Today for our Kids in the Kitchen lesson we made these yummy apple cookies! I love this lesson because you really can alter the recipe to fit what ever your dietary needs, likes and dislikes are! Working with 3 & 4 year olds is such a hoot… They loved every minute of cutting, spreading and topping their “apple cookies”. I offered them either peanut butter or sun butter… You could also use honey. Basically you need something sticky :). For toppings we used chocolate chips and coconut. You could also use oatmeal, nuts, even sprinkles! We also practiced making ours into PB & J apples…
I began this lesson by reading a book called, Coco Cow and the Big Apple. I love this book- the story line is adorable and the pictures are some of my favorite. 
Once we were well on our way to filling our tummies with delicious apple cookies, I told them the story of “The Hidden Star”. This is a popular story to do with younger children, but it never tires because they are always so excited when you show them the star… Here’s how it works:
The Apple Star (author unknown)
Once there was a little boy who had played almost all day. He had played with all his toys and all the games he knew, and he could not think of anything else to do. So, he went to his mother and asked, “Mother, what shall I do now?”
His mother said, “I know about a little red house with no doors and no windows and a star inside. You can find it, if you go look for it.”
So the little boy went outside and there he met a little girl. He asked, “Do you know where there is a little red house with no doors and no windows and a star inside?”
The little girl said, “No, I don’t know where there is a little red house with no doors and no windows and a star inside, but you can ask my daddy. He is a farmer and he knows lots of things. He’s down by the barn and maybe he can help you.”
So, the little boy went to the farmer down by the barn and said, “Do you know where there is a little red house with no doors and no windows and a star inside?”
“No,” said the farmer, “I don’t know, but why don’t you ask Grandmother. She is in her house up on the hill. She is very wise and knows many things. Maybe she can help you.”
So, the little boy went up the hill to Grandmother’s and asked, “Do you know where there is a little red house with no doors and no windows and a star inside?”
“No,” Grandmother answered, “I don’t know, but you ask Brother Wind, for Brother Wind goes everywhere, and I am sure he can help you.”
So, the little boy went outside and asked Brother Wind, “Do you know where I can find a little red house with no doors and no windows and a star inside?”
And Brother Wind said, “Ooooohhhhh! And it sounded to the little boy as if the wind said, “Come with me.” So the little boy ran after Brother Wind. He ran through the grass and into the orchard and there on the ground he found the little house – the little red house with no doors and no windows and a star inside! He picked it up, and it filled both of his hands. He ran home to his mother and said, “Look, Mother! I found the little red house with no doors and no windows, but I cannot see the star!”
So this is what his mother did (cut the apple across the middle from side to side, not top to bottom) .“Now I see the star!” said the little boy.
Inside every apple sleep five seed babies in their star beds, just waiting and waiting for the wind to catch them so they too can become a little red house with no doors and no windows and a star inside!
I didn’t do this with my little group of kiddos, but you could also do apple printing at this time… Just dip your apple star slices in tempera paint and TADA!
It is apple season! Enjoy and have fun!
