Tasty Apple Recipes and Engaging Kindergarten Apple Activities

It has been an unusual summer, climate-wise. Our apples are already falling off of the trees! Some things I love to do with apples take little to no prep. Here are my favorite recipes for fresh or not-so-fresh farm apples from our farm.

Fried Apples

During the first part of apple picking season, we have several apples that have imperfections, bug holes, or other things that keep them from going into extra refrigerators for storage. I cut away the bad spots, quarter, take out the cores, and cut into slices with the peeling on. Our apples are varieties of reds, yellows, and greens. They are a bit tart in early September, so fried apples is a great way to serve them. I put 6-8 cups in a non-stick skillet with 1/2 stick of butter and a teaspoon of cinnamon. Add a bit of salt to bring out the flavor. Cook with 1/4 inch water with the lid on until tender, but not too tender. They will turn into applesauce if cooked too long!

Here is where the magic happens! Add 1/2 cup brown sugar, then stir gently until all apple slices are coated. Watch the skillet closely. The bottom slices will begin to caramelize. When you have achieved your preference of caramelization, take them off the stove. Serve with grilled salmon and grilled squash and onions!

Fresh Apple Cake

This is a recipe my mom made back in the 60s-70s, and beyond. Prep for 3 cups of peeled, diced apples is the only time-consuming part of the recipe. Here is my mom’s original recipe. She was a wonderful cook!

Apple Activity Favorites!

With kindergarten, the possibilities are endless for creative fun with apples! Every year, I request parents send in their favorite variety of apple–just one, or a bagful! With our usual large supply of raw materials, we begin exploring apples. Here are five fun and educational activities that are sure to please your little ones.

Apple Graphing with Variety and Color as the Focus

I am a big fan of large chart paper and clip art! You can make large titles and labels for the charts in a cinch, as well as find endless clip art free for the taking! Place your heading and art on the paper, make yourself a table with headings, then get started! Or…if you like Chat GPT, just generate the chart, print, or display on your white board! Here are samples of charting i have done. Love to draw and label! But I love something quick for my smart board too! Here are samples of passt pocket charts.

Sing an Apple Poem!

Several years ago, I wrote a cute apple poem for my class. I have turned this into a pocket chart set that includes a blackline reader to go with it. I intro the poem and pocket chart by singing or chanting it, then invite students to sing/chant along. In no time they are reciting it like a pro! I usually assign the blackline reader as an independent activity. On another day, we talk about the lines in the poem, highlighting what each line begins with. Students will soon recognize the order of the poem and be able to build it with a duplicate set over the top of the original poem. As soon as they are comfortable with the order of the poem, challenge them to mix up the cards and build it without the example already in the pocket chart. If you have a cute little sound button recorder, you can record directions at the pocket chart station, center, etc. You can find this poem by clicking the picture of the cover below.

A great companion activity for the poem is an alphabet matching set featuring apple halves, or an apple themed worksheet that focuses on science of reading aligned skills. This worksheet asks students to find the apple that begins like hard /g/, /f/, and so on (as in the Chat GPT chart above). Here is a free worksheet for that extension activity. I created a letter matching set for you to grab in my store if it helps. Just click the image. Free worksheet file: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F-BoSIfv__vxE79gkZxtA-vnDy8Fe4Le/view?usp=sharing

Find the Apple Center Activity HERE: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Johnny-Appleseed-Alphabet-Centers-2084503

Need another FREE activity? Check out the apple labeling activity in this post: https://maggieskinder.com/2015/10/investigating-apples-a-labeling-freebie.html

I hope you have a

FABULOUS FALL!!!

Maggie from Maggie’s Kinder