Materials Needed:

  • Cutting Board
  • Apple Slicer
  • Serving Dish

Presentation:

  1. Bring materials to the table.
  2. Invite the child to put on the apron (the teacher puts on their own apron).
  3. Spread out the placemat and place the cutting board in the center.
  4. Position the apple slicer and knife to one side of the cutting board; place the serving dish on the opposite side.
  5. Set the tray aside.
  6. Retrieve an apple and position it in the center of the cutting board.
  7. Demonstrate centering the apple slicer with the stem in the middle, making a brief comment such as, “I see the stem in the circle.”
  8. Grasp the apple slicer firmly by both handles and demonstrate pressing directly downward from above while standing.
  9. Move the apple slicer, with the sliced apple still inside, to the side of the cutting board.
  10. Select one slice and place it on the board. Grasp the knife with one hand and steady the apple slice with the thumb and forefinger of the other hand (pincer grasp).
  11. Cut the slice into bite-sized pieces. Place these pieces on the serving dish. Repeat the process for the remaining slices. Dispose of the core.

After the Apple is Cut:

  • Once all slices have been chopped and placed on the serving dish, demonstrate offering apple pieces to others in the room with a polite, “Would you care for some apple?”
  • Show the process of washing and putting away all materials.

Points of Interest:

  • Observe if the child centers the apple slicer correctly.
  • Check if the child firmly grasps the apple slicer by the handles.
  • Assess if the child applies enough downward pressure to cut through the apple and keeps their fingers safely around the handles and away from the blades.
  • Ensure the child keeps their fingers safely away from the knife blade when chopping the slices into smaller pieces.

Note: The cutting board should be placed directly on top of a non-slip placemat. Some tray surfaces are slick, and using the cutting board on top of the tray may cause the board and apple cutter to slip away from the child.