Have you taken your kids apple picking?  It is one of our favorite fall things to do.  We come home with bags and bags of apples and then we have fun figuring out what to cook with them. There is also so much math that can be done with apples to explore.  If you haven’t gone apple picking you can also have fun gathering a variety of different types from your local store. 

Gathering Data

The first thing we like to do when we get home with all our apples is do a taste test of the different varieties.  Each person rates each variety of apple by giving it a score of 1-5.  Neighbors and friends who come over must vote too.  Then we tally up the scores to figure out which variety is our favorite.  Honeycrisp apples are the current winners.  We used to like Fujis but are now appreciating the juicier flavor of the Honeycrisp apples. 

We also love to make an apple dessert by making this Coconut Salted Date Carmel as a dip for the apples.  It is so simple to make and so delicious!  It is healthy too as it is free from refined sugars, but your kids won’t even notice this part. 

Practicing with Different Measuring Tools

This recipe for Apple Spice Coffee Cake from Danielle Walker is also one of our all-time favorites.  It is a little bit more work than other recipes I make with my kids, but the results are so delicious.  If we work as a team, it makes the job easier.  We cannot get enough of this cake in the fall.

The recipe includes a lot of teaspoons and tablespoons leading to good practice with the two.  Have your child do a test just with water and figure out how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon.  Then how many tablespoons are in a ¼ cup?  They will have so much fun converting between these different units of measure.  

Exploring States of Matter

I particularly enjoy this recipe because of all the science involved.  The coconut oil needs to be in a softened, but not melted, state and in a liquified state.  The honey also needs to be in its regular state and then a liquified state.  A can of coconut milk is also needed.  On a hot day the coconut milk will be all mixed.  Put it in the fridge overnight and the coconut cream will rise to the top and turn solid.  This can then be used in the recipe.  What fun exploring the different states of matter!

Apples and Brain Health

Some research suggests that our apple snack may even support the body in growing new brain cells.  In a study from the International Society for Stem Cell Research scientists noted that, “In distinct brain structures associated with learning and memory, stem cells multiplied and produced more neurons when the mice were given high doses of quercetin or DHBA (which are found in apples).”  So, get some apple snacks ready for after school this week.  You can give your child’s brain a healthy boost and build some math and science skills at the same time.