09/01/2026
🍎 Our ARISE Virtual Academy Elementary students had an “apple-solutely” wonderful time at the first Elementary Lab Day of the school year!
Today’s learning was all about apples! Students tasted different varieties, made predictions, selected their favorites, tallied the votes, and graphed the results. They also learned some surprising apple facts—including that there are more than 7,500 varieties of apples grown around the world, apples float because about 25% of their volume is air, and the Guinness World Record holder for the heaviest apple weighed 4 pounds, 1 ounce! 🍏
After reading Ten Apples Up on Top! by Dr. Seuss, students were challenged to see how many “apples” they could balance while racing a classmate. It was a fun way to bring the story to life while practicing balance, coordination, and good sportsmanship! 📚🍎
The fun continued with music activities led by our Innovation Specialist, Mr. Riley. Students also had the special opportunity to participate in an in-person art lesson with Mrs. Bezat, where they used paint and beads to create beautiful stained-glass apple wind chimes! 🎶🎨
Lab Days are an important part of the ARISE experience. These opportunities allow our virtual learners to connect in person, build friendships, practice cooperation and communication, and strengthen the social-emotional skills that are essential for learners of every age. We also included a virtual portion of the day so students who were unable to attend in person still had an opportunity to connect, participate, and share in the fun!
The day was filled with hands-on learning, laughter, creativity, skill-building, and new experiences. What a fantastic way to begin our Elementary Lab Days for the year!
Take a look at some of the fun we captured throughout the day! 📸🍎
