scientific method apple browning experiment worksheet

Free Worksheets

Social studies, apple browning science experiment with free oxidation worksheet.

This simple, but fascinating  apple oxidation experiment allows children to learn  why apples turn brown and  what prevents apples from browing with a hands-on apple science experiment.  Try this  apple activity for kids this September with pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd graders too. Simply print  apple worksheet and you are ready to try this  apple browning experiment!

Apple Browning Experiment

Looking for a fun and useful  apple experiment . This  apple browning experiment uses real apples and various liquids you have around your house to hypothesize and discover  what prevents apples from browning . In this simple  apple science , preschoolers, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 students will discover  why apples turn brown . Whether you are a parent, teacher, or homeschooler you will love this  apple activities as part of your  apple theme or science centers during September and fall.

What is Oxidation

Oxidation can happen to metals, fruit, and other substances. It simply means a chemical reaction occured that resulting in an electron is removed. When the inside of an apple is cut, the inside is exposed to oxygen in the air, a chemical reaction occurs where an electron is lost through oxidation. The oxidation (visually the browning of the surface of a fruit) can be prevented by removing the oxygen from the equation and vacuum-packing the fruit, adding heat and cooking the apple slices, or by coating the surface with an acidic liquid, like lemon juice.

Let’s explore some common household items and see if any of them can prevent oxidation in apple slices.

Apple Oxidation Experiment

To try this simpler  apple experiment all you need are a few simple materials:

• pen and paper for labeling
• free apple science worksheet (below)
• lemon juice
• baking soda
• small containers

Science experiments with apples

Start by scrolling to the bottom of the post, under the terms of use, and click on the text link that says >> _________ <<. The pdf file will open in a new window for you to save your freebie. Now print off  the pages.

Apple Science Experiment

First things’s first, you need to make a label for each liquid so you don’t forget which one is which. Don’t forget one of them should be “air” for your control variable. Having a control variable is necessary so that you can compare it to the other apples that have been submerged in various liquids.

Now, pour the liquids into separate containers with the labels next to the corresponding containers. Place an apple slice in each container so that it’s submerged in the liquid.

Apple experiment

Wait a few minutes and take out the apple slices. Place the apple slices on a cutting board or plate and put the corresponding labels next to them.  Wait two hours and check on the apples.

Science with Apples

Discuss the progress of the oxidation and write what you are seeing on your apple oxidation worskheet.

Why Apples Turn Brown

Wait another hour and check on the apples. Discuss any new observations and record them on your worksheet.

What Prevents apples from browning

Finally, after 5 hours total, check how brown the apple slices are and record observations on the free worksheet. Your child can draw the oxidized apple slices in the space provided on the worksheet.

Apple Activities

• Red Apple Pie Slime Activities for Preschoolers
• Green Laffy Taffy Apple Slime
• Yellow Fluffy Apple SLime
• Awesome Apple Pie Playdough Recipe
• 3-in-1 Apple Activities for Toddlers
• Printable Apple Tray Counting and Writing
• Scented Apple Playdough Recipe
• Super Soft, No-Cook Apple Playdough for Fall

Apple Science

• Free Apple Life Cycle Printable Pack
• Printable Apple Life Cycle Spinner
• Skittles Apple Science Experiment for Kids
• Free Printable Apple Experiment Worksheet
• Apple Volcano Experiment and Activity for Kids in September

Apple Experiments

• Simple Apple Science Experiment and Activity for September
• Apple Browning Experiment with FREE Oxidation Worksheet
• Apple Stem Activity – Practical Engineering Challenge for Kids
• Melting Apple Science Experiment for September

Apple Crafts for Kids

• Cute Apple Handprint Craft for Kids – w/ free printable
• Easy Apple Core and torn paper Paper Plate Apple Craft
• Alphabet Lacing Apple Craft
• Clever Bubble Wrap Apple Craft
• Coffee Filter Apple Craft
• Plus don’t miss this FUN Apple Crafts Preschool
• Stunning, Easy Apple Craft for Preschoolers and Kids
• Fun Paper Plate Apple Craft for kids

Looking for more fun apple and activities and free apple printables? You will love these apple activities for kindergarten and apple activities for preschoolers!

• Math Apple Worksheets (addition / subtraction)
• Super cute and FREE Apple Apple Worksheets Preschool
• Apple Roll and Cover Dice Game
• Printable Apple Math – Number Bonds Activity
• Hole-Punching, Count to 20 Apple Activities for Preschoolers – free printable
• Super cute Apple Playdough Mats to practice counting
• Apple Addition Coloring Worksheets
• Number Bonds Apple Math
• Apple Counting Worksheet
• Free Printable Multiplication Games

• Letter A Worksheets, printables, and games for kids
• Apple Themed Free Alpahbet Strip pdf Activity
• Alphbet Puzzles – Apple Activities for Preschoolers
• Hands-on Apple Sight Words Tree
• Synonyms and Antonyms Worksheets pdf with a fun Apple theme
• Apple Letter A Activity sorting upper and lowercase letters for pre-k and kindergarten
• Printable Apple Compound Words Worksheet
• Find the Letter Apple Tracing Worksheets
• A is for Apple Printable Book for working on beginning sounds – print in black and white or color
• Color the correct apples in these Nouns and Verbs Worksheets
• Apple Theme BUNDLE

Apple Printables

• Simple Johnny Appleseed Coloring Page
• Fun Johnny Appleseed Activities
• I Spy Preschool Apple Worksheets

Before you grab your free pack you agree to the following:

• This set is for personal and classroom use only.
• This printable set may not be sold, hosted, reproduced, or stored on any other website or electronic retrieval system.
• Graphics Purchased and used with permission
• All material provided on this blog is copyright protected.

>>  Apple Worksheet  <<

Beth Gorden is the creative multi-tasking creator of Kindergarten Worksheets and Games. As a busy mother of six, she strives to create hands-on learning activities and worksheets that kids will love to make learning FUN! Browse through more than 200,000 pages of FREE worksheets & educational activities for kindergartners! Plus don't miss her other sites www.123homeschool4me.com and www.preschoolplayandlearn.com

Similar Posts

January Lego Challenge Calendar

Sundae Short Vowels CVC Word Read & Write Activity

Free Gingerbread Man Sequencing Activity

US States Lego Challenge for Kids

FREE Printable Alphabet Playdough Letter Mats

FREE Matching Animals Worksheets for Kindergarten

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Get Your ALL ACCESS Shop Pass here →

Apple Browning Experiment

How do you keep apples from turning brown? Do all apples turn brown at the same rate? Let’s try to answer these burning apple science questions with an apple oxidation experiment that is pretty quick and easy to set up at home or in the classroom. Pair it with other fun apple science experiments!

Try This Apple Browning Experiment For Fall

Have you ever found a bad spot on an apple or opened a container in a lunch box filled with apple slices that were once pearly white and now look a bit on the used-up side. The bad spot is definitely not tasty, but the slightly browned apples aren’t all that bad!

Is it safe to eat brown apples? My son tasted the brown slices of his favorite apple, the honey crisp, and declared them still ok. Not all apples are similar in their rate of browning!

How do you keep apples from turning brown? Lemon juice is often suggested as a solution for keeping apples from turning brown. Does lemon juice really work and how does it stop or slow the browning process?

Let’s try a simple apple experiment and find out how to stop apples from browning!

Using The Scientific Method With Kids

The scientific method is a process or method of research. A problem is identified, information about the problem is gathered, a hypothesis or question is formulated from the information, and the hypothesis is tested with an experiment to prove or disprove its validity.

Sounds heavy! What in the world does that mean?!? It means you don’t need to try and solve the world’s biggest science questions! The scientific method is all about studying and learning things right around you.

As children develop practices that involve creating, gathering data evaluating, analyzing, and communicating, they can apply these critical thinking skills to any situation.

READ MORE:   The Scientific Method For Kids With Examples

Note:  The use of the   best Science and Engineering Practices   is also relevant to the topic of using the scientific method. Read more and see if it fits your science planning needs.

Helpful Science Resources To Get Your Started

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

• Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
• Variables In Science
• Observation In Science
• Science Vocabulary
• 8 Science Books for Kids
• All About Scientists
• DIY Science Kits
• Science Tools for Kids

Set Up An Apple Browning Science Project

Science projects are an excellent tool for older kiddos to show what they know about science! Plus, they can be used in all sorts of environments including classrooms, homeschool, and groups.

Kids can take everything they have learned about using the scientific method , stating a hypothesis, choosing variables , making observations and analyzing and presenting data.

Want to turn this apple oxidation experiments into an awesome science fair project? Check out these helpful resources.

• Science Project Tips From A Teacher
• Science Fair Board Ideas
• Easy Science Fair Projects

Why Do Apples Turn Brown?

There’s great science behind the process of why an apple turns brown or why rotten spots are brown.

The simple science is that when an apple is damaged, or even cut into slices, the enzymes in the apple react with the oxygen in the air, which is a process called oxidation. The apple produces melanin to protect the apple which is the browning you see.

We watched this short video on Why do Apples Turn Brown?   which digs deeper into the exact science of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes. It’s a mouthful!

How Does Lemon Juice Stop Apples From Browning?

Lemon juice helps keep the apple from turning brown because it is full of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and it has a low (acidic) pH level. Learn more about the pH scale.

Ascorbic acid works because oxygen will react with it before it reacts with the polyphenol oxidase enzyme in the fruit. What else might prevent apples browning in a similar way?

Alternatives To Lemon Juice

We investigated whether lemon juice on apples stops them from turning brown in the experiment below. Why not extend the learning and compare different ways to prevent cut apples from browning!

You could also test…

• Ascorbic Acid Powder
• Plain Water

Get your printable apple experiment worksheet!

Apple Oxidation Experiment

This is a great experiment to set up using the scientific method for kids . Use our printable apple browning experiment worksheet below to record your observations.

The independent variable will be the type of apple, and the dependent variable will the amount of lemon juice you add to each apple. Can you think of any other dependent variables?

• Apples! (We used 5 varieties of apples since we had just completed our apple 5 senses science activity beforehand.)
• Lemon Juice (or real lemon)
• Paper Plates, Knife, Small Cups (optiona)
• Printable Journal Pages

STEP 1: Label the paper plates with the name of each type of apple you are using.

STEP 2: Then cut two wedges of the same size out of each apple.

STEP 3: Place one wedge in a small dish and the other on the plate alongside the rest of the whole apple.

STEP 4: Squeeze a little lemon juice over each slice in the dishes and mix to coat evenly. Dump out excess juice. Do this for each apple.

STEP 5: Now wait and be patient. Record your observations.

If you want, set out a timer to get an accurate measurement of the time it takes for each apple to turn brown. This way you can record results in number of minutes for drawing conclusions later.

Our Results

• Which apple turned first?
• Did they all turn equal shades of brown?
• Does the apple slice coated in lemon juice taste different than the plain apple slice?
• Does the brown apple slice really taste all that bad?
• Did the lemon juice really work?

BELOW WAS OUR QUICKEST TURNING AND DARKEST BROWN APPLE SLICE.

He went on to happily eat both slices of cut apple and found them tasty. Fall is a great time of year for exploring apples!

More Fun Apple Science Activities

• Learn about the parts of an apple .
• Use our printable life cycle of an apple worksheets to explore how an apple grows.
• Develop your observation skills with an apple 5 senses activity .
• Set up this awesome apple volcano experiment.
• Enjoy balancing apples for simple Fall physics.

Printable Preschool Apple Activities Pack

Get ready to explore this year with our growing Preschool STEM Bundle !

What’s Included:

There are 5 fun preschool themes to get you started. This is an ” I can explore” series!

• My 5 Senses
• All About Me
• Science and Scientist

Each unit contains approximately 15 activities, with instructions and templates  as needed. Hands-on activities are provided to keep it fun and exciting. This includes sensory bins, experiments, games, and more! Easy supplies keep it low cost, and book suggestions add the learning time. 

Or grab the Apple Preschool Pack on it’s own!

• Pingback: 30+ Amazing Montessori Fall Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten - Natural Beach Living
• Pingback: Engaging Science Activities for the Fall Season - TCI
• Pingback: 20+ Apple Science Experiments and Activities for Kids - Natural Beach Living
• Pingback: Scientific Method For Kids

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to receive a free 5-Day STEM Challenge Guide

~ projects to try now ~.

Apple Science Experiment: Prevent Browning

This post may contain affiliate links.

My kids love eating apples, but they really don’t love it when they turn brown. We decided to try a fun apple science experiment so they could learn what keeps apples from browning. (See 200+ more STEM projects for kids)

We first talked about why apple brown and discussed the comparison with rusting (oxidation). It is a chemical reaction with the oxygen and an enzyme in the apples. This helped the kids understand why it happened.

How to Do the Apple Experiment:

To do this apple science experiment, you’ll just need a few items: an apple, a knife, a few bowls, and various edible liquids.

I already knew the answer to this apple oxidation experiment, but I didn’t want to let my kids know about it. I let them choose various substances and liquids from the kitchen to soak the apples in. I did make a suggestion of lemon juice, but let them choose the other things.

The kids chose vinegar, milk and baking soda . Another good one to try is salt water. Just to give them a comparison, I left one with nothing  on it (the control variable).  You could also use plain water as the variable.

We sliced the apples and put the slices into each substance to soak. Label them so you remember which one is which. We left the apple slices soaking for about an hour.

Let kids make their own hypothesis about which one will work best.  They were excited to see the results.  Their guesses were not correct…  Check out my Scientific Method printables to help you teach this!

While some liquids might work better than others, taste is important, as well. If you soaked apples in salt water, they would not taste nearly as good!

How to Keep Apples from Turning Brown

I then explained to them that lemon juice helps keep the apple from browning, because it is full of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and it has a low pH level.  Ascorbic acid works because oxygen will react with it before it will react with the enzymes in the apple.  Once the ascorbic acid gets used up, the oxygen will start reacting with the enzymes in the apple  (polyphenol oxidase) and browning will occur.  Did you know why apples turn brown?

DOWNLOAD the free printable apple browning experiment worksheet now!

Want more simple science experiments? Check out this big list of Simple Science Experiments for Kids !

Also, a little more on Oxidation with this Rust Experiment !

A Few More Apple Learning Ideas:

A magnetic science activity to go along with the book 10 Apples Up on Top

Ways to Play with an Apple Carton

Pi Day with Apple Pie

All About Apples- Great list of apple learning and play ideas!

Extend the Learning with Some Apple Books:

How do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro

Apples by Gail Gibbons

The Season’s of Arnold’s Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons

Apples, Apples Everywhere by Robin Koontz

Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington

Apples, Apples, Apples by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

Save Save Save Save Save Save

Former school teacher turned homeschool mom of 4 kids. Loves creating awesome hands-on creative learning ideas to make learning engaging and memorable for all kids!

Similar Posts

How To Identify Plants On a Nature Walk

Printable Math Dominoes – Addition, Subtraction

Printable Non-Candy Kazoo Valentines

Harry Potter Escape Room for Teaching

Jamestown simulation, read along- the burgess animal book for children, chapter 1, 18 comments.

Always looking for more fun science experiments! Pinning this one!

I wonder what the variables are

the dependant variable is how much the apples browned and the independent variable is the liquid used

I hear you but then i still have a question, if you were to record in on a table or a graph for that matter, how would you measure how much it has browned? By sized? Because i am stuck now

This version of the experiment seems to generate a simple yes or no result as opposed to a measurable DV. If you need to quantify the dependent variable, perhaps try identifying quadrants on each apple slice and discussing the amount of browning as percentages? Or… maybe counting spots? I wonder if it might even be fruitful (pun intended) to look at the time it takes each liquid of independent variable to brown. No browning would be ‘n/a.’ You might even compare acidic (vinegar) vs. alkaline (baking soda).

• Pingback: 10 Apple Themed Learning Activities

Great science experiment! Can’t wait to try it with my kids.

This is such a great idea! My children LoVe apples. Doing an experiment with them makes total sense! Thanks for sharing 😉

Thanks! Glad you like it! 🙂

A tiny bit of honey also prevents browning. Like a drizzle and then shake to coat. Doesn’t work as long as lemon juice but also isn’t as tart.

use salt water also can prevent apple becoming browning!

What is the Variables like control, independent, and dependent, causes of this project.

Definitely going to be doing this for our picnic theme! Great idea

I use apple juice to keep apple slices from turning brown. It will even reverse light browning.

I will be doing this experiment with my daughter soon. I have always soaked apples in pineapple juice to prevent browning, and look forward to seeing how it compares to lemon juice!

also you could use a temporary vacuum chamber by taking a plastic bag and putting the apple inside of it . put the bag in to a bucket of water with the bag partially opened. the water pressure on the bag will force the air out of the bag and temporarily vacuum seal the bag. hope this helps 🙂

can you please provide a list of procedures

What common core standard would go with this science experiment?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

• Skip to main content

Join All-Access Reading…Doors Are Open! Click Here

• All-Access Login
• Freebie Library
• Search this website

Teaching with Jennifer Findley

Upper Elementary Teaching Blog

Apple Oxidation Science Experiment with FREE Science Reading Activity

Science experiments are such an important part of students’ learning. However, sometimes I felt that my science standards didn’t lend themselves to the kind of experiments that my students really needed.

Implementing seasonal themed science experiments was a great way to incorporate engaging science experiments that I felt really benefited my students. This post shares a science experiment with free science reading activity that is perfect for a fall science experiment. This experiment is also great for using text evidence and existing science to support predictions and make conclusions about the results.

Step 1: Read the text about apple oxidation with the “Apple Browning” passage.

Step 2: Using the information from the passage, plan an experiment to test liquids for ascorbic acid OR use the directions page with materials and steps provided.

Step 3: Select a variety of liquids. Examples:

• plain water
• salt water (1/8 tsp of salt, 1 cup of water)
• sugared water (1 tbsp of sugar, 1 cup of water)
• honey water (1 tbsp of honey, 1 cup of water)
• pure lemon juice
• apple juice
• orange juice

Step 4: Students will write down predictions about how each liquid will affect the oxidation process of the apple (using the information they read in Step 1 to support their predictions).

Step 5: Prepare and pour each liquid into its own bowl, cup, or baggie. Be sure to label the liquids and use the same amount of each.

Step 6: Slice an apple into small pieces.

Step 7: Immediately place one apple piece into each liquid. Make sure the liquid is covering the white part of the apple. Leave one piece of apple out of the liquid as the control variable.

Step 8: After 3 minutes, remove the apples from the liquid and place them on a platter. Record observations using the printable chart in the free download.

Step 9: After 6 minutes, observe the apples again and record any new observations.

Step 10: Check predictions and complete the reflection printable. The students will use both the details from the text and their own observations to make their conclusions.

Download FREE Apple Oxidation Printables

Click here or on the image below to download the free directions and science reading activity for this science experiment.

This activity can be done whole class, during a small group science rotation,  or even in small groups. If you do it in small groups, you (or a parent volunteer or support teacher) would need to go around to each group to cut the apple into slices.

More Science Experiments and Demonstrations

Making an Edible Animal Cell

Making a Noodle Plant Cell

Solar Oven Project with Free Printables

Ice Cream in a Bag with Free Printables

Making a Paper Clip STEM with Free Printables

STEM Activities with Pencils (Free Printables)

Spring Science Experiments with Free Reading Activities

Spring Engineering Activities with Jelly Beans

Want More Fall Activities?

Want more fall activities and ideas? Click on the links below to see more posts.

Fall Activities for Upper Elementary

Fall Engineering Challenges

Thanksgiving Science with Cranberries

Then, click the links below to check out my favorite Fall math and reading resources.

Shop This Post

Fall Math Centers

4th Grade Fall and Thanksgiving Math Printables

5th Grade Fall and Thanksgiving Math Printables

Thanksgiving Reading Activities

This post was created in collaboration with A Stults.

Share the Knowledge!

Reader interactions.

May 16, 2019 at 6:25 pm

Thank you for sharing, I think this is a great easy way of showing students the process of oxidation.

May 12, 2020 at 3:53 pm

Thats Awesome!

March 21, 2023 at 8:15 am

Thank you for the idea!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

TEACHING READING JUST GOT EASIER WITH ALL-ACCESS

Join All-Access Reading to get immediate access to the reading resources you need to:

• teach your reading skills 
• support and grow your readers
• engage your students
• prepare them for testing
• and so much more!

You may also love these freebies!

Math Posters

Reading Posters

Morphology Posters

Grammar Posters

Welcome Friends!

I’m Jennifer Findley: a teacher, mother, and avid reader. I believe that with the right resources, mindset, and strategies, all students can achieve at high levels and learn to love learning. My goal is to provide resources and strategies to inspire you and help make this belief a reality for your students.

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

• Alphabet Worksheets
• Coloring Pages
• Easy Science Experiments
• Nature Crafts
• Nature Books for Kids
• Number Charts
• Number Worksheets
• Printable Flashcards
• Printable Games
• Copyright. Disclosure. Privacy Policy

Printable Scientific Method Worksheets

Published: Jan 8, 2022 · Modified: Nov 30, 2022 by Julie

• Save for Later!

Kids of all ages love conducting science experiments as part of their science education. Use these scientific method worksheets to teach about the steps of the scientific method.

Also as templates when your kids are doing their own experiments.

If you are looking for some basic worksheets to use with your kids then check out the resrouces described below.

This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy .

You can download the printable pack at the bottom of this post. Simply use the table of contents below to skip ahead to the printables.

Diagram Worksheet

Basics of scientific method, scientific method template, starting with a question, conduct research, making a prediction, materials list and safety, results of the experiment, bonus coloring sheet, additional science printables, terms of use.

You can use the diagram sheets with elementary students and middle school aged kids. I made two versions, one a guided cut and paste along with a blank diagram.

The image below shows the cut and paste version which comes with printable pictures to go along with each of the steps.

When you download the free printable pack, you will get access to both versions of the printable chart.

1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and 4th grade students can practice the scientific method steps with the guided cut and paste worksheet.

While older children in 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade can use the blank version to write and draw their own illustrations.

However, you know your kids best and can use either sheet with any of the ages listed above!

Even high school aged kids can benefit from a quick review of the different steps of the scientific method before conducting a scientific investigation.

Either sheet would be a great way to introduce the method as part of an introductory lesson.

The core of the scientific method is that it is a process to be explored , not just memorized.

If you have ever made an observation which then sparked a question, then you know what I am talking about.

Working through a problem using a series of steps is the basic idea behind the this method.

The nature of science is to use data collected from an experiment to answer a question.

Often times, the results spark more questions and then lead to more scientific investigations. Which is awesome!

For ideas and science concepts to explore by grade, check out the Next Generation Science Standards .

Now the fun part begins...designing and conducting experiments with your kids. The best way for children to learn the scientific method is to actually practice the scientific process!

Keep it simple and try out this cloud experiment with your kids. Or let them plan and design their own science experiment using this worksheet to record their process.

If you are looking to explore different variables, this apple browning experiment is a fun option. Or even try making a cloud in a jar together!

This worksheet keeps it simple. My goal was to make a basic template that will not overwhelm budding young scientists.

I did not include spaces for kids to record dependent variables, independent variable, and the control group.

However, if your kids are ready for that next step, they can write down the different variables in a science notebook.

On the top of the printable is room for your kids to write the question they want to explore. This usually is sparked by an observation.

For example, you may notice a new plant turning yellow in the window. Your kids may come up with a few questions based off of that observation:

• What causes a plant to turn yellow?
• Will over watering turn a plant's leaves yellow?
• Can under watering make the leaves yellow?
• If a plant needs nutrients will its leaves turn yellow?

Any one of these questions can be turned into a scientific inquiry. Have your kids write down their question in the space provided.

In the space to the right of the question is room two record some research. Books, online articles, and even asking other people what they know is considered research.

Encourage your kids to write a few short points they learned through their research in that space.

This step is often missing on scientific method worksheets, but I really feel that this step is important.

Even having a quick conversation with a young child will help them to build a better understanding about what they are going to explore in the experiment.

Making first hand connections to what you are learning about is the difference between simply going through the motions and understanding the scientific process.

In a true scientific inquiry, the hypothesis would be written as an "If...then..." statement. But again, we are keeping it simple here.

Give your kids time to make a prediction. What do they think will happen? They can even write down why they think that will happen.

Going back to the yellowing plant scenario, maybe they predict that giving a plant too much water will cause its leaves to turn yellow.

Perfect, have them write that down.

To see if their hypothesis is correct, your kids will carry out an experiment.

On the worksheet there is room to record the supplies they will need along with any safety tips they should follow.

These are both usually written in list form. Along with each supply, make sure they write how many of each item is needed.

Example: 4 potted plants

You can either come up with your own experiment or find one online or a book.

Here is where your kids will write down the steps for their experiment. This is a numbered list written in the correct order.

I like to think of this part as the directions for making a recipe. Make sure each step is specific and easy to understand.

It must be the science teacher in me, but I love data tables, graphs, and really any type of chart!

In this space your kids can draw illustrations with labels to show what happens during the experiment.

A chart or data table is a great way to organize the information your kids collect.

These are really helpful when collection numerical data such as temperature or time.

Rather than writing numbers haphazardly within the section, making a table keeps everything nice and organized.

Of course, numbers are only one type of data, your kids can make scientific drawings or sketches too!

Helpful Hint: decide what type of observations you are going to record before beginning the experiment.

The final step of the scientific method is to draw conclusions.

How did the data compare to your hypothesis? In other words, what are the results of the experiment?

Kids love sharing what they learned with others. On the sheet they can write down how the data supports or disproves their hypothesis.

Take it one step further and make a list of additional questions that can explored.

Kids can also make a presentation or verbally share their results with others.

If more than one child ran the same experiment it would be fun to compare data and results with each other!

You can make your own science fair even at home by setting up a table and displaying their work.

By giving them time to explain the process, they are deepening their understanding of the scientific process.

Who doesn't like coloring? This free scientific method coloring sheet is a fun way to reinforce the different steps of the process.

Each stage features a black and white image that your kids can color.

A great independent activity for your kids to do while learning about conducting experiments.

Make sure to download the PDF version of these worksheets at the bottom of the post.

Free printables are a great way to do science with your kids. Whether you are teaching a science class to a group of students or homeschooling one child.

Make sure to check out these additional posts:

• Phases of the Moon Activities
• Types of Clouds Printables and Activities
• Sunflower Exploration

New posts are added to the blog every week. Resources include Nature Inspired printables and hands-on activities to do with your kids ages pre-K through upper elementary.

Don't hesitate to leave a comment or send an email with any questions.

These printables were created by  Nature Inspired Learning  and are for  personal use only  in your home, classroom, or public library. All of these free scientific method worksheets are for  non-commercial use . See  full disclosure .

I would love to see what you create! Make sure to tag @natureinspiredleaning on Instagram or Facebook.

Did you know we have a whole collection of science activities? You can find all of our activities in one spot!

More Easy Science Experiments

Reader Interactions

Leonard King

August 19, 2022 at 9:38 am

This looks great! Looking forward to see how my students do with it. Thank you for the resource, Leonard

August 19, 2022 at 9:40 am

Your very welcome Leonard, I hope your lessons go well!

Cynthia Morgan

August 26, 2022 at 7:25 am

Looking forward to start having fun with my students.

Adair Solomon

September 08, 2022 at 2:53 pm

Thank you very much!

September 09, 2022 at 12:11 pm

Your Very welcome!

October 27, 2022 at 9:26 pm

This makes teaching this way more fun than how I was taught in school! Thank you!

October 29, 2022 at 9:04 am

You're very welcome Sera! Enjoy

May 17, 2023 at 4:33 am

Hello Julie!

Thank you so much for writing a post and creating a lesson pack for the scientific method. Big help for a homeschool mom like me 🙂

May 25, 2023 at 7:23 pm

Hi Arge! You're very welcome! I hope you and your kids enjoy learning about the scientific method together!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Why Do Apples Turn Brown? Science Experiment

We’re having apple fever around here this week!  But I’ve been hating how apples turn brown so quickly.  Maybe not as much as my picky 3 1/2-year-old, but annoyed just the same…  So we decided to test a bunch of those methods you see out there for keeping the apples looking fresh.  And why not turn experimentation into a lesson?  So we threw in some Scientific Method for kicks, too. Read on for a fun experiment for kids and what works best for keeping apple slices white.

This apple experiment is a great chance to teach the kiddos about the Scientific Method.  Why should you bother?  The method teaches kids and adults critical thinking and a framework in which to approach any problem, not just ones in science.  You can follow along with the experiment and the method below.  This is a great STEM activity you can do with ingredients right in your kitchen. With the kids home more these days, you’ll be glad you have this quick educational experiment you can pull out of your back pocket anytime!

Plus, to make it super easy for you, we pulled together a helpful lab worksheet, scientific method poster, and easy-to-follow (and print!) experiment instructions. Just fill out the form below and it will be emailed to you right away.

FREE! APPLE SCIENTIFIC METHOD EXPERIMENT AND PRINTABLE

Scientific Method Step 1:  Ask a Question

We hate it when apples turn brown.  For some reason, they just don’t seem as tasty as when you first bite into them.  So our question is:   What is the Best Way to Keep Apples From Turning Brown?

Scientific Method Step 2:  Do Research About Why Apples Turn Brown

I thought it would help the process to first learn what makes apples turn brown in the first place.  Essentially your apple is rusting in a process called oxidation.  Once the apple is cut or bruised, oxygen in the air combines with iron in the apple to form iron oxides.  Enzymes in the fruit (like polyphenol oxidase) make this process go faster.  The oxidation process is also what causes metals to rust.

You can reduce browning by slowing oxidation in three different ways.  1) Cook the apples 2) reduce the exposure to oxygen or 3) reduce the pH of the fruit.  Doing both by covering in an acidic liquid is the best way to keep apples from turning brown without cooking.

Scientific Method Step 3:  Form a Hypothesis

It’s time to formulate a hypothesis…  Before the experiment, ask the kids a couple of questions.  Their opinions will be their hypothesis.

• Which method do you think will work the best?
• Which one do you think will taste the best?

Scientific Method Step 4:  Design an Experiment

It seems like everyone has an idea of the best way to keep apples looking fresh!  We asked our friends for ideas (ummm, I mean I looked on Pinterest.)  Here’s what we tried…  Be sure to add a control that will show you how the apple turns brown with no treatment. A control is the part of the experiment that tests what an apple would do naturally, without treatment.

• Honey  (1 teaspoon honey mixed with 1 cup water)
• Lemon juice  (1 teaspoon juice mixed with 1 cup water)
• Salt  (1/2 teaspoon salt mixed with 1 cup water)
• Vitamin C (1 tablet crushed and dissolved in 1 cup of water)
• Lemon-lime soda
• Carbonated water (bubble water)
• Experiment Control (we used the apple core)

Now it’s time to try all of these ingredients.

• First set out 8 bowls big enough to cover the slice completely with the solution.  Label each bowl so you don’t mix up the solutions.
• Make each of the solutions in a separate cup.
• Cut one apple into 8 slices of approximately the same size.  If you use more than one apple, you’re adding variables to the experiment as some apples may brown at different rates than the others.
• Place an apple slice into each bowl.  You can use the core as the control.
• Immediately cover with each solution, one per bowl.

Scientific Method Step 5:  Record and Analyze Data

Now comes the waiting period.  We checked after 5 minutes and decided to wait another 5 minutes before pulling the apples out of the solution.  You can choose your own time period based upon how fast the apples are turning brown.  Then:

• Pour off the solution and inspect each apple for brown color.  Record levels.
• Taste apples and record impressions.

Our lab worksheet will make it super easy to record and analyze the data!

Scientific Method Step 6:  Draw a Conclusion

To help draw a conclusion from the experiment, ask the kids:

• Which one tastes the best?
• Which ones kept the apples the whitest?

You and the kiddos should test this for yourself, but here’s what we found in the experiment:

• Plain water doesn’t work.  Carbonated water is a touch better, but not that much.  Plus it gives a slightly bitter taste to the apples.
• Salt keeps the apples really white, but yuck! did not taste good.  Probably need to try this with less salt.
• Lemon juice works well too but also changes the flavor of the apples.  Good for fruit salad, maybe not for plain apple slices.
• Vitamin C works just ok, but definitely not well enough to be worth the hassle of crushing tablets.
• The lemon lime soda worked too, but they tasted like apples soaked in soda.  Duh, right?  Too candy-like and not really that healthy, so out.

So the winner is…HONEY!  The apples weren’t quite as white as with salt and lemon, but the taste was sooo yummy.  Like unadulterated apples, just deliciously sweet ones.

Even More Fall STEAM Fun for Kids!

Join us as we explore all things FALL with STEAM Explorers . Kids will love learning physics with football, doing a leaf color-changing experiment, snacking on apple chips, exploring the beauty of sunflowers, and more! You'll love the helpful standards-based learning, printables, and tools that make STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, & math) exploration easy!

32 thoughts on “Why Do Apples Turn Brown? Science Experiment”

Great experiment idea! It’s simple enough for little ones, and tasty too! Thank you for featuring me this week!!

Pingback: Scissor Practice Packet - Prek-1st Grade Cutting Activity Pages - Golden Reflections Blog

This is a great experiment. I know that apples turn brown based on oxidization.

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it.

Pingback: STEM for Preschoolers + Love to Learn Linky (#6) - Left Brain Craft Brain

I love your experiment and the look on your sweet girl’s face with the “HMMM.” And good to know – honey!!! We also tried lemon juice in the past but then my son wouldn’t eat them because like you said – flavor!!

Thanks Kristi! I had to put the hmmm… picture in. It’s one of my favorites :)

Pingback: Scissor Practice Packet Prek-1st Grade Cutting Activity Pages

Pingback: Goldfish crackers STEAM Activity Snacks - Left Brain Craft Brain

Pingback: Apple Learning Activities for Preschoolers + Linky - One Time ThroughOne Time Through

Great experiment!! I did this with my 4 year old. We though honey tasted amazing to the rest!!! Salt was our whitest…..but our tap water was actually whiter in comparison to most..makes me wonder what is in our tap water….hmmmm…another project on the horizon. :) Thanks again!

That definitely makes me curious about your water!! Thanks for stopping by :)

Pingback: Huge List Of Letter A Activities for Kids! - My Little Me

Pingback: Kisah Apple: Organik kah Apple Yang Kita Makan? - SMSM

Pingback: Fall Science Activities Fall STEM Challenges for Kids

Pingback: 40 Apple Activities for Kids to Experiment, Dissect & Eat!

Pingback: Letter of the Week A-Z Series: A is for Apple -

Pingback: Mad Scientist Ice Cream Lab - Left Brain Craft Brain

Pingback: Early Enrichment #28 Fall into Fall | Westside Excellence in Youth

Pingback: What's the Fastest Way to Bake a Potato? Baked Potato Science Fair Project - Left Brain Craft Brain

Pingback: The Coolest Science Fair Projects for Kids - Left Brain Craft Brain

Pingback: Apple Activities for Fall -

Pingback: Brilliant Fall STEM Activities that Kids Will Want to Repeat

Pingback: Hands-on Fall STEAM Activities for Kids - Left Brain Craft Brain

Pingback: The Best Apple Science Activities for Grades PreK-2 - WeAreTeachers

Pingback: Apple STEAM Activities for Kids – Scissors & Needles

Pingback: Exploring the Density of Orange Parts Using the Scientific Method - JDaniel4s Mom

Pingback: Fall Fun With Apples ~ Apple Activities for Preschoolers ~ Pint-Sized Cities

Pingback: A Collection of Apple Learning Activities - Only Passionate Curiosity

Pingback: 50+ Autumn Activities for Toddlers - Days With Grey

Pingback: 45+ Fun Fall Food Activities for Toddlers and Kids - Lauren Sharifi Nutrition

Comments are closed.

Optional Promo Message

The Apple Mystery: A Fun Oxidation Experiment for Kids

Have you ever wondered why apples turn brown after you slice them? With this fun experiment, you can become a detective and crack the case!  

Materials: 

• Sharp knife (with adult supervision)  
• Cutting board  
• 5 small bowls or containers  
• Lemon juice  
• Salt water (mix 1 teaspoon of salt with 1 cup of water)  
• Baking soda water (mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 cup of water)  
• Pen and paper  

Let’s Experiment! 

• Prepare your apple slices: Wash and dry the apple. Cut it in half and then into thin slices. Try to make the slices as even as possible.  
• Label your bowls: Write the names of each liquid on separate pieces of paper and attach them to the bowls. You should have bowls labeled “lemon juice,” “vinegar,” “salt water,” “baking soda water,” and “water” (this is your control group).  
• Dip and observe: Place one apple slice in each bowl. Make sure the slices are completely submerged in the liquids.  
• Wait and watch: Set a timer for 30 minutes and observe the apple slices. Do they all start to brown at the same rate? The scientific term for the browning process is oxidation. Are some liquids more effective at preventing browning than others?  
• Record your results: After 30 minutes, take out the apple slices and compare them. How brown are they? Write down your observations in a chart or table.  
• Analyze the results: Which liquid did the best job of preventing browning? Which liquid had the least effect? Can you explain why?  

Explanation: 

When the apple flesh is exposed to air, the enzymes in the apple react with oxygen in the air, causing the browning. Lemon juice, vinegar, and salt water are acidic, which slows down the enzyme activity/ oxidation. Baking soda water is alkaline, which can speed up the browning process.  

Bonus challenge: Try the experiment with different types of apples and see if the results are the same. You can also try different liquids, like soda or honey water, to see how they affect browning.

Be the First to Know

Sign up to receive exclusive content and offers from Blue Marble.

• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• National Geographic

Learning Galaxy

• Food for thought
• Activity Lab
• Product Zone
• Parenting Hacks

© 2023 Blue Marble ™ 

Apple Oxidation Experiment

Introduction: Apple Oxidation Experiment

In case the video does not load, in order to watch paste the following link into your web browser: https://youtu.be/ldLxmkIWWZs

Step 1: Problem or Purpose

A problem that many people are facing is that their apples are browning quickly once they slice them into different slices and our experiment will conclude the best drink that keeps your apple slices fresh for the longest period.

What is the effect of different drinks on a slice of an apple?

Step 2: Hypothesis

If we add a slice of an apple in different drinks, the time taken for this slice to change color into brown will be different, because apples react differently with different types of drinks whether it was an acidic drink or a basic drink.

Step 3: Variables

Independent: the drinks we will add the apple slices into

Dependent: time taken for the slice to turn brown

Controlled: The freshness of each apple before we start the experiment, the type of apple (red apple), the temperature of the drinks and apples, amount of time to check on the apple slices.

Step 4: Background Research

What causes the apple to start bruising or turn brown is when it is exposed to oxygen, like when it is cut into slices, which causes apple oxidation. Some of the different materials and fluids used to prevent the browning of an apple are lemon juice, water, vinegar, and many more acidic drinks.

Step 5: Materials

1.4 containers

2.Diet 7up, Lemon juice, Low-fat Milk, Coke (1/4 cup each)

3.4 slices of apples

4.Camera/phone

6.Knife to cut apple

7.Measuring cup

Step 6: Procedure

1.Measure the drinks and pour about ¼ of the drinks into each container

2.Slice the apple

3.Place each slice of the apple into the container filled with the drink

4.Set a timer for 2 hours

5.Take notes of the apple with a picture of the slice every 30 minutes

6.After 2 hours have passed, take notes of the apple slice

7.Taste the apple slice to see which one changed the most taste and smell-wise.

8.Fill in the table with the left information and results

Step 7: Data

Step 8: Data 2

Step 9: Graph

Step 10: Data Analysis

From our experiment, we found out that different drinks will cause each apple slice to take a different amount of time to rot, and change color.

After 30 minutes, the apple slice in the diet 7up started turning a bit yellow (Brown Intensity: 20%), tastes like sweet lemon, smells like an apple with a bit of lemon. The apple slice in the lemon juice still looks the same (a white pale color) (Brown Intensity: 10%), tastes like a normal apple, smells like a normal apple. The apple slice in the milk was completely pale white (Brown Intensity: 10%), It tasted like an apple and there was no taste or smell of milk. The apple in the coke started turning brown (Brown Intensity: 30%), it did not taste like an apple but a strong flavor of coke, it smelled like coke and you can hardly smell the apple.

After 60 minutes, the apple slice in the diet 7up became a little more beige looking, (Brown Intensity: 40%), tastes like sweet lemon with a bit of fizz coming from the carbonated soft drink, smells more like a sweet lemon. The apple slice in the lemon juice has barely turned yellow (Brown Intensity: 20%), smells a little bit like lemon, has a hint of sourness. The apple slice in the milk was still completely white (Brown Intensity: 10%), tasted a bit like milk but mostly like an apple, you can hardly smell the milk. For the apple in the coke, it started turning brown (Brown Intensity: 50%), the apple took the taste of the coke and the taste got stronger, it started to smell like coke.

After 90 minutes, the apple slice in the diet 7up started turning a little brown (Brown Intensity: 43%), tastes very soft, also like lemonade with apple, smells a little like 7up and lemons. The apple slice in the lemon juice has started turning yellow (Brown Intensity: 35%), tastes very sour and lemony, smells a lot more like a lemon. The apple in the milk, was still white (Brown Intensity: 10%), the slice slightly tasted like milk but more like apples, it smelled like a bit of milk with apple juice. The apple in the coke’s color was dark from the amount of coke it absorbed (Brown Intensity: 70%), the taste of the coke is extremely clear and you can barely taste the apple, it smelled like coke and a rotten apple.

After 120 minutes, the apple slice in the diet 7up is a light brown (Brown Intensity: 45%), the apple slice is very soft and sweet and took the taste of the diet 7up, smells a lot like 7up and lemons. The apple slice in the lemon juice apple is still the same shade of yellow and has not darkened much (Brown Intensity: 40%), tastes a lot sourer, smells like lemons or lemon juice. The apple slice in the milk’s color was white and did not change at all (Brown Intensity: 10%), it tasted just like an apple with a little stronger taste of milk, it smelled like an apple mixed with milk.

Step 11: Data Analyisis 2

A few mistakes someone can make while conducting this experiment are: using a rotten apple while starting this experiment, using a different colored apple for every drink (when the controlled variable is using the same type of apple), placing the apple and its drink in different weather climates, not putting enough of the drink so it can cover the apple to be able to see some results, etc.

A few ways I can make my experiment better: use apples grown in different locations and places, use red and green apples to see the difference between them, keeping the apple slice in the drink in the fridge or at a hotter temperature to see the difference, etc.

1. This experiment is a solution to a big problem many people face, which is having their apples rot quickly.

2. This experiment was a successful experiment since we ended up with suitable results that can help others.

3. This experiment was done in real life and not digitally so we are sure that the results we ended up with are realistic and true.

Weaknesses:

1. A weakness is that the apples may have shown results if we kept them in the drinks for a longer amount of time.

2. The results may not be as accurate, because there are two different experiments placed in different cities, there is a chance that the weather and climate have an effect on the results of each experiment.

3. Putting an apple slice in a liquid may not be the best solution to keep your apples the freshest since it may not be suitable for kids in school or people transporting from a place to another, since they may not have all the materials and supplies needed.

Step 12: Conclusion

In our experiment, we tested the effect of different drinks on the rotting of an apple. Our hypothesis was correct since the apples were differently affected by the drink, they were put in. Our variables were: Independent, the type of drink, Dependent: the freshness of an apple. Controlled: the type of apple (red apple), the freshness of the apple when we began the experiment, the temperature of the experiment (room temperature). In conclusion, the lemon and the milk did the best job in this case, however, the apple slice that was put in the lemon eventually tasted and smelled only like a lemon. Therefore, milk is our suggested drink for people to use in order to keep the apples fresh since it made the apple stay the freshest and smelled and tasted more like an apple whereas the apple slices in the other drinks took the taste of the drinks and rotted quicker. In addition, milk will preserve the apple from getting brown because it's a basic liquid.

Step 13: Application

Our experiment is important because there are many people who enjoy only a piece of their apple but do not want to complete the whole thing. But the only problem is that when oxygen meets the apple, the apple starts to brown. And we were curious to find a way to avoid this from happening. So, we conducted an experiment, to find out which drink does the best job to keep the apple slice the freshest. Yes, this experiment can be applied with practice to do it correctly without making any mistakes in order to keep your apple slices fresh. After this experiment, we learned that milk and acidic drinks are the best drinks to keep your apple from browning. In addition, milk is the least drink that the apple took the drinks taste and smell.

Step 14: Evaluation

• Dima: during this project, I have represented a few of the ATL skills. Some are; researching skills, communication skills, thinking skills, self-management skills. I have shown research skills because once we started using different applications such as Instructables, I researched and learned how to properly use it to make sure I submit my assignments properly, as well as, at the beginning of the project we were asked to research our problem, and there I have collected a lot of information online. I have shown communication skills , because, throughout my work in a group, I made sure to stay in contact with my group members to see if I should help them with anything, also to get to know their ideas and opinions about what we are doing. I have also shown thinking skills because in the science fair I thought creatively about unique and different ways to complete my tasks. In addition, when I faced a problem I made sure to think about how I am going to solve it. Lastly, I have shown self-management skills since I submit all my tasks on time and I complete them correctly and the way I was asked to. I depended on myself and I was responsible throughout this project.

Allya: research skills, I feel like we used research skills because we researched about our experiment at the beginning to know what the experiment is about. Social skills, I feel like we used social skills because I and my teammates were communicating together during school hours and after school. Self-management, there was some work that I had to do individually so I depended on myself and I did the work myself me and my group collaborated together. Thinking skills, my group and I thought creatively while making the experiment during the hypothesis and the rest of the steps.

Sadeem: Social skills, I used my social skills to communicate with my group members. Self Management Skills, I used my time wisely and tried to stay free in case the group members needed me. Thinking skills, I used thinking skills to find some solutions to our problems and to find answers to my questions. Research skills, I researched why lemon juice made the apple turn out how it is, and in the background research step, I also used my researching skills in order to find answers to my questions.

Step 15: Resources

Source #1: How to keep apples from Browning? Here are 6 tricks we love. (2020, June 12). Retrieved from https://www.purewow.com/food/how-to-keep-apples-f...

Source #2: Why do apples turn brown? (2021, January 22). Retrieved from https://miniyummers.com/why-do-apples-turn-brown/...

Source #3: Prakash, S. (2019, September 24). The easiest ways to keep your apples from Browning. Retrieved from https://miniyummers.com/why-do-apples-turn-brown/...

Recommendations

Text Contest

Colors of the Rainbow Contest

Water Contest

Effect of Acids and Bases on the Browning of Apples

Everything You Need for This Simple Experiment

Vesna Jovanovic/ EyeEm/Getty Images

• Projects & Experiments
• Chemical Laws
• Periodic Table
• Scientific Method
• Biochemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Medical Chemistry
• Chemistry In Everyday Life
• Famous Chemists
• Activities for Kids
• Abbreviations & Acronyms
• Weather & Climate
• Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
• B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College

Apples and other fruit will turn brown when they are cut and the enzyme contained in the fruit (tyrosinase) and other substances (iron-containing phenols) are exposed to oxygen in the air.

The purpose of this  chemistry laboratory exercise is to observe the effects of  acids and bases  on the rate of browning of apples when they are cut and the enzymes inside them are exposed to oxygen.

A possible hypothesis for this experiment would be:

Acidity (pH) of a surface treatment does not ​affect the rate of the enzymatic browning reaction of cut apples.

Gather Materials

The following materials are needed for this exercise:

• Five slices of apple (or pear, banana, potato, or peach)
• Five plastic cups (or other clear containers)
• Vinegar (or dilute acetic acid )
• Lemon juice
• Solution of baking soda ( sodium bicarbonate ) and water (you want to dissolve the baking soda. Make the solution by adding water to your baking soda until it dissolves.)
• Solution of milk of magnesia and water (ratio isn't particularly important - you could make a mixture of one part water one part milk of magnesia. You just want the milk of magnesia to flow more readily.)
• Graduated cylinder (or measuring cups)

Procedure - Day One

• Lemon Juice
• Baking Soda Solution
• Milk of Magnesia Solution
• Add a slice of apple to each cup.
• Pour 50 ml or 1/4 cup of a substance over the apple in its labeled cup. You may want to swirl the liquid around the cup to make sure the apple slice is completely coated.
• Make note of the appearance of the apple slices immediately following treatment.
• Set aside the apple slices for a day.

Procedure and Data - Day Two

• Observe the apple slices and record your observations. It may be helpful to make a table listing the apple slice treatment in one column and the appearance of the apples in the other column. Record whatever you observe, such as the extent of browning (e.g., white, lightly brown, very brown, pink), the texture of the apple (dry? slimy?), and any other characteristics (smooth, wrinkled, odor, etc.)
• If you can, you may want to take a photograph of your apple slices to support your observations and for future reference.
• You may dispose of your apples and cups once you have recorded the data.

What does your data mean? Do all of your apple slices look the same? Are some different from others?

If the slices look the same, this would indicate that the acidity of the treatment had no effect on the enzymatic browning reaction in the apples. On the other hand, if the apple slices look different from each other, this would indicate something in the coatings affected the reaction.

First, determine whether or not the chemicals in the coatings were capable of affecting the browning reaction .

Even if the reaction was affected, this does not necessarily mean the acidity of the coatings influenced the reaction. For example, if the lemon juice-treated apple was white and the vinegar-treated apple was brown (both treatments are acids), this would be a clue that something more than acidity affected browning.

However, if the acid-treated apples (vinegar, lemon juice) were more/less brown than the neutral apple (water) and/or the base-treated apples (baking soda, milk of magnesia), then your results may indicate acidity affected the browning reaction.

Conclusions

You want your hypothesis to be a null hypothesis or no-difference hypothesis because it is easier to test whether or not a treatment has an effect than it is to try to assess what that effect is.

Was the hypothesis supported or not? If the rate of browning was not the same for the apples and the rate of browning was different for the acid-treated apples compared with the base-treated apples, then this would indicate that the pH ( acidity, basicity ) of the treatment did affect the rate of the enzymatic browning reaction. In this case, the hypothesis is not supported.

If an effect was observed (results), draw a conclusion about the type of chemical (acid? base?) capable of inactivating the enzymatic reaction.

Additional Questions

Here are some additional questions you may wish to answer upon completing this exercise:

• Based on your results, what substances in each apple treatment affected the enzyme activity responsible for the browning of the apples? Which substances did not appear to affect the enzyme activity ?
• Vinegar and lemon juice contain acids. Baking soda and milk of magnesia are bases. Water is neutral, neither an acid nor a base. From these results, can you conclude whether acids, pH neutral substances, and/or bases were able to reduce the activity of this enzyme (tyrosinase)? Can you think of a reason why some chemicals affected the enzyme while others didn't?
• Enzymes speed the rate of chemical reactions. However, the reaction may still be able to proceed without the enzyme, just more slowly. Design an experiment to determine whether or not the apples in which the enzymes have been inactivated will still turn brown within 24 hours.
• Examples of Chemical Reactions in Everyday Life
• Why Do Apple Slices Turn Brown?
• Acid-Base Chemical Reaction
• Learn the pH of Common Chemicals
• How to Make Buttermilk
• Do You Know If Milk Is an Acid or a Base?
• How to Neutralize a Base With an Acid
• How to Make Non-Toxic Glue From Milk
• How to Make a Red Cabbage pH Indicator
• Fruit Ripening and Ethylene Experiment
• Acid & Base Science Fair Project Ideas
• What Is the Acidity or pH of Milk?
• 10 Facts About Acids and Bases
• Catalysts Definition and How They Work
• How to Make a Baking Soda Volcano
• Acids and Bases Lesson Plan

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

DO YOU WANT TO RAISE EXTRAORDINARY KIDS?

How kids think, learn and thrive

The Best Way to Keep Apples from Browning: Amazing Apple Science

August 24, 2023 By Eva 1 Comment

Inside: This fun and educational activity allows kids to explore different methods to keep apples from turning brown. Scroll down to science printables, how-to video, and step-by-step instructions.

You already know that when you slice into an apple and leave it out for a while, it starts to turn brown.

But do you know why it happens?

Well, the process that causes apples to turn brown is known as oxidation . 

Oxidation occurs when oxygen from the air comes into contact with the enzymes and compounds present in the apple. This interaction leads to a chemical reaction that causes the apple to change color. In other words, it’s a natural process that happens when the apple’s flesh is exposed to the air. 

If you are thinking, oh boy, it sounds as if I could use apples to explore basic chemistry with my kids! You are totally right!

We love learning with simple kitchen science experiments! And today, we are going to explore 3 methods to keep apple slices from browning. Do you want to join us?

Apple Science Activity

Does lemon juice work to stop apple browning? Would an airtight container slow down this unpopular chemical reaction? What’s the best method to keep apples looking fresh longer? We came up with three different theories to test, threw in a control group for comparison, and added a few printables to record our predictions and observations.

A fancy-schmancy science experiment right in our kitchen. No expensive science kits are required.

Let’s find out what happens! (I can’t resist mentioning that one method was even better than lemon juice in keeping apples from browning…. do you know what it is?)

What you need

Airtight container

Rubber band

Additional supplies

Lemon squeezer

1. Slice Apples

Slice an apple or two (depending on how many kids you have participating in this activity). Have your kids take note of the appearance of the apple slices because, in a little while, we will be looking at them with an eye for changes.

2. Juice the lemon

I used a lemon squeezer today, but you can easily get the juice out just by pressing a fork into the center while squeezing the lemon with your fingers. If you want to see what I mean, check the video in my Color-Changing Lemonade post.

3. Lemon Juice Sample

Dip apple slices into the lemon juice and place them on a plate. Make sure that the juice spreads out all over the apple slices.

4. Airtight Container Sample

Place a few slices in an airtight container. I’m using my lovely air pod that twists shut to keep the air out.

5. Rubber Band Sample

Cut your apple in half through the core, then cut each half in half to end up with four quarters. Put the quarters back together to form one piece and put a rubber band around it.

6. Add a control group and wait for a few hours.

Ask kids if they think one of the methods would be more effective in slowing/preventing browning than others, and have them explain their predictions. 

You can download and print our science worksheets to write down steps and hypotheses.

7. Time to analyze the results!

Observe any changes in the appearance of apple slices after a few hours.

What do you think?

Take pictures if you want. Compare the slices to each other: Which slice is the brownest? Which slice is the least brown?

My kids were pleasantly surprised to find out that an airtight container can do such a good job of keeping apples from browning. In fact, we thought it was the best method in keeping apples fresh!

But let’s talk science!

The Science Behind the Experiment

One particular compound in apples called polyphenol oxidase (PPO) plays a key role in the browning process. When an apple is cut (or bruised), the cell walls break open, releasing PPO. This enzyme reacts with oxygen to form melanin , a pigment responsible for the brown color.

Interestingly, not all apple varieties turn brown at the same rate. Some apples, such as Granny Smiths, tend to brown more slowly compared to others. This difference in browning speed is due to variations in the levels of PPO and other enzymes present in different apple varieties.

Do lemons really have a magical power to prevent apples from turning brown? 

Well, lemon juice contains a molecule called ascorbic acid , also known as vitamin C. This acid acts as an antioxidant, which means it helps inhibit the oxidation process. When you apply lemon juice to apple slices, the ascorbic acid creates a barrier between the apple’s flesh and the oxygen, slowing down the browning reaction.

As you have noticed, lemon juice is not the only thing that can keep apples from browning. Reducing oxygen exposure, as we did with sample #2 above, by placing apple slices into an airtight container did a wonderful job of keeping apples fresh. Perhaps even better than lemon juice!? What do you think?

So, what about the rubber band sample?

As you can see, the apple faired better than the control slices but not as well as the lemon and airtight samples. What did it teach us? In the absence of lemon juice and airtight containers, we could quarter an apple and put a rubber band around it to keep it fresh a little bit longer.

Do you want to turn this activity into a proper science experiment and practice all the steps of the scientific method? Download the sheets above!

• The Ultimate Guide to Apple Activities
• What Preserves Plants Better? Flower Science Experiment
• Exciting Ten Apples Up On Top STEM Challenge
• Apple Sorbet You Can Make With Your Kids

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

[…] 6. Apple Oxidation […]

Follow us on Pinterest

Let’s Connect

Search this site.

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

100 Last-Day-of-School Activities Your Students Will Love!

What Are the Scientific Method Steps?

Explore with a well-organized and curious approach.

The scientific method not only teaches students how to conduct experiments, but it also enables them to think critically about processes that extend beyond science and into all aspects of their academic lives. Just like detectives, scientists, and explorers, students can use this scientific method structured-steps approach to explore, question, and discover. 

What is the scientific method?

What are the steps of the scientific method, how does the scientific method encourage critical thinking, how are the scientific method steps used in the classroom.

• Free printable scientific method steps worksheet
• Free printable scientific method steps posters

The scientific method is like a structured adventure for exploring the world that encourages discovery by finding answers and solving puzzles. With the scientific method steps, students get to ask questions, observe, make educated guesses (called hypotheses), run experiments, collect and organize data, draw sensible conclusions, and share what they’ve learned. Students can explore the natural world with a well-organized and curious approach. 

The scientific method steps can vary by name, but the process as a whole is the same across grade levels. There are as many as seven steps, but sometimes they are combined. Below are six steps that make the process accessible to younger learners.

1. Question

Encourage students to ask why, what, when, where, or how about a particular phenomenon or topic. Get them wondering about something that they find interesting or have a passion for. 

2. Research

Teach them to use their senses to gather information and make notes—for example, what are they seeing, hearing, etc.

3. Hypothesize

Based on observations, students will then make a hypothesis, which is an educated guess—it’s what they think will happen in an experiment. 

4. Experiment

To test their hypothesis, students can conduct an investigation or experiment and collect data. Data collection can involve charts, graphs, and observations.

Students can then look at the results of their experiment and interpret what that means in the grand scheme of their original question. From the data collected, students can then apply the new knowledge to their original question. 

Just like real scientists, students can communicate their findings with their classmates in a presentation, lab write-up, and many other ways. 

Be sure to check out our free printable scientific method posters and free scientific method steps printable .

The scientific method fosters critical thinking in students by promoting curiosity, observation, hypothesis formation, problem-solving, data analysis, logical reasoning, and effective communication. This structured approach equips students with vital skills for science and everyday life, while also promoting open-mindedness, adaptability, and reflective thinking, enhancing their critical thinking abilities across various situations.

The scientific method isn’t just about experiments, it’s a valuable tool that helps students become critical thinkers in all areas of their studies. From forming hypotheses to conducting experiments and sharing findings, it equips them with important skills. Plus, it encourages open-mindedness and adaptability. By using the scientific method, students start a lifelong adventure of learning and solving problems.

Even students as young as kindergarten can begin learning and exploring the scientific method steps. Plus, the scientific method is used all the way through high school and beyond, so it’s not a one-and-done skill. If you’re looking for hands-on ways for students to practice the scientific method, we compiled science experiments, labs, and demonstrations for elementary through middle school teachers to share with their students:

• Kindergarten Experiments and Projects
• 1st Grade Experiments and Projects
• 2nd Grade Experiments and Projects
• 3rd Grade Experiments and Projects
• 4th Grade Experiments and Projects
• 5th Grade Experiments and Projects
• 6th Grade Experiments and Projects
• 7th Grade Experiments and Projects
• 8th Grade Experiments and Projects
• High School Experiments and Projects

Free Printable Scientific Method Worksheet

This worksheet includes space for students to fill in every step of the scientific inquiry process along with prompts to ensure they stay on track. 

Free Printable Scientific Method Posters

Looking for a visual aid to help your students remember the steps to the scientific method? Get our free printable scientific method posters.

You Might Also Like

Grab Your Free Scientific Method Worksheet Printable

Supercharge scientific inquiry. Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Apple Experiment for Special Education | Why do apples turn brown?

What educators are saying

Also included in.

Description

This Apple Experiment is a perfect addition to any Apple Theme or Unit. Students will have fun following the Scientific Method and recording observations while exploring apple browning. This resource provides some background information about why apples turn brown, a picture-supported science experiment using the Scientific Method, and a differentiated observation booklet.

This Apple Experiment is part of my Science Experiments for Special Ed BUNDLE! Check it out before you purchase!

Duration: 1 ½ - 2 hours with breaks in between observations. A 4th observation page is included for an optional “end of the day” observation if you complete the experiment in the morning and would like to let the apples brown all day.

What you need:

Apple, 4 plates, knife, milk, water, lemon juice

This Resource Includes :

•Picture-Supported Direction Packet (Scientific Method)

•Apple Observation Booklet (3 Versions of differentiation)

Version 1 – Observe and color.

Version 2 – Observe and circle.

Version 3 – Observe and write.

•Apple Labels and Time Labels

Other Special Ed resources to check out:

"How To" Differentiated Writing BUNDLE

Simple Recipe and Sequencing BUNDLE

Comprehension for Special Ed

Five Senses BUNDLE

Differentiated Writing Flap Page Activities

Follow my store for new resources, sales, and freebies! All new resources are 20% off the first 2 days!

Questions & Answers

Miss ashlee's class.

• We're hiring
• Help & FAQ
• Privacy policy
• Student privacy
• Terms of service
• Tell us what you think