resources to get you back into your classroom!
Apples, Apples, & More Apples
Happy September! Fall is in full swing, and what does that mean? It's time for apples! Apple activities in the classroom are a perfect way to engage students in agriculutre and the season, all while learning some 'core' concepts too. Did you know that Illinois produces around 22,400,000 pounds each year? All those apples would make 8 million apple pies.
Check out these other fun facts about apples:
- September 26th is National Johnny Appleseed Day
- The GoldRush apple is the official Illinois State Fruit
- It is believed that humans have been enjoying apples since at least 6500 B.C.
- Apple trees can take between 4 to 5 years to produce their first fruit
- In 1905 the Golden Delicious apple was discovered in West Virginia
- It takes energy from 50 leaves to produce a single apple
- Mexico accounts for the most apple exports in the world
Kindergarten through Third Grade Lessons
Illinois Ag in the Classroom has been hard at work coming up with new resources for your classroom. Some of the newest additions are our Apple Junior Ag Mag targeted at 2nd through 4th graders and our Facts for Little Readers: Apples for Kindergarten and 1st graders. These are the perfect resources to give your students information on apples with a worksheet activity to go along.
Two other lessons perfect for Kindergarten through third graders are "Apple Chain" and "Apple Blossom Tree." Both of these lessons follow the science behind the production of apples through seasons. They also are perfect art projects!
Check out all of these resources below:
Apple Ag Mag
Read about all things Apples with our Apple Ag Mag and Ag-Venture with Apples. This is a great classroom activity for 4th through 8th graders. Use the Ag-Venture with Apples activity hand in hand with the Ag Mag. This helps students follow along and make connections between apples and agriculture!
Recommended Reading
Pre-K - 4th Grade
"Bad Apple" by Huw Lewis-Jones
"How to Grow an Apple Pie" by Beth Charles
"Apple Pie Picnic" by Alicia Duran
"Applesauce Day" by Lisa Amstutz
"The Apple Orchard Riddle" by Margaret McNamara
5th - 8th Grade
"Apple Crush: A Graphic Novel" by Lucy Knisley
A Seed of History
"Seed by Seed: The Legend and Legacy of John "Appleseed" Chapman" by Esme Raji Codell
"Apples to Oregon" by Deborah Hopkinson
Have a visit with Lisa Amstutz, author of "Applesauce Day"
Check out this interview with the author of Applesauce Day. Not only will you learn about apples, but also about the book production, editing, and writing processes.
Apple Science
Our apple curricular resources are full of science lessons that are certified 'awesome sauce.' Our two most sought after apple science lessons are "Browning Apples" and Apple-Copter."
"Browning Apples" is targeted at 2nd through 6th graders. Students will investigate how to keep apple slices from browning in this engaging inquiry experiment. By using different 'chemical' mixes, students can see firsthand how to preserve apples.
"Apple-Copter" is targeted at kindergarten through 4th graders. This lesson is a fun, hands-on activity designed to help students understand gravity, force, and friction. Typically taking 45 minutes, this lesson can be shortened or extended with fun connected activities!
Check them out here:
Take a Field Trip
Follow along with Tom Range, owner and operator of Braeutigam Orchard in Belleville, Illinois!
iREAD 2023
Check out Illinois Ag in the Classroom's iREAD 2023 Summer Reading Companion, complete with ag-accurate book recommendations and accompanying IAITC lessons all aligned with iREAD's summer 2023 theme: Find Your Voice!
Christmas Tree Resources
Find IAITC resources for teaching students about Christmas Trees here!