How to Teach Parts of an Apple

Whether you are celebrating the fall harvest, or simply trying to encourage healthier eating habits, apples make for great scientific studies. Children can learn how to identify parts of an apple with these activities that are appropriate for preschool through elementary.

Introduce the parts of the apple.

Materials needed:

**Apple

**Sharp knife

**Cutting board

1. Gather children in a small group around your table.

2. Tell them you are going to learn about the parts of the apple.

3. Identify the outer parts of the apple. Point out "skin" and "stem."

4. Cut open the apple, using a vertical motion at the stem.

5. Point out the interior parts of the apple. Note that "flesh" is the part that we eat. The "core" contains the "seeds." We do not eat the core, nor the seeds.

6. Cut the remaining parts of the apple into chunks for the children to taste.

7. Compare the inside of this apple to other varieties, if desired, to emphasize that all apples have the same parts.

Label the parts of the apple.

Materials needed:

**Parts of an Apple Nomenclature Cards by ABCTeach.(free document)

**Blank Parts of an Apple Nomenclature page from ABCTeach (membership required for this document)

**Red, peach, and brown colored pencils

**Regular pencil

**Stapler

Preparation for this lesson:

1. Print off the Parts of an Apple Nomenclature Cards from ABCTeach. You will need one full set for three-part matching, and one extra set of control cards to create a booklet. The control cards are the ones that have both the picture and word on one card, without the dividing black line. In this set of cards, the control cards are the first two pages.

2. Cut out and laminate the individual cards. Cut cards apart on the black lines.

3. Set up the set of cards for three-part matching on a tray.

4. Assemble the second set of control cards into a booklet for a second tray. The cover page should be the fully colored apple page.

5. Make copies of the blank apple nomenclature cards, cut apart, so the children can create their own booklet.

6. Some teachers like to set up the booklet tray with the needed pencils. Others like to challenge the children to figure out what they need.

Use the Parts of an Apple Nomenclature Cards.

For non-readers, or as an initial lesson:

1. Lay out the control cards, left to right, naming each card as you set it down.

2. Match the picture cards, one at a time.

3. Match the word cards, one at a time.

4. Review the names of the parts of the apple, by pointing to each and simply naming it.

5. Encourage children to independently use the activity.

For readers, or a later lesson:

1. Lay out the picture cards.

2. Read each word card, labeling the appropriate picture card.

3. Use the control cards to check your work.

4. Encourage children to independently use the activity.

Make the corresponding Parts of an Apple Booklet.

1. Tell the children you are going to make a booklet of the parts of the apple.

2. Use the cover to determine which colored pencils you require, if they are not already provided on the tray.

3. Color a cover page, just like the one in the booklet. Emphasize each color needed by pointing to it in the booklet then pointing to the corresponding pencil, and area on the blank page.

4. Turn to the first page. Read the word, then follow step 3 for coloring your first page. Repeat the process until the booklet is complete.

5. Write your name in the back of the booklet.

6. Staple the pages together. It is up to each teacher whether the children will staple their own booklets, or if they must ask an adult to do it.

7. Encourage children to independently use the activity.

Other tips:

**If you do not like the coloring scheme of the ABCTeach cards, or wish to use green or yellow apples, you can make your own out of the blank copies.

**Three blank templates exist for the Parts of the Apple cards. Use two-to-a-page, four-to-a-page that can be folded in half, or four-to-a-page that can be cut apart. The cards are the same size as four-to-a-page.

**Always use a real apple to introduce the lesson, to help children make the concrete-to-abstract connection.

**The fewer words used when presenting the lesson, the better. Especially when laying out the cards and creating the booklet, limit your words to the associated vocabulary for each card or page.

**Follow up with other apple tasting activities, make applesauce, or apple prints.