Apples are part of the rose family and Robert Frost wrote, "The rose is a rose, and was always a rose, but the theory now goes that the apple’s a rose."
People bob for apples instead of bananas or pears because 25% of an apple’s volume is air, so they always rise to the top.
Apples trees are very adaptable and grow in all 50 states, even Alaska. Pilgrims planted the first apple tree in the Massachusetts Bay Colony less than four hundred years ago. In Colonial days, people called them "winter bananas" or "melt-in-the-mouths." Americans consider apples a central part of Independence celebrations and fall celebrations.
Fun With Apples
Cut an apple crosswise in the middle and discover five seeds that form a star. Inside every apple is a star. That's a reminder that we all have star qualities in us.
Dip the apple halves in paint or ink pads and make apple prints and designs. Do this on plain wrapping paper to make a specialty gift wrap.
Cook apple pies, apple pancakes, or applesauce. It takes two pounds of apples to fill a nine-inch pie pan, so it's a great time to work on measurements and weights while cooking. Check how many cups of applesauce are made from four cups of apples or how many apples to use when making pancakes.
Apple Games
Bobbing for apples dates back to Celtic times. Competitions can be done with two people bobbing heads into one large container, or using two equal sized containers. At a signal, both people dunk their heads in the cold water and grab the apple with their teeth. In the dry version, apple stems are tied to a tree branch or pole and players bite the apple to pull it loose. This version is also called "grabbing for apples." Either way, softer varieties of apples make the game easier.
Like balls, apples can roll and be tossed. Have apple rolling contests to see who can roll the apple the fastest, using a plastic knife as a paddle. Or have races carry apples on paper plates as they run and keep the apple from rolling off the plate.
Create variations of traditional games using apples. Make apple people using face parts, from Mr. Potato Head or found objects around the house. Dress up apples by making hats and adding clove eyes. Instead of a beanbag toss, toss apples through the holes with a blanket on the ground to soften the landings. Apple bowling can be done with the apples as the balls and empty bottles or tall blocks for bowling pins. Play a stop-and-go game with a bag of red and green apples. Someone pulls out an apple and players must watch to run if it's green and stop if it's red. Players caught doing the wrong motion are out. Hide apples for an apple hunt.
Apple Thoughts
Discuss apple phrases and their meanings. Apples are associated with many quotes and phrases. Apple polishing refers to false flattery. Proverbs 25:11 states that a word rightly spoken is like an apple in a silver setting. An apple a day keeps the doctor away is a reminder to eat healthy. An apple never falls far from the tree refers to a child's behavior reflecting the parent's behavior. The apple of someone's eye goes back to a Bible phrase in Zechariah 2:8 and refers to being treasured or loved. See who knows the most apple phrases.
Apple fun can be as creative as the many types, and there are 2500 varieties grown in the US.
Karen Whiting - Professional freelance writer with ten published books and hundreds of published articles. My books are for women (time management and ...
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