UNIT 3: APPLES Ms. Finlayson’s 2 nd Grade Class Post-Unit Field Trip

After Apple-picking -Robert Frost My long two-pointed ladder’s sticking through a tree Toward heaven still, And there’s a barrel that I didn’t fill Beside it, and there may be two or three Apples I ddidn’t pick upon some bough. But I am done with apple- picking now. Essence of winter sleep is on the night, The scent of apples: I am drowsing off. I cannot rub the strangeness from my sight I got from looking through a pane of glass I skimmed this morning from the drinking trough And held against the world of hoary grass. It melted, and I let it fall and break. But I was well Upon my way to sleep before it fell, And I could tell What form my dreaming was about to take. Magnified apples appear and disappear, Stem end and blossom end, And every fleck of russet showing clear. My instep arch not only keeps the ache, It keeps the pressure of a ladder-round. I feel the ladder sway as the boughs bend. And I keep hearing from the cellar bin The rumbling sound Of load on load of apples coming in. For I have had too much Of apple-picking: I am overtired Of the great harvest I myself desired. There were ten thousand fruit to touch, Cherish in hand, lift down, and not let fall. For all That struck the earth, No matter if not bruised or spiked with stubble, Went surely to the cider- apple heap As of no worth. One can see what will trouble This sleep of mine, whatever sleep it is. Were he not gone, The woodchuck could say whether it’s like his Long sleep, as I describe its coming on, Or just some human sleep.

What is apple picking? In the fall, when the apples are ripe, familiesgo out into the orchards and pick the apples. The tradition started because the farmersneeded help picking all the apples whilethey were still good to eat. The farmerwould call all his neighbors and ask them forhelp. In exchange, they got to take someapples home with them. This year, we have a chance to go and pickout own apples. We will see how m

Where can you go apple picking? On Long Island and upstate, thereare many places which have madeapple picking a tourist attraction. Families make day trips to farmsevery fall around this time. The trees and apples are cared for allyear long just so that we can take atrip in the fall. It has become anindustry catering to providing theexperience to city folk. Where we will go apple-picking

What should you bring apple picking? Shoes Backpack Money Water Basket Permission Slips – Returned to the teacher 1 week prior to thetrip – Money turned into the teacher 1 weekbefore the trip – We need volunteer parents to chaperon thetrip

Agenda for the day Gather, take attendance, transportation on theschool bus Listen to the directions from the farmer Break into groups for the tractor rides Eat lunch among the trees Pick up baskets and walk with your groupthrough the trees picking apples Choose five of your favorite apples to bringhome Ride the tractor back to the farm Tour the barns Eat some apple pie Return to school on the bus

Basic Information Colors of Apples – Green – Red – Yellow – Brown Parts of an Apple – Stem – Seeds – Skin – Core – Tree

Apple Trees Apple trees are large and sturdy sothat they can live for many years. They have many sturdy brancheswhich can hold the weight of theapples and the leaves. Sometimes theyeven make a good place to hang aswing. The trees function as a way for eachindividual apple to get the nutrients itneeds as the water travels through thetree into the stem and into the apple. The trees get their nutrients and waterfrom the roots deep in the rich soilbelow the ground.

Apple Stems Located on the top of the apple, thestem is the part of the plant whichconnects the apple to the tree branch. It is thick and hard to break so that theweight of the apple or a heavy gust ofwind won’t knock the apple off therebyrobbing it of its life source. The brown color is an indicator that itconnects to the tree because it looks likea tiny tree branch. Apples sometimes fall off of the trees.Why do you think that happens?

Apple Skins The skin is the outer layer of protection for theapple. It keeps the bugs out away from the seeds andflesh. The skin has a smooth texture when we run ourfingers over it but waxy when we bite into it. Thecrunch that we hear when we bite into an apple ispartially from breaking through the skin. The skin of an apple is edible. Sometimes mothersremove the skin so that children do not choke orhave trouble chewing. Another instance where it is appropriate to removethe skin is in making applesauce or an apple pie.

Apple Seeds An apple seed is the part of the plant whichis the beginning of a new life. By planting an apple seed, it is possible togrow an apple tree. With proper care and controlled conditions,farmers are able to take some of the seedsto plant new trees. An apple tree produces so many apples andseed because the chance of those seedsbeing properly inserted into the ground tomake a new tree are very low.

Johnny Apple Seed Have you ever heard the song“JOHNNY APPLE SEED”? Follow this link to listen to it andhear the story of this boy who isgrateful for the life cycle of an appletree.

END OF UNIT QUIZ 1. What colors are apples? ______________________________________ 2. What time of year do the apples getharvested? ____________________ 3. Why is the seed an necessary part ofthe apple? _________________________________________________ 4. What purpose doe the apple stemserve? ______________________________________________________ 5. Can you eat the skin of an apple? _________________________________