This is a popular theme for the beginning of the year, because some classes go to orchards and pumpkin farms. It's a great opportunity for children to see where the produce is grown and it also ties into the harvest theme.
Art Activities
Books
Songs/Fingerplays
Center/Misc Ideas
Apple Trees
Use a bigger hole punch to punch out red, yellow and green apples and let the children glue them on to a bare tree pattern.
or
Use the eraser end of a pencil dipped in paint to paint apples on a tree pattern.
or
Use an apple stamp to stamp apples on a tree pattern.
A Day At The Apple Orchard
HIGH UP IN THE APPLE TREE
High up in the apple tree,
Two little apples smiled at me.
I shook that tree as hard as I could,
And down came the apples.
Mmmmmmm were they good.
Water comes from rain.
And every drop that's wasted,
Is water down the drain!
Sorting Apples By Color
Have either paper apples or real apples to sort by their respective colors.
Apple Prints
Paint with apples cut in half in both directions. Point out the seeds and the star in the middle of some. If you lay a dry towel under the paper, the apple print will be clearer.
The Apple Pie Tree
JOHNNY APPLESEED
Tune: Itsy Bitsy Spider
Oh, the Lord/world is good to me,
And so I thank the Lord/world,
For giving me the things I need,
The sun, the rain, the apple seed,
The Lord/world is good to me,
Observe Apples Cut in Half
Cut apples in half with some cut horizontally and others vertically. Let the children find the seeds and star pattern. Expand on that by talking about how apples grow from seeds.
Small Paper Plate Apples
Paint small paper plates all the different colors of an apple. Attach a stem and leaf
Apples
APPLE IN THE TREE
Tune: Robin In The Rain
Apple in the tree, may be red or yellow.
Apple in the tree, what a saucy fellow.
Hanging from a branch oh so h-i-g-h!
Falling in my basket for an apple pie.
Apple in the tree. (Chant) You are good for me!
Play Dough
Make round apples with different colored playdough..
Apples In The Discovery Table
Let children play with differnt varieties of apples in the discovery table.
Apple Cookie Cutter Prints
Use apple shaped cookie cutters dipped in paint to make apple prints. You can also cut a paper basket to put on top of the apples if you'd like.
Apple Sponge Painting
Cut a sponge in the shape of an apple to paint apples on top of a head pattern.
Apples And Pumpkins
10 Apples Up On Top
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN AN APPLE
Tune: Have You Ever Seen A Lassie?
Have you ever seen an apple,
An apple, an apple,
Have you ever seen an apple,
That grows on a tree,
A red one, a yellow one,
A green one, a mottled one,
Have you ever seen an apple,
That grows on a tree,
Counting Apples
Count and chart the different varieties of apples. Investigate which apple is each child's favorite.
Rolling Apples In Paint
Put each apple from your discovery table in a different colored bowl of paint and roll the apples on paper in your discovery table.
Apples For Everyone
APPLE SAUCE
Tune: Peanutbutter And Jelly
Apple, Apple Sauce, Yum
Apple, Apple Sauce, Yum
First you take an apple
And you peel it, peel it.
Apple, Apple Sauce, Yum
Other verses:Then you take the apple
And you chop it;
cook it; mash it; strain it;
(sauce) & season it; eat it
Apples For Snack
Let your children taste test different types of apples for snack