Recycle, Garden, Repeat
Add some color into your life by planting flower seeds in recycled containers.
Take the Apple Taste Test
Put your taste buds to the test by trying different types of apples to see how scientists have evolved this fabulous fruit over hundreds of years.
About the Activity
Have you ever walked around the produce section of the grocery store? There are many different types of apples. Some are bright red, while others are yellow or green. Some may be tart, while others are sweet. Why are there different varieties of apples?
In this activity, you’ll taste different types of apples sold in your area and to identify what makes them different. You might even develop an opinion on which cultivar you favor based on taste and texture!
This activity is part of our 4-H at Home Plant Science Series. See the rest of the activities here.
Grades: 6-8
Topic: Agriculture, Engineering, Plant Science, STEM
Estimated Time: 30-45 minutes
Brought to you by University of Georgia Extension/4-H and USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Special thanks to Kasey Bozeman, Extension 4-H Specialist
Supplies
- 3 different apple varieties
- 3 plates
- Pencil
- Knife
- Cutting surface
- Printable apple observation sheet
- Printer
- Pen or pencil
- An internet-connected phone or computer
Activity Steps
- Purchase three different apple varieties from the grocery store. Wash the apples.Did you know? The apple is the most-consumed fruit in the United States (oranges are number 2).
- With the help of an adult, slice each apple into sections. Put each apple onto its own plate.Did you know? There are more than 7,500 known apple types (cultivars, to scientists) in the world, and over 2,500 of those are grown in the United States! Washington and New York lead in apple production.
- Print out the apple observation worksheet, then observe and taste each one, recording your observations about each in the worksheet.
If you need an extra resource for comparing apple characteristics or want to confirm how different cultivars are used in recipes, this website is helpful: https://www.orangepippin.com/Did you know? The only apples native to North America are crab apples, which were once called common apples. Apple cultivars that we eat today were brought as seeds from Europe. - Now, compare the apples you selected and your observations about each of them, and think about which traits are similar and which are different.
- Using public resources, such as the internet or local university extension services, see if you can find an apple cultivar that was selectively bred. Can you tell why it was developed? Consider, for example, a new apple variety called the Cosmic Crisp apple. The Cosmic Crisp is a new, non-browning apple developed by Washington State University. This apple is the result of the selective breeding of the Enterprise and Honeycrisp apples.Did you know? Have you ever cut an apple, left it on the counter, and noticed how it quickly turned brown? Why did that happen? Apple cells contain phenol and phenolase enzymes. When an apple is sliced and the cells come into contact with air, these enzymes are exposed to oxygen. The phenol is converted to melanin, and the melanin is what gives apples the brown color.
Reflection Questions
Bonus questions to inspire wonder:
- What observational skills did you use to gather your information?
- What similarities and differences did you discover among the different apple varieties?
- Why might different apple cultivars be created?
Investigate and Explore
Take what you've learned to the next level to learn more and explore the possibilities.
Apple trees don’t grow “true-to-type,” meaning that if you planted apple seeds in your backyard, you would not get that exact variety of apples. Apples, pears, most peaches, some plums, apricots, and cherries are vegetatively propagated.
The only way to reproduce a specific desired apple variety is to graft a bud or cutting (called a scion) from a tree that previously yielded that variety onto a rootstock. A rootstock is a compatible plant that already has a healthy root system.
Related Activities
If you enjoyed these activities, you can find more STEM activities on 4-H at Home.
Shop 4-H Curriculum and Products
Shop4-H.org offers university-backed STEM curriculum, educational kits, products and supplies to expand your knowledge of space, rocketry and more.
Mars Base Camp Kit
Grades: 3-8
Featuring four hands-on activities that can be enjoyed with or without internet access and individually or all together, the challenge teaches kids STEM skills like mechanical engineering, physics, computer science and agriculture.
Family Kit: Includes materials for 1-4 youth.
Educator Kit: Includes materials for 12 youth.
Due to the overwhelming demand of the Mars Base Camp Kit, please allow 3-4 weeks for this item to ship after purchase.
$15.95 | $23.95
Mars Base Camp Rover
Grades: 3-8
Youth will use engineering skills to build a vehicle that can explore the surface of Mars, while participating in the Mars Base Camp Red Planet Odyssey unplugged activity. Each rover comes with assembly instructions and screwdriver. Batteries not included, takes 2 AA batteries.
$4.95
Inspire Kids to Do STEM Tee
This 4-H STEM-centric tee features icons related to rocketry, chemistry, mathematics, and robotics, and it harnesses the fun and creativity that are central to all STEM project areas, including these and many more!
Offered in adult sizes only.
$12.99
Aerospace Pin
Once you've completed your Mars Base Camp or Aerospace mission, you've earned the right to display your accomplishment proudly with your 4-H Aerospace pin.
5/8" x 3/4", antiqued finish medal.
$2.49
Marshmallow Rocket Kit
Grades: Pre-K - 3
In this 4-H Cloverbud activity, youth learn the basics of rockets and astronauts and will build a model rocket out of marshmallows.
Comes with an 8-page activity booklet and an inflatable space shuttle.
$8.95
Aerospace Curriculum
Grades: 1-12
The Aerospace Adventures curriculum deepens knowledge and understanding of aerospace while youth complete a series of fun, hands-on activities they can complete at home.
Set includes Aerospace Adventures Levels 1-4 plus the Helper's Guide.
$26.95
Brought to you by:
No endorsement of these supporters' products or services is granted or implied by 4‑H. This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, AFRI - Education and Workforce Development project 2021-67037-33376.9
Take Our Survey