This week’s theme is APPLES! What’s a more iconic preschool theme than apples? Apple crafts are always my favorite and something I love hanging up all of fall. This week we’ll make, taste, read and play with all things apple! For more on our free simple preschool activities at home series, click here. The intro post tells all about this simple program, ages, etc. You’ll also find a list of all the themes there.

Simple Preschool At-Home Activities: Apples

BOOKS:

1. Ten Apples on Top (try and balance an apple on your head after reading)

2. Curious George Apple Harvest (practice sequence)

3. 5 Little Apples (practice counting)

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BOOKS TO LISTEN TO ON YOUTUBE:

The Biggest Apple Ever:

Bad Apple:

SONG:

Juicy Apples’

Sing this song to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
Apples juicy, Apples round,
On the trees and on the ground.
Apples yellow, Apples red,
Apple juice or pie and bread.
Apples crunchy, Apples sweet,
Apples are so good to eat!

CRAFT: Apple stamps

Supplies:

apples
paper
red paint
For the stem and leaves: green & brown markers or crayons

Directions: Cut the apple in half and let the child use them as stamps. It works best if you let the apple dry out a bit before painting. Use the green & brown to add stems and leaves!

CRAFT: Ripped Paper Apples

Supples:

Paper plate (or cut a circle out of cardboard or cardstock)
Red, green and brown construction paper
Glue

Directions: Have the child rip up the red paper (this is a GREAT fine motor activity and helps strengthen little hands). Next have them cover the plate or circle in glue and place the ripped paper on the plate. Finish with adding the stem and green leaf.

CRAFT: Apple Handprint

SNACK: An easy one… sliced apples. If you’re feeling adventurous try making applesauce (recipe)

QUIET TIME BOX: Apple Threading toy (linked to Amazon here). Add this to your “quiet time boxes”. See this post for details.

SENSORY: Apple Play Dough

For this, you can make apples with red play-doh you already have. Simply roll it into a ball and add a stick for the stem and some green paper for the leaves. Send the kids outside first to collect small sticks. Another option is to make apple scented cinnamon play dough! This is a really fun activity to make and then to play with. It smells great. I use this recipe from Teaching Mama: Apple Cinnamon Play Dough.

NOTE: The ripped paper craft above also falls under sensory. Ripping paper is a GREAT activity for little hands.

SCIENCE: Dancing Apple Seeds

This is super simple & makes my kids laugh. All you need is a clear glass, apple seeds and Sprite or a clear soda. Simply fill your glass with soda. Then cut the apple open to remove the seeds and drop them into the glass. Wait about 1-2 min and the seeds will start to “dance”. Sometimes we like to turn on some music to see them boogie to the tunes!