Apple+Picking+Time+Reinforcing+Activity

=Apple Picking Time Reinforcing Activity=

Read the story aloud in the class. After reading the story have the students write 3-4 questions they had while listening to the story Apple Picking Annie. Hold a group discussion as a class about questions they had about the book. A few key things to talk be sure to talk about are:
 * Who all was coming to help in the orchard?
 * Why do they think so many people came to work in the orchard?
 * What made some people return to help pick apples?
 * What was the significance of having a half-moon punched into your ticket? What did it stand for?
 * Why did the little girl not get as many half-moon punches in her ticket as the rest of her family did?
 * What is opportunity cost?
 * How does opportunity costs affect those who came back to help pick the apples?
 * Why do you think they had to get there so early?

After discussing for about 15-20 minutes, have the students write a letter to a friend who lives in a city. They are going to write these letters as if they are a little boy or girl working on the apple orchard with their family. In their letters they need to make sure they address: how they are getting paid, and what are the conditions of working like? Have them explain the influence of opportunity cost and how it helped them make their decision to either work or not to work. These can be done as homework if there is not enough time left in the class to finish them.


 * Other Academic Standards Covered by this book: ** People in Societies, History, Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities