Apples

It is Apple Season! Explore the world of apples with your child this month. For starters, discuss with child how apples growing during the four seasons of the year.

Winter is the season when most apple trees rest. In the winter, the weather is coldest. Apple trees have lost their leaves. Branches stay bare until the next spring.

Spring is the season when most apple trees start to bloom. A blooming apple tree grows flowers. In the spring, the weather gets warmer. Soon apples will grow in the places where the flowers are.

Summer is the season when most apple trees grow bigger. In the summer, the weather is warmest. The new apples are light green. They are not ready to be picked yet. It takes all summer for an apple to fully grow.

Fall is the season when most apples are ripe. Ripe apples are ready to be picked. In the fall, the weather is cooler. People eat the ripe apples.

Here are some fun ideas to help you and your child explore the world of apples:

Visit a local market or farm stand with your child. Take time to notice the many varieties of apples and other seasonal fruits. Point out the differences in size, shape, and color. Buy a variety of apples in different colors, sizes, and shapes. Enjoy the different tastes of several varieties throughout the week. Rate each on taste and texture.

Go apple picking. Orchards across the country offer apple picking to the public. Enjoy a day of apple picking with your child.

Interesting Facts About Apples

* The skin of an apple contains more antioxidants and fiber than the flesh.

* Apples are fat, sodium, and cholesterol free.

* Apple trees take four to five years to produce their first fruit.

* It takes the energy from 50 leaves to produce one apple

* Some apple trees will grow over 40 feet high and live over 100 years.

* Apples account for 50 percent of the world's deciduous fruit tree production

* There are more than 7,500 varieties of apples grown in the world.
About 2,500 varieties are grown in the United States.

* Apples are grown in all 50 states.

* Half the United States apple crop is turned into apple products like
applesauce and apple juice.

* Apples are the second most valuable fruit grown in the United States.
Oranges are first.

Apple Tree Arm

Paint the child’s forearm with brown paint to represent the trunk. Paint their hand green to represent the top of the tree and let dry. When it is dry have them dip their finger in red paint or use a red ink pad and place little apples all over the tree. This is very fun and the children love what the final result looks like, their very own apple tree!