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Teacher with an Apple

Food for Thought

In the classroom, food can easily be turned into a fun, educational experience that will even get students excited about subjects like math and history!

Below are just a few food exercises that we recommend to get your students interested in learning more about fruits and vegetables. For more information and activities on the produce featured below (and more!), visit www.harvestofthemonth.com where you will find newsletters that you can print out there.

AppleApple Folklore Research Questions
  1. What was Johnny Appleseed famous for?
  2. What is the connection between William Tell and the apple?
  3. Which famous fairy tale involved a poisoned apple?
  4. What legend is the basis for the Adam’s apple?
 
Artichoke Research Questions
  1. According to Greek Mythology, how did the artichoke begin?
  2. Why do artichoke leaves have thorns? How are they beneficial to the plant?
  3. What does it mean to cultivate a crop?

 
AvocadoAvocado Math

Cut an avocado in half; remove the pulp and the seed. Weigh the skin, pulp and seed in grams. What percentage of the avocado is edible?

  • The average avocado tree produces one million blossoms and only about 100 – 200 pieces of fruit. What is the flower-to-fruit ratio?
  • 1/5 of an avocado contains 5 grams of fat. Calculate the grams of fat in a whole avocado. Compare and contrast the fat content to that of other fruits.
  • Measure the circumference of your avocado, and then predict the circumference of the seed. What’s the difference?

 
KiwifruitKiwifruit Math/Scientific Investigation

  1. Estimate the number of seeds in a kiwi. Cut your kiwi into quarters and divide students into groups to count the seeds. Total the amounts to find out how many seeds are in one kiwi; you may be surprised!
  2. Squeeze juice from your kiwi and add it to a small amount of milk. What changes occur to the milk? Why is this?
 
Berry Language Arts
  • Write a descriptive paragraph from the point of view of a blueberry.
  • Blueberry is a compound word. Create a list of other compound food words.
  • Blue is a multiple meaning word and a homophone. Write a story incorporating the different meanings and spellings for the word blue.
 
CarrotsCarrots Research Questions
  1. Are carrots more nutritious cooked or raw? Explain why.
  2. Why is a carrot more orange than an orange?
  3. When is a carrot ready for harvest? 
  4. Does the length of time in the soil effect the size, texture, nutrients or taste of a carrot?

 
Persimmons Fun Activities

  • The bark, leaves and fruit of the persimmon tree are beautiful. Research and create your own stylized depiction of a persimmon tree.
  • Mix primary colors to match the color of your persimmon.
  • How many persimmons can you stack?
  • Draw a cornucopia and include persimmons.

Last updated 8/2007