Apples, Apples, Apples!

How to Writing including How to Make Applesauce

Hi Friend!

Hooray! Fall is officially here!  There is so much to love about this season….the cooler crisp air, sweaters and scarves, the crunch of fallen leaves, pumpkin patches and apple orchards!

Inside the classroom, fall is also one of my favorite seasons to share with my students.  While we may not be sipping pumpkin spiced lattes together, there are tons of fun activities that can be done with pumpkins, leaves and apples.

When students can apply their learning to real-life situations, it becomes more meaningful to them.  Learning is also more fun when you actually get to experience a concept or skill. Since my students have been studying “How-To” writing I decided it was the perfect opportunity for my students to experience following a recipe and try making applesauce together in our classroom!

{Our recipe came from The First Grade Parade Here}

how to make applesauce writing

I sent a note home earlier in the week asking each student to bring in an apple.

apple writing

First, I asked a sweet parent volunteer to come in the morning to peel, cut, and core the apples.

Next, I had my students gather around the carpet area and we put water, sugar, cinnamon, and apples into the crockpot.

Then, IT happened….a sweet boy shouted out…”Mrs. Winter, Mrs. Winter, this is like a how to story!!”

Last, I was dancing in my teacher chair…cha-ching!!

We went about our day as it cooked it for 5 hours.  At writing time I reminded my students of the steps we took to make our applesauce.  We then used a graphic organizer to organize the key words they might need to write their own How to Make Applesauce stories.

how to make applesauce writing

how to make applesauce writing

My 1st graders went back to their desks and used this template to write their procedural piece. I just love this template. ALL of my students are successful writers using it. The format clearly defines what is needed in a procedural piece. You can look closer at all the template topics here How To Writing.

how to writing
 
YUMMY! I love how she used labels in her writing too!

This week we will use this same graphic organizer to write How To Carve a Pumpkin!

how to carve a pumpkin

I know this writing piece will be of high interest!      

How to Carve a Pumpkin is one of the 8 How to Writing templates. I love that all my writers are successful using these templates AND they can publish a final copy on this fancy paper!

How to carve a pumpkin

Check out these templates and the publishing papers in my shop >> How to Writing templates

As they finished writing, I dished them up some of the apple deliciousness! Clean plates all around. 🙂

[spacer height=”20px”]As teachers we have the important task of finding ways to show students that the skills they learn in school will be useful in everyday life.  The applesauce and pumpkin carving activities are so powerful because they allow students to apply their learning to real-life situations.  On their own, students come to understand the importance of being able to read and write “How-To” texts. They see firsthand that with this skill there are benefits they’ll be able to enjoy throughout their life and it’s that understanding that makes learning stick!

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