10 Ways to Teach Your Children

and Learn about Autumn with an Apple Unit Study

Don’t you just LOVE Fall?  That chill in the air… the crimson leaves… the warm apple cider?  Fall has always been my favorite season.  There is something magical about it.  Don’t you long for a slice of warm apple pie à la mode?  A few years ago, I put together a Charlotte Mason type of study – a unit study of sorts.  I want to share that with you, today, for our Read Aloud Wednesday Linkup!

I love to cuddle up with a fluffy blanket and my children on our sofa and read these books.  I chose these books because they all weave together to form a backdrop for what is happening around us.  The weather turns, the seasons change, and there are apples all around!  Below, I put together a list of books that work together to help your children in grades K-3 learn about Autumn, but also about science, seasons, geography, history, baking and more through an apple unit study!

(This post does contain affiliate links. I only recommend products I love and use myself!)

Fall Read Alouds for your Apple Unit Study:

Apples, Apples Everywhere! – Learning About Apple Harvests by Robin Koontz and Nadine Takvorian

(Learn about apples, games involving apples, and apple harvests in a fun picture book format)

The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall and Shari Halpern

(Beautiful story of the seasons of the apple tree, ends with a warm baked apple pie & includes a wonderful recipe to make your own pie with your kids!  We loved this one and loved the pie. Yum.)

The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons

(This book is a wonderful story of a young boy & his apple tree.  It really showcases the different seasons!)

The Reason for the Seasons by Gail Gibbons

(Awesome illustrations; this book is a science text in picture book form.)

Why Do the Leaves Change Color? by Betsy Maestro

(This book is a great resource to explain scientifically WHY the color of leaves change in the Fall.  This has a fun craft written in the back, as well.  Fun picture book – easy for kids to understand!)

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman

(I LOVE this book!  The illustrations are unique and fascinating!  The story is fun and oh so cute!  The kids love this one – I’ve read it again and again!)

Johnny Appleseed by Jodie Shepherd and Masumi Furukawa

 

The True Tale of Johnny Appleseed by Margaret Hodges and Kimberly Bulcken Root

(My kids really enjoyed the books about Johnny Appleseed.  This one has nice pictures and text and is very easy for the kids to understand.)

 

Nature Connection by Clare Walker Leslie

(Not a picture book or a read aloud – this book is a fantastic resource for getting your children in touch with nature and nature studies.  This will guide you through each month – each season with pictures and places to draw, write, and study!  Excellent resource for every homeschooling student.)

More resources for a Fall Nature Study:

 

One Small Square: Woods – by Donald Silver and Patricia Wynne

 

Rabbits, Squirrels and Chipmunks by Mel Boring and Linda Garrow  

 

How these are woven together:

1. Start by reading Apples, Apples Everwhere.  This book is all about apples and is a fun “intro” to our unit study.  Have the kids write something they love about apples (or about something that is made with apples).  
2. Read, The Apple Pie Tree and use the recipe included in the book to make an apple pie.  It is simple, I promise!  
3. Read The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree followed by The Reason for the Seasons.  Discuss what happens in each season and why.  Have the kids draw a picture of the apple tree in each season.
4. Use this printable below as a guide.  
5. Read Why Do the Leaves Change Color? and go outside and see the leaves.  Collect some leaves and then do the craft in the back of the book!
6. Read How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World.  Talk about the 7 continents, the Northern & Southern Hemisphere, the Equator, maps.  Have them draw a map of the world, while looking at a map or a globe.  
7. Have the kids track the route that the character took in the story, How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World.  
8. Let them write (or dictate for younger students) their own story based on How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World.  My son wrote a story about how to make carrot cake while travelling the world (one of his favorite desserts!)  
9. Read the last two stories about Johnny Appleseed and discuss the time in history that it took place. Do a character study on the traits found in Johnny Appleseed. Let the kids write a summary of his life in their notebook or copy a small section for copywork.
10. Go on a nature walk using Nature Connection as a guide.  Learn about the woods and the animals that live there.
11. Download our Fall counting printable and Apple Addition, below!

 

(To find more printables, and to get the password to print them, please visit this page.)

 

Now, it’s time to link up!  What have you been reading?  Do you have a homeschooling or read-aloud post you would like to share?  I will be adding your posts to my Pinterest Board for read alouds:

Follow Such A Time As This’s board Read Alouds on Pinterest.

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Here are the rules:

1.) Follow your hosts via their blog and/or social media channels. 

2.) Link a post specific to what you and your children are reading, favorite books, book reviews, or what you’ve enjoyed in the past.  It doesn’t have to be a read aloud.  It can be what your kids are reading and studying.  It should be homeschool and/or reading related. *Just a reminder we reserve the right to delete any posts that are not family friendly.

3.) Visit 1-2 other links and leave a comment!

4.) Grab a button and post it on your page or post!  Let others know about this link-up!        

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Don’t forget to grab a button!