WILLOWBROOK -- What's red, juicy, sweet and crunchy? A fresh, New York State apple, for one thing.
That's what second-graders at PS 54 discovered when they explored the state's apple-growing industry.
The school is one of only a handful of city public schools selected to participate in "Spoons Across America," a national program that teaches young students about nutrition, and how food gets from farm to family tables.
This year's theme involves agriculture in the classroom and focuses on the apple industry in New York State. Through hands-on literacy activities, including taste-testing and readings, students learn where their food comes from, and the people involved in getting it from there to here.
"Spoons Across America" donated copies of the book, "The Empire State Investigator: The Applesauce Bandit," to PS 54 and participating schools.
At PS 54, teacher Ruth Gutman read the book aloud to her students, and discussed how apples grow on a tree, before being picked and making their way to stores and kitchens.
"This program enriched my students' knowledge of apples and all the work that is involved from farm to store," Mrs. Gutman said.
Students sampled apples and related products, such as applesauce and apple butter.
"I never knew all the work that it takes to grow apples," said 7-year-old Chamika Goonewardene.
A few of the students had never tasted an apple before.
"I never knew that there were so many different kinds of apples, and that they all taste different," said Chaamy Yapa.
"Tasting apples and applesauce is fun," declared Jacob Joe, 7.
PS 54 students participating in the apple tasting are part of the school's enrichment program. At the school, each grade level has a themed activity, explained Principal Anna Castley. Second-graders are part of the "Investigators." They explore science using hands-on activities in science and projects. Third-graders participate in the "Explorers" program, which focuses on different countries and cultures. Fifth-graders participate in themed "academies." All students participate in "Brown Bag Lunches," where they discuss books and hear from guest speakers, including authors, during their lunch period.
Mrs. Gutman's students are known as Green Acres Farmers. They were already researching various aspects of life on a farm and the environment that it affords plants and animals.
"The 'Spoons Across America' program was a nice fit for us, since these children are already studying life on a farm," she said.
Diane Lore writes about schools and education for the Advance. Contact her at email@example.com. Chalk Talk appears Thursdays during the school year in the Advance Shore editions and on-line at SILive.com.