WISE

The WISE curriculum includes eight units, each on a different target food. Each unit introduces new, creative recipes, learning center ideas, and activities. Do them all or pick and choose to suit your program. The curriculum includes creative ideas and step-by-step guidance.

Contents

• The FIRST Bite
• Apple Calendar
• A Letter from the Farmer
• Apples Arrive
• Exploring Apples
• Food Experiences
  • Cooking Applesauce
  • Apple Taste Test
  • Making Yogurt Dip for Apple Wedges
  • Diced Apple Trail Mix
  • Apple Sauce Parfaits
  • Super Simple Shaker Apples
• Recommended Reading
• Songs, Poems and Games for Transition Times
• Extension Activities
• Learning Center Activities
• Vocabulary and Skills for Small Chefs
• The LAST Bite

Food Experience: Cooking Applesauce

Discovery Unit: Apples

When: After introductory activities

Where: Morning small group time, ideally with three small groups of children

Links for Learning:

Collaborative projects, such as this applesauce recipe, are a wonderful way to facilitate teamwork in the classroom. Through experiences such as these, children learn that they can each play a valuable part in an endeavor that benefits the whole group. Consider retelling the classic story of The Little Red Hen, substituting applesauce making for bread baking.

Science and Sensory Connections:

How do apples change as they cook? Encourage children to make predictions and notice changes to color and texture. Can children smell the applesauce as it cooks? How does it smell?

Helpful Hints:

Children will be able to actively help peel and slice apples if you use a rotary peeler/corer/slicer. If this tool is not available, an adult may peel and slice the apples with a knife. To prevent children from becoming bored and restless during this time, consider sharing apple-related songs and rhymes. Examples may be found on page ___.

After eating their applesauce, children will participate in Windy Owl’s “Whooo tried it” chant after trying their applesauce. Remember: this chant can be used during every food experience, as well as any time the target food (apple) is served for breakfast, lunch, or snack!

More to Do:

• Brainstorm a list of ways to eat apples: apple juice, apple sauce, apple wedges, etc. Display the list in the classroom and add to it throughout the unit as children discover additional ways to eat apples.
• Later, poll families: “What is your favorite way to serve apples at home?” Make a chart or graph of family responses.