Apple season is here and we’re ready for all the apple love… apple turnovers, apple butter, and of course applesauce! Slow cooker applesauce is incredibly easy to make with kids, even in a classroom. And the smell that fills the air while it’s simmering and doing its thing just adds to the anticipation of eating it.
“When will it be done?” can be heard on repeat all morning long.
To make slow cooker applesauce, you only need four ingredients and a few simple supplies. If you’re doing this in a classroom with kids, I recommend peeling and coring the apples first. Once that part is done, the children can easily do the rest.
HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE RECIPE
INGREDIENTS:
- 12 apples
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1 cup of water
DIRECTIONS:
- Peel, core, and slice the apples.
- Place the apples in the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon on top, then mix.
- Pour in the cup of water.
- Cover and cook the apples on HIGH for 4 hours.
- Whisk the apple mixture to your desired consistency.
If your kids have never had warm applesauce, encourage them to try it. Something about eating it warm makes it feel more like dessert than a snack.
WHAT ABOUT STANDARDS?
Yes… what about standards? I think cooking together is educational in and of itself. But it’s super easy to make this activity standards-based with a little informational text.
Before making your slow cooker applesauce, read through this step by step cookbook with the kids: HOW TO MAKE APPLESAUCE. It’s just right for most 1st grade students and I’ve included a differentiated version for kindergarten kids.
The student text shows them step by step how to make slow cooker applesauce, including a graphic of the ingredients they’ll need and a list of supplies. It’s a natural way to tie in informational reading standards and gives you a chance to point out text features like bold words, labels, and arrows.
Plan to make your applesauce in the morning and by the time lunch is over, it’ll be ready for you and your kids to enjoy!
…AND THE PERFECT LITTLE READ-ALOUD
This is one of our favorite picture books for this time of year. The Apple Orchard Riddle is from the creators of How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? and tells the story of Mr. Tiffin’s class as they take a field trip to a local apple orchard.
He poses a riddle at the beginning of the story, “Show me a little red house with no windows and no door, but with a star inside.” The children struggle to solve the riddle, but by the end, a quiet little daydreamy Tara figures it out.
See if your kids can figure it out too!
MORE APPLE FUN
We love this little APPLE JOKE BOOK, and because jokes are a great way to practice fluency, you can feel good about all the silliness. Need a teaser?
Q: Why did the little apple take a nap?
A: It ran out of juice. 😂
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Until next time, happy teaching!
