Objective
By the end of this lesson, the student will understand what pawpaws are, how to identify when they are ripe for picking, and will have fun exploring nature while learning about this unique fruit.
Materials and Prep
- No special materials are needed for this lesson, just a curious mind!
- Before the lesson, make sure to find a safe outdoor area where pawpaw trees grow, if possible.
- Learn a little bit about pawpaw trees and their fruit, such as their appearance and taste.
Activities
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Pawpaw Hunt: Go outside and look for pawpaw trees. Teach the student how to identify the trees by their large leaves and the shape of the fruit. Encourage them to point out any trees they find.
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Ripe or Not Ripe: Discuss the signs of a ripe pawpaw. Show the student how to gently squeeze the fruit to see if it’s soft enough to pick. Have them practice on imaginary fruits (like a soft ball) to understand the concept.
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Pawpaw Art: Use sticks, leaves, and stones to create a nature collage that represents what a pawpaw tree looks like. This will help reinforce the shapes and colors they’ve learned about.
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Pawpaw Story Time: Sit down and tell a fun story about a little pawpaw fruit on its adventure to become a delicious snack. Encourage the student to add their own ideas to the story!
Talking Points
- "Did you know that pawpaws are the largest edible fruit native to North America?"
- "Pawpaw trees can grow really tall! Can you guess how tall they can get?"
- "The fruit of the pawpaw is soft and creamy, and it tastes a little like banana and mango!"
- "When you pick a pawpaw, we have to be gentle so we don’t squish it!"
- "Pawpaws grow in clusters. Can you find two or three fruits together on a tree?"
- "After we pick a pawpaw, we can taste it! What do you think it will taste like?"