Image of a bunch of red/yellow apples & and an apple decorated in Fourth of July costume
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Infographic,

The Apple: A Great American Fruit

Thirty states in the U.S. have a state fruit, from the strawberry to the peach. We think it’s time to pick a national fruit! Here’s why it should be the apple.

From the September 2023 Issue
Complexity Factors
  • Purpose
    This infographic presents interesting facts about apples and suggests the apple should be America’s national fruit.
  • Structure
    Information is presented with text and images in four sections arranged around a central image.
  • Language
    The language is familiar.
  • Knowledge Demands
    No prior knowledge is required. Chestnuts are mentioned.
Featured Skill: Main Idea and Supporting Details,
Topics: Health,
Standards
  • Common Core
    Anchor Standards: R.1, R.2, R.7, W.2 Grade 4: RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.7, W.4.2 Grade 5: RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.7, W.5.2 Grade 6: RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.7, W.6.2
  • TEKS
    Grade 4: 4.9f; 4.12c Grade 5: 5.9f; 5.12c Grade 6: 6.8f; 6.11c
  • NGSS
    ETS2.B: Influence of Engineering, Technology, and Science on Society and the Natural World LS1.D: Information Processing

Presentation View
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John Bunker/OutOnALimbApples.com (Purple Apple); Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)

Good for You

Chewing apples may help clean your teeth.

Ingredients in apple peels may protect your heart.  

The vitamins and minerals in apples may keep your bones strong.

Varied

About 2,500 different types of apples are grown in the U.S. They come in many flavors (including vanilla, chestnut, and lemonade) and colors (like pink, white, and purple)!

Popular

Apples are already the state fruit of 7 U.S. states.

69% of Americans rank apple as one of their favorite fruit juice flavors.

Every year, Americans eat more apples (fresh, canned, or juiced) than any other fruit.

Part of Our Language

Apples appear in many idioms and sayings, like . . .

  • “As American as apple pie” (typical of the United States)
  • “The apple of my eye” (a beloved person)
  • “A bad apple” (a bad person)

Write to Win

Write a letter to the U.S. president explaining why the apple should be our national fruit. Use facts from the infographic to support your letter. Send it to “Apple Contest” by December 15, 2023. Five winners will each receive a Storyworks prize. Visit the Storyworks Contests page for more information.

This infographic was originally published in the September 2023 issue.

Activities (4)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Activities (4) Download All Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Table of Contents

1. Reading and Discussing 

2. Writing

3. Ideas to Engage and Inspire

1. Reading and Discussing 

Project the infographic as students follow along in their magazines.

Prompt students to use the headline, subhead, and central image to identify the topic of the infographic.

Ask: Is the purpose of the infographic to

  • explain something to you?
  • convince you of something?
  • tell you how to do something?

Have students look over the labels and images surrounding the central image. Ask:

  • How are they related to the central image? (They provide details about the main idea.)

Break students into groups to read each section of the infographic and discuss what they find interesting, surprising, or convincing.

Come back together as a class and ask volunteers to summarize the main idea and supporting details from the infographic.

2. Writing

Preview the writing prompt in the “Write to Win” box.

Download and distribute the guided-writing activity that goes along with the infographic.

Have students respond to the writing prompt. If you wish, send their responses to our infographic contest. 

3. Ideas to Engage and Inspire

Have students create their own infographics! Download our “Make Your Own Infographic” activity from Storyworks Digital.

Text-to-Speech