If you're looking to try creating your own unit study, apples is a great topic for a first time, primary age unit study. Easy because there are so many resources already available that you can quickly pull together your unit study and spend little if any money in the process.

Sample Study

Using the resources listed with this study, I've put together one possible two-week unit study.

First, I'd definitely print out a copy of both Apples a Class Act, Teacher's Guides from the US Apple Association. It's got a lot of very convenient information and a variety of great activities.

Day One:
Apples Introduction
Select a picture book about apples to read out loud.
Science: Dissect an apple. With moms help cut open an apple and look at all the different parts. Use the apple parts chart in the Apples: A Class Act guide and have the children make there own apple dissection diagrams.

Day Two:
How an apple grows.Read the book How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro.
Math: Purchase or check out the new book Apple Fractions. Read the book and then cut apples into fractions.
Art: Use your apple pieces to do some apple printing. Use the instructions from the Michigan Apple Education Kit at http://www.michiganapples.com/pg96prints.pdf.

Day Three:
Apple varieties: The booklet Apples: A Class Act Grades 4-6 has a good brief description of ten different kinds of apples. Read about them here or at Washington Apples (http://www.bestapples.com/varieties/index.html) where they have pictures of each type of apple as well as a longer description. Take a trip to the grocery store to find out what kinds of apples they stock and purchase several for your science study.
Science: Use all five senses to describe several different varieties of apple. Start with sight and try to write descriptions of the apples so that someone who had never seen them could match each apple with its description. Use the ideas in Apples & More's Science and Writing section to invesitgate your apples with all your senses. http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/apples/edu-projects_5B.html.

Day Four:
How an apple gets to your table. Use information from the US Apple Association at http://www.usapple.org/consumers/kids/tree.shtml to discuss how apples get from the orchard to your home. Additional information is available at How Our Apples Get to Your Store at http://www.bestapples.com/grower/tostore.html.
Do the map project Major Apple Growing States at http://michiganapples.com/pg4usmap.pdf. Find your own state and draw a line to it from all the major apple growing states. Do other suggested activities as appropriate for the age of your children.
Math: Discuss the different ways of measuring a quantity of apples. Learn how apples are measured.
3 medium sized apples make a pound. For more apple weights and measures visit http://www.geocities.com/perfectapple/apple_weights.html.

Day Five:
How to tell if an apple is ripe. Print and use the handout from Michigan Apples that describes three ways to test if an apple is ripe and ready for harvest. http://michiganapples.com/pg86mature.pdf
Write a short story about an apple's trip from the orchard to your fruit bowl.

Day Six:
Health and Nutrition
Read the health and nutrition sections of Apples: A Class Act P-3.
Make an accordian fold book with a health or nutrition fact about apples on each page. Have children illustrate each of the facts they choose to include.

Day Seven:
Cooking with Apples
Read How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman.
Different apple varieties work better in different recipes. Learn how to read a chart by finding out which apple varities go best in a pie and which are better for eating fresh. Chart available at http://www.michiganapples.com/pg25usage.pdf.
Select an apple recipe to make. Recipes are available at http://www.usapple.org/educators/applestore/recipes.txt or http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/apples/recipes.html.

Day Eight:
Read a story about Johnny Appleseed. This could be either a book like Steven Kellogg's Johnny Appleseed or the online story at http://www.ruralvermont.com/vermontweathervane/issues/fall/97009/appleseed.html.
Discuss how a legend can begin with something that really happened but then gets embellished. Use The Adventures of Johnny Appleseed (http://www.waga.org/pdf_files/jappleseed2.pdf) to discuss what is true and exagerated in the Johnny Appleseed legend.
Have children solve the Johnny Appleseed hidden picture puzzle at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/apples.htm.

Day Nine:
Read 3 in 1: A Picture of God and discuss with your children. This is a picture book that uses an apple to explain the concept of the Trinity to children.
Use the Apple Cinquain activity in Apples: A Class Act P-3. Have children make a good copy of their poems on the apple writing paper available at http://www.dltk-kids.com/school/mteacherpaper.html.
Make stained glass apples following directions http://dcrafts.com/appart.htm.

Day Ten:
Visit an apple orchard. Use the field trip resources at http://www.waga.org/teachers.html.

Apple Resources to Use in Creating Your Own Apple Unit Study

Websites:

• Apples & More
  This site created by the University of Illinois Extension is packed with all kinds of information and activies concerning apples. The education section has links to math, science, and social studies activities that use apples as a basis for learning. You could create your entire unit on this site alone.
• Washington Apples
  Lots of information about apples and apple growing industry. Learn how apples are grown, graded, and distributed. The site includes health and nutrition sections, recipes and a kids section.
• Michigan Apple Education Kit
  Pick the portions of this kit that fit in with your apple studies. Over 60 activity sheets for all areas of the curriculum. Activities include science projects, craft ideas like apple head dolls, math worksheets, and many, many more.
• Apple Country Teacher Kit
  Lots of downloadable activities and links to more.
• Apple Field Trip Resources
  Tips, a teacher's guide, and forms for writing a report about a visit to an apple orchard.
• US Apple Association
  Printable activity booklets for Grades P-3 and 4-6. Many of the other listed sites use information from this organization to create online resources. Get it all here in easy to print Adobe pdf format. These are color booklets.
• The Real Johnny Appleseed Story
• Johnny Appleseed by Frank B. McAllister
  Tells the story of Johnny Appleseed.

Activities:

• FruitsPome
  Illustration with a brief discussions of the parts of an apple and a pear. Uses scientific terminology.
• Apple Coloring Book
  Print out and color your favorite Washington Apple characters.
• Apple Trivia Quiz
  Take the quiz and test your knowledge of Washington apples.
• A Bushel of Facts About Wisconsin Apples
  An assortment of printable fact sheets, coloring pages, and activity pages all dealing with Wisconsin apples.
• The Adventures of Johnny Appleseed
  
• Johnny Appleseed Hidden Picture
  Find several items in the picture of Johnny Appleseed.
• Apple Activities for Kids
  A variety of activities dealing with apples and Johnny Appleseed that include printable handwriting paper, Johnny Appleseed songs, and an apple paper mache pencil holder.
• Apple Beaded Safety Pin
  Pattern to make beaded safety pin jewelry with an apple motif.
• Apple Printing
  Make a fun design, wrapping paper, decorate t-shirts, or a tote with apple prints.
• Easy Dried Apple Crafts
  Instructions for preparing your own dried apples and using them to create a wreath, garland, or apple stacker.
• Apple Art
  Apple painting, stained glass apples and much more.

Books and Games
Here is a sample of what is available. Please follow the preceding link to see a complete list including descriptions.

	Apple Add-Up Scholastic Instant File-Folder Games, Grades K-2
	Apples and Pumpkins 250+: Autumn Activities by Dayle M. Timmons Both apples and pumpkins provide the basis for easy-to-use ideas in the areas of literature; rhythm and rhyme; letters, language, and phonics; math and science; cooking; manipulatives; arts and crafts; and field studies.
	How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro (Author), Giulio Maestro (Illustrator) Have you ever eaten a part of a flower? You have if you have eaten an apple! Find out how an apple grows from bud to flower to fruit--ready for you to pick!
	How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman, T. Gates (Editor) An apple pie is easy to make...if the market is open. But if the market is closed, the world becomes your grocery store. This deliciously silly recipe for apple pie takes readers around the globe to gather ingredients. First hop a steamboat to Italy for the finest semolina wheat. Then hitch a ride to England and hijack a cow for the freshest possible milk. And, oh yes! Don't forget to go apple picking in Vermont! A simple recipe for apple pie is included.
	Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg Here is the larger-than-life story of a true American hero--John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. Along his way west, he planted apple orchards--and became one of this country's most beloved legends. Full color.

Apple Themed Songs to Download

• "Smith's Red Apple Rag"
  
• "Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider"