Apple orchard-A TRANSFERER

CIRCLE TIME

Poni discovers and presents-Apples

(Open Poni discovers and presents-Apples) Print the various cards. Laminate them and cut them. Use a Poni puppet (or another puppet children are familiar with) to present the different types of apples to the children in your group. Circle time is ideal for presenting the theme to your group. You can even act out a little apple picking story with children. Here is an example:

• Joshua climbed up a big apple tree (pretend to climb a tree).
• The branch CRACKED (pretend to fall to the ground).
• Joshua landed on the ground BOOM (land on your bottom).
• Where is Joshua (pretend to search for him)?
• Joshua is lying flat on his back (lie on your back).
• Get up Joshua, get up (sit up slowly)!
• Stand up Joshua, stand up (stand tall)!

Variation: Insert the name of each child in the story.

AREA SETUP

NEW! Thematic poster-The apple orchard

(Open thematic poster-Apple orchard) Print, laminate, and decorate the walls of your daycare with all kinds of posters.

NEW! Educa-decorate-The apple orchard

(Open educa-decorate-Apple orchard) Print, cut out, and laminate. Decorate the walls of your daycare to set the mood for the theme.

NEW! Educa-theme-The apple orchard
(Open educa-theme-Apple orchard) Print and laminate the different elements representing the theme. The items can be used to present the theme to children (and their parents) or simply to decorate your daycare for the theme.

NEW! Stickers-The apple orchard
(Open stickers-Apple orchard) Print the illustrations on adhesive paper and use them to create a collection of original stickers.

Apple banner

(Open banner-Apples) (Open banner-Apples-small) Print and laminate. Use the banners to decorate your daycare.

Garland-The apple orchard

(Open garland-The apple orchard) Print. Let children decorate the garland. Cut it out and hang it within your daycare or near your daycare entrance.

Hanging apples

Hang apples from the ceiling in your daycare to add a splash of color. During the Christmas season, you can find shiny apples in most department stores.

Kind word apple tree

This activity can be completed over a period of several days. Trace and cut a tree trunk out of brown construction paper (or brown paper grocery bags). Glue the tree trunk on a wall using adhesive putty. Use a pencil to trace a large circle on brown paper. Cut it out and glue it on top of the tree trunk. Cut squares of green tissue paper and have children crumple them. When they are done, have them glue them on the tree. (Open kind word-Apples) Print the apples and have children cut them out and color them using red, green, and yellow crayons. At the end of the day, invite children to bring a few apples home with them so they can ask their parents to write kind words or messages on them. The next day, have children add the apples to your apple tree. You can also invite children to secretly tell you messages or kind words they would like to write for their daycare friends (kind, happy, adorable, pretty, cute, charming, respectful, etc.).

All kinds of apples

(Open Folder-Apples) Print. We have prepared printable apple facts to help you present apples to the children in your group.

Different kinds of apples

Purchase McIntosh, Cortland, Spartan, Empire, and Granny Smith apples. Cut them into tiny pieces and encourage children to taste them. Use pictures to identify the following parts of an apple: stem (or peduncle), flesh, seeds, core, skin, calyx (under the apple). Show children pictures of an apple tree in winter, in spring, in summer, and in autumn.

PICTURE GAME

NEW! The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with the group. Use them to decorate the daycare or a specific thematic corner. (Open picture game-Apple orchard) Print, laminate, and store in a "Ziploc" bag or in your thematic bins.

ACTIVITY SHEETS AND WRITING ACTIVITIES

NEW! Activity sheets-The apple orchard

(Open activity sheets-Apples orchard) Activity sheets are suggested for each theme. Print and follow instructions.

NEW! Writing activity-A like apple

(Open writing activities-A like apple) Print for each child or laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.

Stationery-The apple orchard

(Open stationery-The apple orchard) Print. The stationery can be used to communicate with parents, in your writing area, or to identify your thematic bins.

Educa-nuudles-The apple orchard

(Open educa-nuudles-The apple orchard) Print for each child. Have children color the sheet and use Magic Nuudles to give it a three-dimensional look. Variation: You don’t have Magic Nuudles? Have children fill the spaces designed for Magic Nuudles with bingo markers or stickers.

VARIOUS WORKSHOPS

Construction/building blocks:

• Provide only red, yellow, and green building blocks... to represent apple colors.
• If you have them, add tractors, horses, and different farm animals to your construction area to represent the farms that are often part of apple orchards.

Arts & crafts:

• Red, yellow, and green paper children can use to cut out apples, to trace apples using stencils, etc. Hang their work in a giant apple tree displayed on a wall.
• Red, yellow, and green tissue paper that can be crumpled to fill apple shapes.
• A painting activity involving apple prints. Make prints with potatoes too and compare the results.

Role play:

• Transform your kitchen area to create a pie-making factory. Add aluminum pie plates, rolling pins, homemade modeling dough, etc.
• Add a large quantity of plastic apples (and other types of fruit), aprons, and oven mitts.

Manipulation:

• Memory game involving apples with educatall illustrations.
• Memory, lotto, or other apple-themed games.
• Puzzles related to the theme.
• Red, yellow, and green modeling dough with cookie cutters shaped like fruits or farm animals.
• Red, yellow, and green beads to make apple necklaces. Use larger beads with younger children.

Drawing:

• Coloring pages related to the theme.
• Creative coloring activities.
• Red, green, and yellow crayons and markers that can be used to draw apples.

Pre-reading:

• Books about apples and apple orchards or farm animals (visit your local library).
• A poster on which the various parts of an apple are identified.
• Red, green, and yellow apples that can be used to decorate your reading area.

Music and motor skills:

• A song box filled with the lyrics of several apple-themed songs.
• Encourage children to massage a partner by rolling an apple on his/her arms, legs, and back.
• Apple toss, bobbing for apples, hanging apples, etc.

Sensory bins:

• Water table filled with apple-scented dishwashing liquid.
• Fruits and vegetables children can wash in a large tub of water.
• Farm animals.

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

NEW! Word flashcards

Use the cards to spark a conversation with your group or in your reading and writing area. They may also be used to identify your thematic bins.  (Open word flashcards-Apple orchard) (Open giant word flashcards-Apple orchard) Print. apple, apple tree, orchard, pick-your-own, bite, apple pie, applesauce, field, tractor, ladder, farm, basket

NEW! Educa-chatterbox-The apple orchard
(Open educa-chatterbox-Apple orchard) Print and laminate the items. Add them to a box that you have decorated to represent the theme. Add a variety of illustrations and objects related to the theme. During circle time or waiting periods, for example when children are waiting for their lunch to be served, encourage them to pick an item out of the box and name it.

ROUTINES AND TRANSITIONS

Game-This is my spot-The apple orchard

(Open game-This is my spot-The apple orchard) Print two copies. Laminate and cut out the cards. Glue one copy of each card on the table using adhesive paper. Drop the other copies in a bag. Children take turns picking a card to determine their spot at the table for the day. You may also use the cards to determine naptime spots or for your task train.

My apple path

(Open my apple path) Print, laminate, and secure the illustrations on the floor to create a path which leads to areas frequently visited by children such as the bathroom or cloakroom. If you prefer, the illustrations may also be used to delimit your various workshops.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND MOTOR SKILLS

NEW! Modeling dough activity placemats-The apple orchard
(Open modeling dough activity placemats-Apple orchard) Print and laminate. Let children pick a placemat and provide modeling dough. Encourage them to use the dough to fill or reproduce the shapes that are on their placemat.

NEW! Roll and color-The apple orchard
(Open roll and color-Apple orchard) Print for each child. This game can be done individually or enjoyed as a group activity. Children roll a die, count the dots, and color the corresponding part.

NEW! String activities-The apple orchard
(Open string activities-Apple orchard) Print for each child. They must trace the lines with white glue before positioning a string or a piece of yarn on the lines.

NEW! Coloring hunt and seek-The apple orchard
(Open coloring hunt and seek-Apple orchard) Print and laminate. Children must find and color the items in the scene.

Lacing-Apples

(Open lacing-Apples) Print, laminate, and punch holes around the contour of each shape. Give each child a shoelace or ribbon they can thread through the holes.

Hot apple

Sit in a circle with your group. Sing an apple song (or invite a child to sing a song). Children pass an apple around the circle. When the song ends, the child holding the apple must complete a challenge suggested by the person who sang the song. For example, the child can be asked to stand on one foot, perform a somersault, hop three times, etc.

Apple race

Divide your group into two teams. You will need three apples: a red one, a green one, and a yellow one for each team. You may use real apples or apples cut out of construction paper. You will also need a basket for each team. Hide the apples and the baskets in the daycare. Each team must find a basket and an apple of each color. This game can also be done in your yard.

Apple exercise

Give each child an apple and encourage them to move their apple using different body parts. They can, for example, move their apple using their foot, their knee, their thumb, their nose, etc.

Apple relay race

Divide your group into two teams. The first child in each team must walk from one line to another and then back again with an apple between his/her knees. If the apple falls, the child must reposition it before continuing the race and handing the apple to the next child in line.

Apple obstacles

Children must roll apples through various obstacles such as under a table, under a chair, between two toys, etc.

Roll like an apple

Arrange exercise mats on the floor and encourage children to perform somersaults as if they were apples rolling on the ground.

Apple basketball

You will need baskets (or other containers) and plastic apples. If you do not have enough plastic apples, use small red, green, and yellow balls. Invite children to toss the apples in the baskets.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Apple orchard visit

(Open models-Apples) Print several apples and color them with yellow, red, and green crayons. Hang them in a tree. Give children a variety of instructions. For example, ask them to pick one apple of a specific color.

Apple relay

Determine a course that children will have to complete. Divide your group into two teams and have them form two lines. Children take turns completing the course while carrying an apple on a spoon.

Apple parachute

Deposit several plastic apples (or red, green, and yellow balls) on a parachute and have fun making them bounce up and down by moving the parachute.

Apple lawn bowling

Use plastic apples or small balls to reproduce a traditional lawn bowling game.

Draw an apple, an apple tree...

With sidewalk chalk, draw apples and apple trees throughout your yard.

Bobbing for apples

This activity is perfect for outdoor play, especially if you are using bowls filled with water. The goal is for children to catch a floating apple using their teeth. The first child who succeeds is the winner. Let children eat the apples afterwards. For hygiene purposes, offer a separate apple and bowl for each child. Variation: Instead of placing them in water, you can choose to hang the apples from the ceiling using string. Ask children to leave their hands behind their back. When they successfully catch their apple, let them eat it.

Traffic apples

(Open Game-Traffic-Apples) Print and cut out the three apples (red, green, and yellow). Determine a start and finish line. The apples represent traffic lights. When you display the red apple, children must stop moving. When the yellow apple is displayed, children must walk slowly, whereas when the green apple is displayed, they must walk rapidly or run. Variation: Hang a red apple illustration, green apple illustration, and yellow apple illustration in your daycare so they form a triangle. Children begin under the yellow apple. They must crawl until they are under the green apple. Have them hop on one leg until they are under the red apple. At this point, have them move backwards. For example, ask them to walk backwards to the green apple and spin around twice. Finally, have them slither along the floor to the yellow apple, like a worm.

Apple picking

(Open story apples) Before children arrive, hang several apples in the trees in your yard. Children will be excited when they discover the apples. Encourage them to pick the apples. When they have collected all the apples, present your circle time outside. Cut an apple and show children what an apple looks like on the inside. Show them the star each apple contains and read them the story.

Apple hide and seek

Hide apples in your yard (or in your daycare). Each time a child finds an apple, he/she must deposit it in a basket. When all the apples have been collected, give each child an apple they can eat as a snack.

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

NEW! Pick, search, and color letters-The apple orchard
(Open pick, search, and color letters-Apple orchard) Print and laminate the letters. Children pick a card and search for and color the corresponding letter.

NEW! Association puzzles-numbers-The apple orchard
(Open association puzzles-numbers-Apple orchard) Print, laminate, and cut each puzzle in half. Children have fun counting the objects and associating the correct number to each set to complete the puzzles.

Educ-pairs-The apple orchard

(Open educ-pairs-The apple orchard) Print. Children must draw a line between identical items or color identical items using the same color. For durable, eco-friendly use, laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.

Educ-trace-The apple orchard

(Open educ-trace-The apple orchard) Print for each child. Children must trace the lines with the correct colors and then color the corresponding items using the same colors.

Color by number-The apple orchard

(Open color by number-Apple orchard) Print for each child. Children must color the picture according to the color code.

Educa-duo-The apple orchard

(Open educa-duo-The apple orchard) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must use a dry-erase marker to draw a line between items that go together.

Educa-symmetry-The apple orchard

(Open educa-symmetry-The apple orchard) Print. Children must color the bottom picture (black & white) to make it look exactly like the top picture (in color).

Magnifying glass game-Apples

(Open magnifying glass game-Apples) Print and laminate the board game and the cards. Cut them out and store them in a box or in a Ziploc bag. Children pick a card and search for the item on the board game, using a magnifying glass. Once they have found the item, they deposit it in the correct square, on the board game.

Educ-math-The apple orchard

(Open educ-math-The apple orchard) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must count the objects in each rectangle and circle the corresponding number.

Educ-same and different-The apple orchard

(Open educ-same and different-The apple orchard) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must circle the illustration that is different in each row.

Educ-Big and small-Apples

(Open educ-big and small-Apples) Print and laminate the game. Children must place the cards on the board game in the correct order, from smallest to biggest.

Hunt and seek-Apples

(Open hunt and seek-Apples) Print and laminate. Children pick a card and search for the illustrated items in the scene.

Puzzles-Apples

(Open puzzles-Apples) Print, laminate, and cut the puzzle pieces. Children must arrange them to recreate the picture.

I am counting worms

(Open Games-I’m counting worms) Print, laminate, and glue an action under each apple. Children take turns picking an apple. Have them count the worms on the apple. If they succeed, read the action that can be found under the apple and have them perform it.

MORAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Apple theatre

(Open apple theatre) Print, cut out, and laminate the apples. Glue a Popsicle stick behind each apple. Let children create a variety of different scenes with the apples.

Apple massage

Place children two by two at naptime. Give each pair an apple and encourage them to use it to massage their partner by rolling it over his/her body.

EARLY SCIENCE/MANIPULATION/EXPLORATION

Apple oxidization

Cut an apple in two. Leave one half on the counter and deposit the other half in a glass filled with water. Throughout the day, observe the transformation of each apple piece.

Apple seeds

Deposit wet cotton balls in a small bowl. Add a few apple seeds. Watch them grow with your group.

Apple observation

Study apples with your group and talk about the different parts of an apple: stem (peduncle), flesh, seeds, core, calyx (under the apple).

Crunch!

Place a few apples in a basket and set it on a table. For this activity, children must take a bite of an apple and listen to the sound this produces. Ask children to describe the sounds they hear.

CULINARY ACTIVITIES

Apple character

Give each child an apple and toothpicks. Fill a plate with various food items such as marshmallows, banana pieces, raisins, apple pieces, grapes, strawberries, etc. Encourage children to create apple characters.

Applesauce paint

Use applesauce for painting. Add red or green food coloring. Children will enjoy manipulating the texture and creating pretty abstract paintings while they are at it.

My apple butter

Ingredients:

• 8 cups of apples, peeled, cored, and diced
• 2/3 cup of sugar
• ½ cup of butter

Cook the apples and the sugar in the microwave for 17 minutes on HIGH. Add the butter and pour the preparation in a blender. Mix well. Give each child a small amount of apple butter in a baby food jar. Have them decorate their jar with construction paper or glass paint.

Apple pie

Bake apple pies with your group. Let each child make his/her own pie. Ask them to bring their own apron and rolling pin from home. Draw the various steps involved in baking an apple pie on a large piece of cardboard so children can easily follow along. Keep the skin of the apples and use the pieces to create an interesting sensory bin.

Apple pizza

Ingredients:

• 1 package of store-bought pizza dough (or crescent dough)
• 1 can of apple pie filling
• ½ cup of brown sugar
• ½ cup of vanilla icing

Steps:

• Roll out the dough.
• Spread the apple pie filling on the dough.
• Sprinkle with brown sugar (to taste, use less if you wish).
• Warm up the icing and add it to a clean squeezable bottle. Use the bottle to draw zigzags or horizontal and vertical lines all over your pizza.
• Follow package instructions to bake the dough.
• When ready, cut the pizza into squares and serve.

ARTS & CRAFTS

NEW! Puppets-The apple orchard
(Open puppets-Apple orchard) Use the puppets for their "creative" aspect. Children will enjoy making them talk and interact. You will find several puppet templates in the Educatall Club.

NEW! Mask-The apple orchard

(Open mask-Apple orchard) Print and set the pieces in the center of the table. Let children create their own mask using arts & crafts material and crayons. Simply attach a string to either side of each mask so that you can tie their masks behind their head.

NEW! Apple sunglasses

(Open apple sunglasses) Print the model and trace it on heavy cardboard for each child. Children decorate their sunglasses.

NEW! The apple orchard models

(Open models-Apple orchard) Print. Use the models for various projects throughout the theme.

My miniature apple tree

(Open miniature apple tree) Print, cut out, and color. Transform empty toilet paper rolls to make them look like apple trees. Simply have children glue the pieces on the cardboard tubes and hang them from the ceiling when they are done.

Hands-on apple

You will need red construction paper, white construction paper, and green paint. Draw an apple shape on the red construction paper. Older children can cut their apple out themselves. With younger children, you may want to prepare the apples ahead of time. Encourage children to glue their apple on the white construction paper. Once these first steps are completed, apply green paint to children’s hands and have them press their hands above the apple to represent the apple’s leaves.

Papier-mâché apple

(Open models-Big apple) Print for each child. Deposit red, green, and yellow tissue paper on the table. Invite children to tear tiny pieces of tissue paper and glue them on their apple using white glue. Encourage them to continue until their apple is completely covered. Display the apples on a wall for the duration of the theme.

Styrofoam apples

Give each child a Styrofoam ball and ask them to dip tiny pieces of tissue paper in white glue before layering them on the ball. Hang the Styrofoam apples from the ceiling.

Apple prints

Have children make prints of the star found in the centre of an apple. Simply cut an apple in two and apply a small quantity of paint on the flesh. Press the apple halves on white paper.

My 3D apple tree

Use an empty toilet paper roll to represent a tree trunk and have children wrap it with brown construction paper. Next, have them cut green cloud shapes to represent the leaves and glue them on the tree trunk. Next, they can add apple stickers to complete their apple tree.

Apple roll

Cover the bottom of a cardboard box or container (fairly big) with white paper. One at a time, ask children to dip an apple in red, green, or yellow paint before depositing it in the box or container. Show them how they can gently lift each corner of the box to roll the apple around to “paint” a picture.

NEW! Apple cutting

(Open models-Apples) Print several copies. Trace a giant apple tree shape on cardboard and display it on a wall in your daycare. Have children color apples, cut them out, and glue them on the apple tree.

The apple and the worm

Have children paint a paper plate to represent an apple. Cut a stem out of cardboard and glue it on top. Cut a hole out of the centre of the apple. Draw a face on each child’s index finger. Show them how they can insert their finger through the hole to make it look like a worm is eating the apple.

My printed apple tree

Glue a brown cardboard rectangle (tree trunk) on a piece of white cardboard. Have children dip their fingers in green paint and then press them all around the tree trunk to represent leaves. Once the paint is dry, press a cork in red, green, or yellow paint and fill the apple tree with apples.

Apple mobiles

Encourage children to paint apple shapes and glue glitter, apple seeds, jelly worms, or candy pieces on them. When taking a walk with your group, have them collect branches. Use string to tie two branches together to form an “X”. Hang apples from each set of branches to create mobiles you can hang from the ceiling. Variation: Paint small Styrofoam balls to represent apples and hang them from the ceiling.

COLORING PAGES

NEW! Coloring pages-The apple orchard

(Open coloring pages theme-Apple orchard) Print for each child.

I am learning to draw-An apple

(Open I am learning to draw-An apple) Print and laminate the model sheet. Invite children to practice their drawing technique and then let them draw an apple on their own.

SONGS & RHYMES

The apple orchard

(Open songs & rhymes-The apple orchard)

By: Patricia Morrison-Sung to: Here we goround the mulberry bush

Here we go round the apple orchard

The apple orchard

The apple orchard

Here we go round the apple orchard

To fill our basket with apples

Here we go round the apple orchard

The apple orchard

The apple orchard

Here we go round the apple orchard

Sit back and enjoy the wagon ride

Here we go round the apple orchard

The apple orchard

The apple orchard

Here we go round the apple orchard

Don’t forget the corn maze