A is for Apple

I'm a teacher. Have been my entire adult life. It started when I had my first child.

Motherhood throws us into that role whether we like it or not. We are our child's first teacher. We have more influence over them than anyone else. They mimic every thing we do. They look to us to learn about the world. They look to us as role models and pattern their own little lives after our own. 

Teaching has been a part of my entire adult life. I think I learn more than my students do! Preparing a lesson, an activity, a day adventure is really a lot of fun and fills my brain with endless ideas, creativity and inspiration! I teach... 

At home -- to my children.

At church -- nursery and primary age children to the Young Women and Relief Society women.

In my community - Library Story Hour teacher.

In my profession - As an Extension Agent/Educator, and as a Public School teacher.  

Young children and adults are my favorite's to teach. Why? Because they are eager to learn. They want to learn!

I no longer teach in a profession, but I'm still teaching! Not for pay, but for the love of it. All the grandkids are back in school, except for the two littlest ones in youngest daughter's family. Ben has two more years until he can go to the BIG school but really wants to go. He is eager to learn BIG kids stuff. So, my daughter and I made a plan to teach him and little sister Emmy. Once a week will be a structured lesson. The rest of the week is left up to mom to do follow up activities, read, play, do art, or whatever! Unstructured and full of impromptu's. One of the best and most effective ways to learn! 

First. A trip to the public Library. Oh... these little kids love to read!

Second. Make a lesson plan. Everything I do seems to be centered around themes. I don't know why, but I like it that way. It just makes sense to me. Especially when it comes to teaching.

Today -- A is for Apple. 

Perfect for the beginning of a new school year!

Story - Johnny Appleseed.
Activity - Make Johnny Appleseed pot hats
Activity - Apples in basket, sort big and small, count
Pictures and Language - Apple colors, Apple parts, Tree and Apple
Motor/Songs - Growing like an Apple Tree, Shiny Apple (we could have ended here)
Story - The Little Red House that has No Windows and No Doors and a Star Inside.
Art - Apple parts
Eat - Apple Celery Salad, Apple wedges with Caramel Sauce, Apple Juice, Sandwich.

This took us about an hour to complete. Fun! Fun! Fun!

The kids have a huge apple tree in the back yard. And, it actually grows a variety of apples on it! After we got through with the lesson, the kiddos picked some fresh apples. 

Maybe... we'll have to bake a pie now! 

Additional Activities (through the week) -

Read books
Math - Sort apples in muffin tin, make graphs, match colors, Apple seed number match
Sequencing - Cards (from planting to harvest)
Patterns - Draw what comes next in the pattern
Trace and Write - The letter A
Sounds - The short and long of A 
Art and Crafts - Paint - Brown (arm) for trunk of tree, Green (hand) for leaves, and Red (finger prints) for apples.

Make a list of other things that start with the letter A. Center activities, read books, etc. around item on list.

Mystery Box - Put a variety of objects in a box. Pull out one at a time and sort A items from the rest. 

Make a tree for your wall  with Brown paper for trunk and branches. Green paper for leaves. Red for Apples. 

Visit an Apple Orchard. Learn how to make Apple Cider or Applesauce, Apple pie filling. 

I found two exceptional sites for lesson plans and teaching packets. From pre-K through High School. 

lovelycommotion.com

teachersnotebook.com

Get your Apple on!

Writing prompt #1: September is National Apple Month. Create a blog post inspired by apples.

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Mama Kat's Pretty Much Famous Writer's Workshop