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Why are some apples red and some green?

Why are some apples red and some green?

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Discuss: How could you grow your own sweet apples?

Here's one idea we had

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Discuss:

In what ways are you different from your siblings?

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Discuss: How could you grow an EVEN SWEETER apple, using the seeds from your new apples?

Here's an idea we had

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Discuss: How did we get from small crab apples thousands of years ago to large red and green apples today?

Reveal answer

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# Extensions
Below are ideas for extending this topic beyond the activity & exploration which you just completed.
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# Extra Activity: How Many Seeds?

Cut an apple in half horizontally, and you'll see five seed compartments arranged in a star. How many seeds are in each compartment?

Your students will find out in this activity from the Willett Garden of Learning. Students predict the number of seed they will find in each apple, then work in groups to count seeds and compare the results.

Apple growers use seed counting to find out how successful the bees in their orchard have been. Empty seed compartments mean that some of the apple flower's eggs were not pollinated. Some farmers think that apples with more seeds are bigger or juicier. Ask your students what they think, after observing their apples and counting the seeds. (You'll find more information about apple seed counting here.)

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# Math Extension: # Graphing the Apple Taste Test

Use sticky notes to make a bar graph showing students' apple preference. Draw a horizontal axis and a vertical axis on a large piece of paper. On the horizontal axis, make four columns, each the width of a sticky note. At the bottom of each column, write the name of an apple variety.

Give each student a sticky note and have them place it neatly in the column of their favorite apple. The notes will form the bar of the graph.

For more on graphing with sticky notes, visit Schoolhouse Diva.

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# Language Arts Extension: # Once Upon an Apple

Apples often play an important role in fairy tales, myths, and folklore. In a class discussion, ask students if they know any stories in which apples are important. Possible examples are Snow White and William Tell. You'll find other examples from around the world at The Fairy Tale Cupboard.

Ask students to write a story that begins: "Once upon a time, I found a magic apple in my lunchbox." Encourage them to describe what the apple tasted like—and what happened when they ate it.

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# Web Resource: Apple Varieties

If your students are intrigued by the Apple Taste Test, there are many other apple varieties to sample. You'll find them listed by name (with a description of each) here.

If you want to find a apple orchard that your class could visit, check Orange Pippin for one near you.

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Image & Video Credits

Mystery Science respects the intellectual property rights of the owners of visual assets. We make every effort to use images and videos under appropriate licenses from the owner or by reaching out to the owner to get explicit permission. If you are the owner of a visual and believe we are using it without permission, please contact us—we will reply promptly and make things right.

Exploration
Box of apples by John Phelan
Red head brothers by Eddy Van 3000
Wild apples by John Severns
Apple trees by Peter Fristedt
Bird eating berries on tree by jeffreyw
Twins by Ruth Lozano
Apple seeds by fir0002 | flagstaffotos.com.au
Apples by Scott Bauer
Brother/sister by Rod Waddington
Row of apple trees by Jeff Kubina
Half eaten apple by Joe Lodge
Siblings by Juhan Sonin
Honeycrisp apple by Jon Fingas
Pine trees by Luca Biada
Single apple tree with flowers by Alexander van Loon
Half eaten apple on tree by Shane McGraw
Rooster, hay, pitch fork by Hartwig HKD
Holding half eaten apple by Imgur
Pile of apples by Sarah Horrigan
Holding apple by Imgur
Bright red apple by Imgur
Favorite apple tree by Matt
Close up on apple seeds by Mark Probst
Kinds of pears by Agyle
Citrus by Anthony Albright
Siblings 2 by The Good Doctor
Other
Turkey in front of door by H. Kopp-Delany

Activity Prep

Print Prep

In this lesson, students learn how the food we eat is a result of selection. In the activity, Apple Taste Test, students taste four different varieties of apples to learn about the traits (color, texture, and flavor) of apples that humans have artificially selected to encourage.

Preview activity

Exploration

25 mins

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