Materials
Assortment of fruits: apples, oranges, grapes, raisins, pineapple, bananas, pears, coconut, Maraschino cherries
Miniature marshmallows Whipped topping, one container
Plastic knives Individual cutting boards, several
Large wooden spoon Small serving bowls, one per child
Plastic spoons, one per child Markers
Chart paper
Instructions
1. Introduce the concept of friendship by reading a poem, brainstorming related words/ideas or sharing a short story from Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel.
2. Emphasize the qualities of helping and sharing in relation to being a good friend.
3. Explain that the class will be making Friendship Fruit Salad for snack. Give each child a parent letter describing your class project and requesting the donation of one ingredient. (The ingredients list can be adjusted to match the number of children in your class.)4. When all ingredients have arrived at school, let children wash their hands, wash and peel (if necessary) the fruit, and work in small groups to chop fruit and open cans.
5. After the children have prepared all ingredients, sit together as a class. Have individual children place each ingredient in the bowl as you write a rebus recipe on chart paper. When all ingredients have been added, stir and serve.More to doArt: Dip half of each of several different pieces of fruit in shallow containers of tempera paint to make fruit prints. Let the children use the fruit to make prints on brightly colored construction paper. When dry, the different fruit prints can be identified and labeled.Language: Save seeds from several types of fruit for planting or sprouting. Keep a daily log to record class observations of the seeds' growth. * Have children work in groups to write and illustrate stories about each seed. This is a great way to reinforce story sequence by emphasizing the idea of beginning, middle and end.
