Ask an Expert!

We have still been wondering about more reasons why apples are red.  We got to ask an expert about our Wonder of the Week!  Sawyer's mom was able to come in and help us with our wonder.  She is an Agriculture Agent for UW-Extension in Shawano County.

She brought in lots of different kinds of seeds with her for us to observe.

We loved looking closely at all the different kinds of seeds.

Room 408 also drew diagrams to help us observe and remember what we noticed about the different seeds.

We discussed what we noticed about the seeds and how the properties they have show the different ways that seeds can travel in order to make more plants.

Seeds can travel by wind. 

Seeds can travel by sticking to animal fur.

Seeds can be eaten or buried by animals.

Seeds can also have explosions.

We saw a seed pod explode.  Cool!

We thought deeply about animals, red apples, seeds, and how they spread to make more plants.

Finally she shared with us some information about the chemicals in plants that help make them specific colors.

Plants that are red and blue have the chemical anthocyanin in them.  Chlorophyll is in plants that are green.  Carotenoids are in plants that are orange and yellow.

So we learned more about why apples are red:
Apple seeds can be spread by apples that fall on the ground and rot, and also by animals that can easily see the brightly colored red apples in green trees or in the green grass and then eat them.  The apple seeds pass through the animal's body and are left somewhere to grow into more red apples.
Red apples also have the chemical Anthocyanin in them.

What a great morning full of learning.  Thank you for helping us with our wonder, Ms. Jamie!