First Graders Take a Trip to the Apple Orchard
On Thursday, October 6, seventy four excited first graders, parents and teachers headed up the mountain to visit Snow Line apple orchard.  Upon arrival we were greeted by a large, shaggy, white dog who patiently endured the loving hands of many first graders.  We then split into two groups for our tour, which included an interesting talk about apples, apple trees and what is needed for them to grow.  A highlight of the nature walk was watching a woodpecker at work putting acorns into a telephone pole.  We next learned the old fashioned way of making apple cider and each student got to help turn the crank to grind up the fresh apples.  Heading indoors we learned the different names for the sizes of baskets:  bushel, ½ bushel, peck, ½ peck and ¼ peck.  One student got to model a picking bag and demonstrate how it works.  Keeping our hands safely behind us, we headed into where the apples are sorted by sizes and we saw a demonstration of the huge stapler used to assemble the apple boxes.  Next, we got to go into the large refrigerator where the apples are kept to keep them nice and crisp.  Brrrrrrr.  Finally, we came back out into the sunshine for a picnic lunch with our parents and classmates. 

It was a great morning and we could thank God for making such a beautiful world and the fall season that we could all enjoy.