Explore and Play: Apples and Pears

Materials

• apples and pears (each child will get a quarter of each fruit)
• plates
• magnifying glasses

Key Science Concepts

• Many of the foods we eat come from plants.
• We eat certain leaves, roots, fruits, and seeds.
• Fruits have seeds.

Directions

Tell children they will compare an apple and a pear.

1. Have children wash their hands.
2. Show children the apples and pears and ask them to compare their color, size, and shape.
3. Slice them in half, and see what children notice about the insides of the apple and pear. Where are the seeds?  
4. Cut the fruit into quarters and give each child a piece of pear and a piece of apple. Have children remove the seeds and put the pear seeds on one plate and the apple seeds on another. How are they similar? How are they different?
5. Then have the children do a taste test. Ask them to describe the similarities and differences between the two fruits. Do they like one better than the other?

Add the seeds to the Seed Museum during learning center time.

Share and Reflect

Ask children to think of foods made from apples or pears. What are their favorites?