Taste Test: A is for Apple

Somewhere last week, I read about a family doing an apple taste test. What a great idea! I went searching to see who it was and for the life of me cannot find it anywhere! UGH! So, my apologies to you, whomever you are, because I really want to pay respects but did not take very good notes. (Definitely should have used Pinterest on that one!)

Moving on… I thought it was such an awesome idea and with Ruble studying the letter A, I decided to try an apple taste test with my troop for snack one day.

Need ~

• A paper plate for each child
• A permanent marker to divide and label the plate
• A few different types of apples, sliced (We used Granny Smith, Jazz, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious.)
• Stickers (We used stars.)
• Peanut butter for dipping, optional

Instructions: Tell the children you are going to have an apple taste test and vote on which apple is the best. Give each child a plate with a slice from each apple on it. Tell the children to place stickers in the section with the apples they like. Say: “Put the most stickers on the section for your favorite apple.” After the taste test, show the plates and decide which type of apple was the best. Allow the children to eat the remaining apple slices.

Make it a Science experiment ~

(For elementary aged children and up)

Give the children a notebook, safe knife, fork (for mashing) and a magnifying glass. Encourage them to use all of their senses and investigate the apples for taste, texture and smell. Ask them to consider these questions:

1. Do the apples look different? If so, how do they look different?
2. Do the apples smell different? If so, how do they smell different?
3. Do the apples taste different? If so, how do they taste different?
4. Do they have a different texture from one another?
5. In what ways are the apples all the same?

This is a great activity for your child with Autism or one with taste/texture sensitivities.

Have fun!