Along with visiting the apple orchard we wanted to do some apple-themed learning, so taking my own advice from last fall, I chose to integrate the seasonal theme with some concepts we’re currently working on. I’m learning to pace our studies, remembering there will be other years and more opportunities to explore a subject in depth. “Slow and steady.”

For us, this year’s fall apple theme looked like:

Reading

We read Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg, and then the girls narrated the main parts of the story using story printables.

I am an Apple was a perfect nonfiction of the life cycle of an apple tree the younger ones. (I think my favorite part though, is the detailed the paper-pieced illustrations!) Ryan read a more advanced version of How Do Apples Grow? We love the Let’s Read and Find Out Science series–simple, colorful, easy to understand.

After reading we also watched some videos on Brain Pop Jr.: one on Johnny Appleseed and one on the life cycle of an apple. We invested in a home subscription this year, and the videos, activities, and online quizzes have been a fun accompaniment to our subject studies.

Sequencing

We reviewed the life-cycle of an apple by putting laminated printables in order.

And then sequenced the growth of an apple tree with a color/cut/paste activity.

Math

Ryan (8) and I practiced fractions inspired by Jerry Pallotta’s Apple Fractions. (The cut-up apple “props” were later chopped and used for a snack of apple bread!)

Emery (6) also practiced some apple-themed skip counting and Serity (4) colored simple patterns.

Cooking

Over the summer as I analyzed our first school year, it became apparent that I’d been putting so much emphasis on moving forward academically that I’d neglected teaching some basic “life skills.” My eight-year-old doesn’t need to read at a 5th grade level (right now!), but he does need to learn how to happily (read: no whining) contribute to our home. And so this year I’ve been a little more laid back on the academics and have been trying to incorporate a lot more “life skills” and “habit building” into our day.

Though they didn’t realize it, part of the “school” plan for the day was to teach Ryan to peel and Emmy to cut apples.

And if they willingly helped so that I didn’t feel like the “little red hen,” there were rewards to be enjoyed afterwards!

If you think your kids would enjoy these apple-themed activities, you can find them here.