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| Pineapple Investigations Children will enjoy using all of their senses and sharpening skills as they explore a fresh, delicious pineapple. MIXED AGES |
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Materials:
ACTIVITIES What is it? A Pineapple Guessing Game. Place a fresh pineapple inside a black plastic bag and secure it so children cannot see what is inside. Explain to children that they will play a guessing game. Ask them to hold the bag and feel what is inside. Remind them that they cannot look inside. Encourage them to guess what is inside of the bag. Ask older children to explain their answers. Describing a pineapple. A Language Experience Chart. After concluding the guessing game, pass the pineapple around and encourage children to touch and smell it. Create a language experience chart with children to describe the pineapple. Encourage children to notice the texture, size, weight, smell, colors, leaves, and so on. Cut the top part of the pineapple plant, extending 1/2" below the leaf section. Save the leaf section for the planting activity. Cut the pineapple into sections. Give children a small piece of pineapple to taste. Include their descriptions of how a pineapple tastes in their language experience chart. Save the remaining pineapple for the Curriculum Connection cooking activity. Where do pineapples come from? A Geography Adventure. Assist older children in learning about the different places where pineapples are grown. How are the places similar? What type of climate will enable pineapples to grow? Use books, maps, and Internet resources to support their learning. Pineapple planting. A Science Investigation. Ask children to predict what would happen if you planted the top of the pineapple in soil. Record their predictions and then invite them to assist in this planting activity. Place a layer of pebbles or gravel in the bottom of a planting pot. Mix an equal amount of soil and sand and fill the pot a few inches from the top. Place the pineapple plant into the soil and cover with remaining soil and sand mixture. Water the plant well. Place a plastic bag over the potted plant and secure tightly. Ask children to think about why a pineapple plant must be kept warm and moist. Find a sunny place to put it. Create an observation chart with the children to record the daily growth of the plant. Photographs and drawings can also used to record the plant growth. Remove the plastic bag once the middle section of the plant begins growing new leaves. The plant will need regular watering and access to a sun.
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