How to Perform Science Experiments Using Apples

Apples are a wonderful tool to teach different concepts to children. Science experiments can teach children some of interesting facts about apples. For instance, children will learn why apples turn brown and how to prevent this using lemon juice. They will look at apple seeds and examine them and learn why they should not eat them because they are poisonous. Kids will learn to identify apple seeds from a peach pit. The following steps focus on valuable experiments using apples.

Things You'll Need

• Apples
• Knife
• Fresh lemon juice
• Paper plates
• Napkins
• Peach pit
• Apple seeds
• Apple corer
• Cutting board
• Colander
• Paper
• Pencils
• Plastic cups
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Apple slices
• Corer or knife
• Scale to weigh apple
• Tape or label
• Pen or pencil

Instructions

1. In a colander or the sink wash the apples under cold running water. On a flat surface with a cutting board using a knife or apple corer cut the apples into eight pieces. Set the core with the seeds aside on a plate. Hand out two slices to each child. Put the slices on plates. Using a bottle of lemon juice have each child sprinkle some lemon juice on one of the apple slices on the plate. Leave the slices on the plate for five minutes or more. Pass out a piece of paper and pencil to each child.

2. Meanwhile on the plate with the apples core dig out some seed with your hands and pass the plate with seeds around for all the children to see. Ask them to look at the apple seeds touch them between their fingers but not to eat them. Explain to the kids that apple seeds contain amygdalin which is a poison in the form of cyanide compound that causes victims to die in very large doses because they stop breathing. Assure them that apple seeds have a tough outer coating and it requires far too many seeds to be eaten to be poisoned. In fact if they were to swallow a seed the tough coating would protect them from the poison which is inside the seed.

3. Hold apple seeds to examine the coating. Now show them a peach pit. Pass it around explain that this peach seed also contains the same poisonous compound. Both of these seed are how you grow apple trees and peach trees that bear the fruit. Examine the two apple slices on the plate one is probably brown. Explain that when you cut an apple open you release an enzyme that combines with oxygen and turns it brown. You actually tear its skin when cutting it. Lemon juice stops the enzyme in the apple because of the acid in from working so it does not turn brown as fast. Have the children smell the apple slice that is not brown and write down how it smells. Ask them to eat the slice that is not brown then write down what it tastes like. Now have the children read their observations.

4. Understand that in the next experiment you need one apple. Cut it on a flat surface with the knife or use and apple corer. Cut the apple into four pieces. Discard the apple core. Pour the salt from the box into cup until it 3/4 full. Label the cup with the word "salt." Weigh the apple slice and write the weight on the label. Put out of the direct sunlight for seven days. Pour the baking soda into a cup label it baking soda. Weigh an apple slice and write the weight on cup. Put apple slices in both cups. Be sure that each slice is covered completely with the salt and baking soda. Put on the shelf out of direct sunlight for seven days.

5. After seven days take the apple slices out and brush off. Reweigh and note the difference in weight. Notice which substance salt or baking soda preserved the apple slice the best. Look at how the apple slice dried and lost moisture. Now have the kids write a short paper on how food was preserved in times when refrigeration was not yet invented. They can use the Internet or library to do the research. Then have them read the results.

Tips & Warnings

• Always have an adult present when doing science experiments with kids. Practice safety when cutting apples. Always cut on flat sturdy surface on clean cutting board. Do not eat apple seeds.

Resources

• More information about experiments using apples