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September! This one word makes people think of different things. For some, it may be going back to school, while others think of cooler days and relief from the hot summer. For me, I think of apple picking and all the fun apple activities for kids.

I also get images of red ripe apples hanging from the trees, cider, and delicious baked goods. I can almost smell the applesauce cooking. Yum!

We started apple picking with our kids when they were little. It has become a tradition we look forward to each year. We make a point of trying a new apple each year along with getting our old favorites. It is something the kids look forward to when apple season arrives.

There are many learning opportunities when it comes to apples. From toddlers to teens, there are ways to make a trip to the orchard not only a fun family outing but also an educational one. I like to find ways to make learning meaningful for my kids. 

Here are some fun ways to make the most of your apple-picking experience with these simple apple activities for kids.

Learn about the different varieties of apples at the orchard.

Today most orchards have websites. They often include the types of apples they sell or have for pick-your-own. Some even provide information about the origin of the apples and the best uses for certain varieties. Researching apples can be a lot of fun.

Younger kids can:

1. focus on learning about their favorite apple
2. describe its color
3. what are its uses
   

Older kids can:

1. research an apple they aren’t familiar with
2. find out where the apple originated from and color it on a map
3. describe the flavor and coloring of the apple 
4. draw and label the apple focusing on the coloring of its flesh and inside
5. explain if it is a hybrid of another apple and the time period it originated
6. what are the uses for this apple, and why 

Tours

Learn about the orchard and its operation through tours and public events, or get a group of homeschoolers together for school group events. 

The orchard we go to has a Maine Apple Sunday event at the beginning of September. You can go on a hayride, sample apples, use their nature trails for a scavenger hunt, and pick apples. Others offer school tours or demonstrate how they make cider. If you can get a group of homeschoolers together, this would be a great way to learn about apples and about the orchard. 

It may not be possible to get a tour, but I have found the owners, or seasoned employees, are very willing to answer your questions and talk to you about the orchard.

I’ve asked for advice on apples they would recommend for a cooking project, ones that are their favorites and apples that store well. In doing so, we found out the Ida Reds last well into winter. We bought some at the end of September. They lasted, in our refrigerator, until the beginning of February. Now we buy some every year.

Getting a tour or asking people on hand about the apples is one of the many simple apple activities for kids.

{Need help to keep kids engaged during a tour? Check out Excellent Field Trip Activities to Make Trips Fun and Engaging.}

Apple Activities for Kids: Comparing Apple Varieties

While at the orchard, take your time to look at the different varieties of apples. The kids can often see how one apple differs from another by size or the variations in coloring. It is fun to see if they can tell when a row has switched to a different variety.

My family just went to the apple orchard. We decided to try Macouns. We had never tried them before. As we were picking, my son started to wander over to the next row. I had him look at the apples to see if they were the same variety. It was evident they weren’t. The apples a couple of rows up looked distinctly different. The Macouns have a purplish look to them in the sun. The ones beside us were bright red and bigger. 

Comparing apples is such an easy apple activity for kids that takes very little planning. Though, you can expand on it when you get home. Once home, kids can do further research and create Venn diagrams or tables comparing characteristics.

Apple Activities for Kids: Cooking with Apples

Cooking is an easy way to add some educational apple activities after your orchard visit. Kids will be excited to make things with the apples they just picked. My kids love cooking, so we are always incorporating cooking lessons as part of their education.

There are a variety of apple recipes. We typically think of apple pie, applesauce, and apple crisp. There are many things that can be made with apples, though. Try various recipes because in doing so you incorporate different cooking techniques. Kids will learn skills like reading a recipe, understanding cooking terminology, cooking utensil safety, and proper measuring techniques. 

Don’t forget apples can also be used in salads and in main dishes to add extra flavor to meals. We’ve made a pork chop recipe that called for apples in it. Find some fun ways to sneak apples into your meals. 

{You might be interested in other Fall Activities for Teens that give other ideas besides apple picking.}

Food Preservation

Another great life skill that can be incorporated after a visit to the orchard is food preservation. Apples won’t last forever. If you picked large quantities of apples, you may want to find ways to preserve them. 

Here is where my kids were introduced to canning. My husband makes up applesauce and cans it. The kids have helped use the apple peeler/corer device to cut up apples. They have watched all the prep work that goes into canning. Each time we do canning, they will get a little more involved. 

As the apple age, I have also found recipes to use apples in and then freeze them. I know people who have made up pies and froze them. I found a recipe for making apple pie filling and freezing it. You can find it here. It worked great!

There are other options to preserve apples like dehydrating, freezing, or making them into butter, jams, and jellies. See what your kids would like to learn and give them a try.

In general, I am not a lover of fall. Summer is my favorite season, but I do love when apple season rolls around. Even if we don’t fill out a report on the apples we will be picking at the orchard, I always research it and discuss it with the kids. This generally leads to further questions and further investigation. It is great!

There are so many learning opportunities that can come from a trip to the orchard. Give them a try.

Happy Homeschooling!