The Old Apple Tree

There's a very big old apple tree in our school playground, just by the early years' classrooms. 

At this time of year it's full of apples. We have been talking this week about different varieties of apples and what makes them different. The apples on this tree are small and light green in colour and they are tasty - quite sweet and a little bit tangy. We have sent some off to the national fruit collection at Brogdale and they have told us this tree is probably a variety of apple called 'Greensleeves'.  They told us this apple is a cross between two varieties, Golden Delicious and James Grieve and it is good for both cooking and eating. 

The tree is so big it's difficult to get to the apples to pick them. 

If you don't pick them they fall off the tree and rot quite quickly on the ground, like this one has. 

We have been talking about ways to pick the apples without damaging them. We picked the ones we could reach. Then we tried shaking the tree and we asked some tall adults to help us pick the ones they could reach! Now we are going to have a go at designing a machine or a tool for picking and catching the apples.