Apples in your reading corner

Apples in your reading corner

I am lucky to have an apple orchard just a few minutes from my home. Every fall, we visit it a few times to pick several different types of apples that we use to prepare all kinds of delicious recipes. Most children really like apples. Why not use them to make your reading corner appealing throughout apple-picking season?

Here are a few simple suggestions:

• When you visit an apple orchard, ask the owners for a few empty wooden crates for your daycare. Ideally, ask for one crate per child. You can set them upside down in your reading corner. Children will love to sit on them during story time.
  
  
• You can also use the wooden crates to present books. Fill them with books related to fall, apple-picking, etc. Deposit the crates here and there throughout your daycare. Children will enjoy exploring their contents.
  
  
• Cut a large apple tree shape out of brown construction paper and display it on a wall. Cut leaf shapes out of green construction paper and invite children to help you glue them on the apple tree branches. Cut apple shapes out of bright red construction paper (or purchase foam apple shapes at a big-box store). Write an apple-themed book title on each one. Use adhesive putty to stick the apples in your tree. Each day, ask a different child to "pick" an apple in your apple tree to determine which story you will read to your group.
  
  
• If you have a small ladder or stepladder, set it against your apple tree. Be sure, it is positioned in a way that it isn't dangerous for little ones. On each step, set a book about apples. Watch out for little climbers. However, older children will love to climb the ladder or stepladder to "pick" an apple or grab a book (supervision required).
  
  
• Cut tiny round apples out of red felt. Insert them between the pages of children's favorite books. They will be excited to discover the apples as they turn the pages.
  
  
• Depending on the ages of the children in your group, let them eat a whole, sliced, or grated apple as you read to them. Be sure to have moist facecloths handy to wipe sticky little fingers.
  
  
• If you have an apple tree in your yard, temporarily move your reading corner under its branches, at least for the duration of story time. Transport a wooden crate filled with books outside on a warm sunny day to give children the opportunity to explore books in a different environment.

Patricia-Ann Morrison