Apple Picking for Our Three Day Class!

On Friday we our three day class went apple picking. I actually started cutting and pasting all of the NJ State Standards for this post that we were covering by going on the trip, but it became too long!

I wish more people realized how vital hands-on real experiences are for children! Without a single worksheet, the children developed language skills; followed multi-step directions (Find an apple, hold it, twist, then pull. Put it in your bag.) We counted our apples, discussed heavy and light, more and less. We talked about what our families do with apples; orchards vs. farms; the purpose of the fence.
We sang in the sunshine. “There is a fruit I really love and apple is it’s name-o! A-P-P-L-E….”

Families bonded.

We covered skills in the areas of Social/Emotional Development, Language Arts Literacy. Social Studies, Family and Life Skills, Mathematics, Health, Safety and Physical Education, and Science. I believe the only areas we didn’t cover are Visual and Performing Arts, World Languages and Technology!

When the first child successfully twisted, pulled and put his first apple in his bag, he shouted, “I DID IT! Yay for me!” (You won’t get THAT response with a worksheet!”)

The picture is a bit fuzzy, but the moment? Priceless! Even though the apples grew low to the ground, sometimes the best apples are found from Daddy's shoulders!

Following multi-step directions AND developing fine motor skills!