Autumn, Apples, and Adjectives. What do all three have in common? Alliteration? Well, yes, but it’s also a great way to teach adjectives the fun way!
For many children, adjectives seem to be the trickiest part of grammar to learn and retain descriptive words. In our household, labeling, worksheets, and recitation just didn’t seem to work. So, taking a more hands-on approach, I figured out a way that was both fun and memorable!
Autumn is an excellent time to celebrate the end of summer, the start of a new school year, and the beautiful leaves changing colors on the trees. And, it’s also the best time of year for apples.
Apples are the most widely grown fruit in the world. Though there may be just a few varieties in your geographic area, apples come in thousands of varieties! Apple pie, cobbler, juice, crips, just to name a few. But how about trying individual apples just to describe their taste?
To set up this learning lesson, you’ll need to visit your local grocery store. You’ll want to choose at least five different apple varieties.
But, first, how do you pick out a good apple? When buying apples, make sure to choose those free from bruising or soft, mushy spots. Apples should be firm according to their specific variety. Finally, pick out apples with shiny skin, as apples with dull skin lack crispness and flavor.
Keep apples cool as they can quickly lose crispness stored at room temperature. Instead, put apples in a perforated plastic bag in the crisper section of your refrigerator. Keep an eye out for any bruises on apples and store those separately.
When slicing apples, if you don’t want the pieces to turn brown, place the slices in a bowl with a mixture of water and lemon juice.
Now that you know a little more about buying and storing apples let’s talk about some apple tasting specifics. Here are a few common varieties and their attributes.
Gala – Sweet and easy tasting
Lady – Mildly sweet, tart, and delicate
McIntosh – Juicy, fresh, sweet, soft
Granny Smith – Very tart!
Fuji – Crisp, sweet, refreshing
Honeycrisp – Juicy, sweet, crunch
Golden Delicious – Soft, creamy, bright, sweet
Pink Lady – Mild, pleasant, crunchy
Red Delicious – Soft, juicy
With at least five varieties of apples on hand, slice and serve. Have your children either write down their descriptive words for each or be their scribe. For an extra challenge, don’t tell them the name of the apple. Instead, let them describe the slices first, and then try and guess which slice came from which apple.
What a fun way to learn adjectives, celebrate Autumn, and eat a healthy snack!
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