Each month the Cambridge
in Motion team sends a flyer with fun facts and a family newsletter to celebrate the Mass Farm to School partnership. We hope your family enjoys the fun and learning opportunities within!


This month we are learning about apples! Enjoy the fun resources, recipes, lessons and activities that keep your family exploring and thriving!


Follow us on twitter
Apple slices on a wooden board.
Fun Apple Facts!
_____________________________________________
Apple trees take four to five years to produce their first fruit!

Apples can range in size from a little larger than a cherry to as large as a grapefruit!

The science of apple growing is called pomology!

Every macintosh apple you have eaten is a clone from the original tree discovered in 1811!

Most apple blossoms (the flowers on apple trees) are pink when they open but gradually fade to white!

It takes the energy gathered from 50 leaves to produce one apple!

DNA analysis indicates that apples originated in the mountains of Kazakhstan!

Videos & Family Learning!
(1) How Do Apples Grow? Watch this fun and informative 5-minute video from True Food TV on how apples grow!

(2) Sugar in Fruit: Learn all about how fruits are healthy for our bodies and why naturally-occurring sugars aren't something to worry about!

(3) Learn how scientists "design" apples! After watching, grab a Red Delicious apple and a Honeycrisp apple for a comparative taste test.
For At-Home or Classroom Learning!
(1) Apples as the Earth. How do we care for soil? How do our farming practices impact the environment? Students will learn how to care for and build our topsoil. (Grades 3-5)

(2) What can we learn from Applesauce? What can be stored longer, cooked apples or fresh apples? Students learn the answer in this fun experiment! (Grades k-2)
Does An Apple A Day Keep the Doctor Away?
Apples are rich in quercetin and pectin, both of which are credited for supplying apples with their health benefits. Quercetin is a flavonoid, a type of naturally-occurring plant chemical that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Pectin is a type of soluble fiber that may help prevent constipation and have a modest effect on lowering LDL (the “bad” cholesterol). Pectin is also fermented by beneficial bacteria in the colon, which produces short chain fatty acids that may play a role in the prevention of chronic diseases, including certain cancers and bowel disorders.
Delicious Recipes!
Try this Apple Muffin as a morning or afternoon snack!

Try this colorful Braised Cabbage with Sweet Apple side dish with dinner this week!

Try these Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Apples for a yummy side the whole family will love!

Make your own Applesauce at home with this easy recipe.

Try this Avocado Apple Smoothie for the creamiest breakfast you've ever enjoyed!

Try this Apple-Blueberry Crumble for a sweet treat!
Children's Book Spotlight

Pancakes to Parathas

Written by Alice McGinty
Illustrated by Tomoko Suzuki

For grades K-3

"Breakfast varies from country to country, but it's how all children begin their day. Explore the meals of twelve countries in this playful approach to the world!

From Australia to India to the USA, come travel around the world at dawn. Children everywhere are waking up to breakfast. In Japan, students eat soured soybeans called natto. In Brazil, even kids drink coffee--with lots of milk! With rhythm and rhymes and bold, graphic art, Pancakes to Parathas invites young readers to explore the world through the most important meal of the day."
Cover of the book Pancakes to Parathas featuring pictures of different foods.
Click a link below to download the Harvest of the Month Family Newsletter!
Cambridge Public Health Department

Follow us on Twitter