Apple Cider Activity

1. Apple Cider Activity Relevant SOLs: K.2 The student will investigate and understand that humans have senses that allow them to seek, find, take in, and react or respond to information in order to learn about their surroundings. Key concepts include: a) the five senses and corresponding sensing organs b) sensory descriptors used to describe common objects and phenomena. 2.1 The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific reasoning, logic, and the nature of science by planning and conducting investigations in which: e) length, volume, mass, and temperature are measured in metric units and standard English units using the proper tools Materials: -Apple Juice - Sprite - Cinnamon - Measuring Cups - Plastic Cups - Stirrers Engage: Have you ever tried it? - I will engage students by asking if they have ever tried apple juice and apple cider. I will then ask students which ones prefer apple cider to apple juice. After opinions are stated, I will introduce students to the activity by letting them know that today they will be making their own apple cider. They will be able to measure out and mix their own ingredients, stirring them together to make their own drink. They will taste both products and use their senses to describe the similarities and differences between the two drinks.

2. Explore: Making the cider! • Students will measure out 1/2 cup of apple juice. • Students will measure out 1/4 cup of sprite and mix this with the apple juice. • Students will add a “pinch” of cinnamon to the mixture. • Once all ingredients are added, students will use the stirrers to combine the mixture. • Explain: Ask the students the following questions • What does the cider look like? • What does the cider smell like? • What does the cider taste like? • What does the apple juice look like? • What does the apple juice smell like? • What does the apple juice taste like? Expansion: Classroom Cookbook • As an expansion activity, I would have students each make their own recipe at home, recording what ingredients were used, measurements involved, and their final observations of the product. I would combine all of these recipes into a classroom cookbook! Students can even bring samples of their finished recipe in for the other students to try and “sense”. Evaluate: • - To evaluate, students will reflect on their experiences in a worksheet that can be later added to their interactive notebooks. First, they will fill in the blank recipe, listing the ingredients and measurements that were used to make the cider. Then, they will record their observations that were made for each drink using their senses and compare/contrast the two products.

3. Name: __________________________ Data Sheet Apple Cider Activity • Recipe: • 1/2 cup of ___________________ • ____ cup of Sprite • A pinch of _______________ • What did you “sense”? • Apple Cider - Apple Juice Looks like:________________ Looks like:____________________ Smells like:_______________ Smells like: ___________________ Tastes like:________________ Tastes like: ____________________ What was similar about these two products?___________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What was different about these two products?_________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________