It's apple picking time! Fields upon fields of apple trees are beckoning you to pick these delicious, red, green, and yellow beauties from their branches. If you have a farm nearby, it's definitely your perfect chance to taste fall's natural treasures!
Thankfully, I live fairly close to a beautiful farm in Sturtevant, Wisconsin called Apple Holler. It has a great restaurant with traditional American food such as burgers, ribs, and fried chicken. Oh my God, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. The food is absolutely delicious. I have never picked apples or pumpkins at this farm, but they have been named one of the "10 Best Orchards" by USA today in 2015, so they must be excellent.
I have to say the setting is gorgeous. It is literally in the middle of nowhere. The land is untouched and fabulously rural. It reminds me of a Thomas Kincade painting of true Americana. A time when life was harder, but simpler at the same time.
They offer hayrides for families and have an adorable country store! If you're ever in the Wisconin area you should definitely stop by! You will not be disappointed.
If you can't travel to your local orchard, you can get in the "apple picking spirit" by creating a few of these adorable apple crafts I found!
Creating crafts with students is a wonderful way to spark creativity, encourage critical thinking and fine motor skills, and improve color identification and recognition.
Take a look at the crafts below to start creating! Click on links below each picture for directions.
Easy Apple Craft (Paging Supermom)
Aren't these crafts so cute. I've done somewhat similar crafts to these with my preschoolers too! It's amazing how few craft supplies are truly needed for these projects. They are really simple and easy to make with just a little preparation and time.
Okay, I hope you enjoyed the crafts I found, but what about other possible activities that the children can explore in the classroom? Don't worry, I got you covered with the following ideas and my newest Preschool Apple Pack I'm selling on my TpT store!
Science Center and Science Activities
Cut an apple open and let the children observe the inside of the apple. Place lemon water on the flesh so that the apple doesn't brown as quickly. Provide plastic spoons so the children can scoop out the seeds, too.
Find and make a simple applesauce recipe.
Compare two types of apples and record there differences using a graph or better yet, a venn diagram.
Taste test different types of apples. (Check for allergies first)
Math Center
Count apple seeds. Cut out a red apple from red construction paper and apple seeds from brown construction paper. Laminate all of the pieces and cut them out of the lamination. Have students count seeds using number cards that can be created using index cards at the math center.
Apple patterning
Cut several apples from scrapbook paper and have students create AB, ABBA, and ABC patterns.
Dramatic Play Center
Apple Picking
Provide plastic bushel baskets, fake apples, paper bags for apple picking and buying apples, a cash register, and play money.
Bakery
Writing Center
Apple words
Create a list of apple-themed words that your children can trace. Words such as bushel, tree, cider, pick, etc.
Tracing apple trees
Create several apple tree shapes that your children can decorate and trace.
Art Center
Apple prints
Cut apples in half and let your children dip them into yellow, green and yellow paint. They then press the apples onto easel paper.
Apple rubbings
Cut apple shapes from cardboard and have children place a piece of paper on top of the shape. Tell the children to rub a crayon over the cardboard apple shape to make a rubbing.
Apple hats
Make a headband out of long construction paper. Have children cut out apple shapes and glue to the headband. Staple the headband around the child's head with a stapler.
Books
The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall
Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington
Ten Apples on Top by Dr. Seuss
Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray
You can also purchase my Preschool Apple Unit at TpT for more fun, easy-to-prepare apple centers and activities. Students can sort apples by size, play a color match file folder game, investigate non-standard forms of measurement by measuring foods made from apples using apples and much more!
This unit includes:
Things That Start with “A” Tree Mat
Things That Start with “A” Apple
Cards
Apple Sizing
Measuring With Apples
Apple Objects to Measure such as an
Apple Juice Box
How Many Apples are in the Basket?
Math Mat
Math Mat Numbers with +, -, and =
Signs
Apple Pieces to Count, Add, or
Subtract
Apple Color Matching
How to Make an Apple Pie Sequencing
Activity
You'll be the "apple of your students' eyes" with these fun and educational activities!
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