Apples in the Fall: Scientific Investigation

Or as I secretly call it “Missing our Apple Day in Second Grade”

We had an apple day activity in our class about a week ago. In first grade we called it Apple Day! You know that day, right? J On this day we read Johnny Appleseed books, have students bring any item that comes from apples, weight apples, measure them, taste them, etc., etc…

Now that we’ve looped into second many of the kids began asking if we were celebrating apple day just  like we had done in first grade. I guess they'd heard all the buzz from the now first graders in the after school program- thanks to my besties in first!;).

I of course, missed the idea of having apples, apples, everywhere in my class. We had so much fun last year (well, myself for the past 8 years) where even parents came in and helped out in our many centers. I refused to disillusion my students (ahhem- me!). So, as I promised them we would be doing the same fun activities we had done in first I felt obligated to have some apples in our second grade class as well. ;)

Well, I found the opportunity while going over the first Unit in Science Fusion about Inquiry Skills. In it there is a lesson where students needed to choose a tool to be able to conduct an experiment. I took this as the opportunity to have apples once again in our lives. YEAEEEHHH! So, after we learned about the tools in previous lessons I then had students look at a chart I made and went over which tools were good to use and why. Chart is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz1Ql80v9lTqUktpUTc0WFJDSDA/view?usp=sharing

We also used the page in the Science Fusion lesson 2 to complete our test. They answered questions and then they began investigating. Each chose different tools and began their observations with their apples. Students were really into the investigation and each took their tools seriously as they were making their conclusions. After, we conducted a science experiment where we would choose a liquid that would stop the apples from browning (This was a freebie I found at coast to coast kinder- http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Apples-Scientific-Method-1455667 ).

Ufff! We almost ran out of time! Thankfully, I had my student intern , Mrs. B., who helped with most of the activities and cutting the apples.  Here is a picture of our scientist at work! 

I was very pleased in how our whole activity went and my students showed true scientific skills! “Our APPLE Investigation was a HIT in Second Grade!

Next, how to integrate Pumpkin Day into Second... :)

Thanks for reading, Lymari