Apple Star

This week my class learned about apples. We learned how they grow and the parts of an apple. We read some books, watched the Johnny Apple Seed video on Brainpop Jr., graphed apples, read an apple poem, did some activity pages, and did an apple art project.

Of all of the activities we did, one of the class favorites was the story, The Little Red House with No Doors and No Windows and a Star Inside. Have you ever heard it before? Well, don't feel bad if you haven't. I only heard about it last year. This is the reason I am sharing this post.

The story is a very cute story about a boy who is tired of playing with his toys and is bored. He asks his mom what he should do and she sends him out to look for the house with no doors or windows and with a star inside. At the end of the story, you cut the apple and allow the students to see the star inside.

Here are a couple of links where you can find the story.
http://www.tooter4kids.com/Apples/Apple_Story.htm

https://www.ncagr.gov/agscool/commodities/redhouse.htm

You could of course always show the apple star without the story. My students usually go home and ask their parents to cut an apple so that they can show them the star.

Before you do this activity you, of course, need an apple. Any apple will do, but if I am reading the red apple story I make sure to purchase a red apple.



Don't forget the knife and a cutting board. I actually forgot the knife, because I was using the apple slicer for our apple tasting. Fortunately, my daughter works at my school, so she was able to bring me one.

Cut the apple on its side, which is an important tip to know. You won't see the star if you cut it the other way.



When I cut the apple in class I actually used a large cutting board, which I had placed on my lap. This allowed for everyone to see as I cut the apple.

My students were really excited to see the star. Some of my students were actually surprised by it because they had never seen it before.

After we saw the star, we went back and talked about the parts of an apple and discussed the apple in a more science-based way, but the story was a fun way to get students interested in learning more.

One of the resources that I used in my classroom to help my students learn about apples is my Apples, Apples, Apples packet. Here is the link if you are interested:

Apples, Apples, Apples

You might also be interested in my YouTube video. It is an adapted version of the apple story, "The Little Red House with No Doors and No Windows and a Star Inside." Click the Link to view. 

The Little Red House