AREA SETUP
(Open thematic poster-Apples) Print, laminate, and decorate the walls of your daycare with all kinds of posters.
Educa-decorate-Apples
(Open educa-decorate-Apples) Print, cut out, and laminate. Decorate the walls of your daycare to set the mood for the theme.
Garland-Apples
(Open garland-Apples) Print. Let children decorate the garland. Cut it out and hang it within your daycare or near your daycare entrance.
Educa-theme-Apples
(Open educa-theme-Apples) Print and laminate the items that represent the theme. Use them to present your theme to your group (and parents) while decorating a corner of your daycare.
Stickers-Apples
(Open stickers-Apples) Print on adhesive paper and use the stickers for various projects throughout the theme.
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) (Open kind word-Apples-Color) 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.).
SPECIAL TOOL
This tool was created in response to a special request received. (Open group identification-Pink flamingoes) Print and laminate the posters and illustrations to identify children’s places and belongings.
CIRCLE TIME
Animated discussion-Apples
(Open picture game-Apples) Print and laminate the pictures in the format you prefer. Use them to spark a conversation with your group and ask them questions about your theme.
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 that 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.
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
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-Apples) Print, laminate, and store in a “Ziploc” bag or in your thematic bins.
Memory game-Apples
(Open picture game-Apples) Print the pictures twice and use them for a traditional memory game.
WRITING AND ACTIVITY SHEETS
(Open activity sheets-Apples) Activity sheets are suggested for each theme. Print and follow instructions.
WRITING ACTIVITIES
(Open writing activities-A like apple) Print for each child or laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.
Stationery-Apples
(Open stationery-Apples) Print. The stationery can be used to communicate with parents, in your writing area, or to identify your thematic bins.
Educa-nuudles-Apples
(Open educa-nuudles-Apples) 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. To order Magic Nuudles.
VARIOUS WORKSHOPS-Apples
Have fun with these wonderful workshop ideas created by Caroline Allard.
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
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-Apples) (Open giant word flashcards-Apples) Print. apple, peduncle, flesh, seeds, core, skin, apple tree, apple orchard, apple picking, bite, pie, applesauce
Let’s chat
(Open word flashcards-Apples) (Open giant word flashcards-Apples) Print and laminate the word flashcards. Have each child pick a word and present it to the group (ex. pie). Ask them questions to see what they know about the theme.
Word clothesline
(Open word flashcards-Apples) (Open giant word flashcards-Apples) Print two copies of several word flashcards. Hang one copy of each word on an indoor clothesline with colourful clothespins. Arrange the copies in a pile on a table. Let children take turns picking a word and finding the matching word on the clothesline. When they find a match, they can place the flashcard on top of the one that was already hanging on the clothesline. Help younger children manipulate the clothespins if necessary.
Word race
(Open word flashcards-Apples) (Open giant word flashcards-Apples) Print several word flashcards and hide them throughout your daycare or yard. Divide your group into two teams. When you give them the signal, children must search for the flashcards for a pre-determined period, for example three minutes. When the time is up, children must be able to “read” their flashcards to earn a point for their team. If they are unable to find the correct word, the other team can earn the point if they succeed.
Sequential story-Apples
(Open sequential story-Apples) Print the story, laminate the illustrations and cut them out. Children must place them in the correct order.
Felt board game-Apples
(Open felt board games-Apples) Print the shapes, stick them on pieces of felt, and cut them out. Stick four pieces of black felt on a large piece of cardboard to create a felt board. Display it on a wall at children’s level. The felt shapes will stick to your felt board. Children will love using them to create various scenes and stories. (Open poster-Apple alphabet) Print and display in a specific location or in your circle time area to decorate your daycare and introduce children to letters.
A walk in the apple orchard
With your group, decorate a cardboard box to make it look like a tractor. You could, for example, paint it with green or red poster paint and stick large cardboard wheels on either side. Glue two pieces of rope on either side of the box so the driver can set them on his shoulders. You could have a straw hat for the driver to wear. Children will enjoy taking turns driving the tractor. The other children can simply walk behind the driver, holding your walking rope that will represent a wagon being pulled through the apple orchard by the tractor. If there is an apple tree in your neighborhood, you may even be able to pick a few apples with your group!
The apple die
Here is a great way to practice counting skills while giving children the chance to be active. Roll an oversized red die to determine how may steps children are to take. Count your steps with the children in your group. Roll the die again and so on.
Game-This is my spot-Apples
(Open game-This is my spot-Apples) 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
Green apples versus red apples
Inflate an equal number of red and green balloons. Use colorful electrical tape to divide your playing area into two equal parts. Divide your group into two teams: the green apples and the red apples. Deposit all the green balloons on one side of the playing area and the red balloons on the other side. Play a song. The object of the game is to toss all the balloons belonging to the other team on their side of the playing area before the music stops. If there are more green balloons on the side of the red team than there are red balloons on the side of the green team, the green team wins or vice versa.
Let’s climb
Children love climbing ladders whenever they visit an apple orchard. Set up a small ladder or stepladder in your daycare. Set a bowl filled with apple slices at the top of your ladder. With close supervision, children take turns climbing the ladder to “pick an apple”. Keep going until your bowl is empty. Be sure to put your ladder or stepladder away as soon as the activity is over.
Apple hunt
(Open miniature apples) Print and laminate. Hide the apples throughout the daycare and invite children to hunt for them. The child who finds the most apples can hide them for the next round.
Magnetic apple family
(Open apple family) Print, color, and laminate the models. Glue them on magnetic paper and cut them out. Set the apples on a table along with a cookie sheet. Children will have fun sticking the apples all over the surface.
The apple game
(Open apple game) Print, laminate, and display on a wall. Just like in “Pin the tail on the donkey”, blindfold children and let them take turns trying to stick the apple seeds as close to the right spot as possible.
Illustrated apples
Gather several apple pictures and illustrations and stick them throughout your daycare so that you have apples on walls, cupboards, and the floor. As children move about during the day, they will enjoy discovering the apples.
Watch out for the apples
Pick a child who will be the “apple”. He must chase the other children until he touches one. The child he touches becomes the apple for the next round. Variation: The child who is touched by the apple must remain perfectly still, with his arms stretched out. Another child can save him by running under his arms. Many children may have their arms stretched out at the same time. Make sure you change apples often, children will get tired fast.
Giant apple
Provide a large quantity of red building blocks. With your group, stack the blocks to represent an apple. Keep going until your “apple” falls to the floor.
Apple hideout
Fill a kiddie pool with crumpled pieces of different types of fabric. Hide miniature apples in the bottom of the pool. When you give the signal, invite children to search for the apples. Every time they find one, have them deposit it in a basket before going back to search for more. Once all the apples have been found, start over.
Apple transportation
Divide your group into two teams. Draw a starting line and a finish line. Set a cone on the finish line. When you give the signal, the first child from each team must pick up an apple, walk to the finish line, go around the cone, and come back to the starting line to hand the apple to the next child in line for his team. The first team that finishes wins.
Apples in water
Fill two buckets with water and set them on a line. Draw a finish line and set two empty buckets on it. Divide your group into two teams. Using a plastic apple (or a red bowl to represent an apple), children carry water from one end to the other. The goal is to fill their team’s bucket (the one on the finish line) as quickly as possible.
Apple picking
This race is a modified wagon race. Each child finds a partner. One child gets down on his hands and his partner raises his ankles. Set a small apple on each “wagon”. The apples mustn’t fall off, from the start to the finish line.
Apple passing
Ask children to stand in a circle. Hand one child an apple. Children must pass the apple to the child on their right without ever using their hands. If a child drops the apple, he will have to sit in the middle of the circle. Once all the children are sitting, start over.
I am learning to cut-An apple
(Open I am learning to cut-An apple) Print for each child. Children must trace the dotted lines and cut out the shape.
I am learning to count-Apples
(Open I am learning to count-Apples) Print, laminate, and display at children’s level. Using Velcro, children must stick the correct number of apple seeds on each apple.
Apple, apple, apple tree
Children stand in a circle. One child walks around the outside of the circle saying “apple” behind each of his friends. When he says “apple tree”, the child he is standing behind must run after him and try to catch him before he sits in his spot.
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
Apples in the water
You will need a few swimming pool noodles. Try to find red, yellow, and green noodles to represent apple colors. Using a knife, slice the noodles. If it is hot outside, fill a kiddie pool with water and set your foam “apples” in it. Invite children to use their hands to remove the “apples”. For a greater challenge, have children try to catch the apples with chopsticks. They can either insert one chopstick in the hole in the centre of the apples or use two chopsticks like tweezers to catch them. Once all the apples are out of the water, have children sort them by color.
Apples in the tree
For this activity, you will need a large cardboard box. Open the box completely so that you have a flat surface. Next, cut the cardboard to represent an apple tree outline. Set you cardboard apple tree on the grass in your yard. You can have children paint the leaves using green poster paint. Once the paint is dry, your cardboard apple tree will become a target that children must try to reach by tossing red, green, and yellow frisbees. Once all your frisbees have been tossed, count the frisbees that landed on your apple tree. Repeat, trying to beat your record.
Where are the apples?
(Open models-Apples) Print and hide the apples throughout your daycare. Hide one apple per child. When children find an apple, they must set it on a table. Once all the apples have been found, let children play with them or hide them and start over again.
Rolling apples
You will need one very small, very round apple. Have children sit in a circle. The child holding the apple says, “Roll, apple roll, all the way to…” The child completes the sentence by naming the child he is rolling the apple to. You may also use a red ball for this activity.
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.
RELAXATION ACTIVITIES
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.
MORAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Dress-up dolls-The apple grower
(Open dress-up dolls-The apple grower) Print and laminate. Set the doll and clothing items on a table. Children will have fun dressing the apple grower.
Apple emotions
Before presenting this activity, cut apple shapes out of heavy cardboard. Draw a face on each apple (happy, sad, scared, surprised, etc.) and use adhesive paper to solidify them. Spread the apples out on the floor, upside down. Children turn over one apple at a time and mime the corresponding emotion.
Round like an apple
Display a large piece of paper on a wall, near your daycare entrance. Ask parents to help you make a list of objects that are round like an apple.
Apple orchard visit
Plan a field trip to a local apple orchard. Invite parents to join you.
A trip to the supermarket
Ask parents to accompany you for a trip to the supermarket. Show children different types of apples.
COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES
Word-filled apple tree
(Open word-filled apple tree) (Open word flashcards-Apples) Print several copies and laminate them for durable, eco-friendly use. You will need an apple-shaped stamper or a washable red marker. Encourage children to stamp or color the letters that make up their name or the letters that make up the words appearing on the word flashcards. Next, let them try to write the words on the lines.
Apple orchard ladder
(Open apple orchard ladder) Print for each child. Children add the ladder bars in numerical order. They can color the scene and add details such as baskets if they wish.
Three-dimensional apple tree
Use brown or green electrical tape to draw a large apple tree on a wall within your daycare. Use red and green tape to add small X’s near the top of your tree. Inflate red and green balloons to represent apples. Show children how they can rub the apples on their clothing to create static electricity and then press the “apples” on an X of the corresponding color. You may also choose to create two apple trees and fill one with red apples and one with green apples. The apples won’t stay in place for long, making this a source of perpetual fun.
Tall as…
Empty the contents of two bags of apples in a basket. Gather items that measure less than one metre: a book, a piece of ribbon, a sweater, a pillow, a blanket, a stuffed animal, a picture frame, a water bottle, etc. To begin, invite children to lie down on the floor and measure them by setting apples next to them, from their feet to their head. Count the apples. Children will think it’s very funny to know they are as tall as “X” apples. Let children measure the items the same way.
Apple patterns
You will need a few apples of each color: red, green and yellow. Use the apples to create a simple pattern. For example, you could line up a red apple, a green apple, a red apple… Children will have to continue the pattern. They will also enjoy creating their own patterns. If you wish, provide other types of fruit that can be used to make more complex patterns.
Color by number-Apples
(Open color by number-Apples) Print for each child. Children must color the picture per the color code.
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.
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-Apples
(Open educ-math-Apples) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must count the objects in each rectangle and circle the corresponding number.
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.
MUSICAL AND RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES
Musical apples
(Open colorful apples) Print, laminate, and stick apples on the floor, within your daycare. To the sound of music, children walk around the daycare. When the music stops, they must quickly find an apple to stand on.
EARLY SCIENCE/MANIPULATION/EXPLORATION
Miniature apple orchard
You will need brown pipe cleaners and red necklace beads that can easily be threaded onto the pipe cleaners. Invite children to slide a certain number of beads onto each pipe cleaner, leaving a few centimeters between them. The beads will represent apples while the pipe cleaners will be branches. The lower third of each pipe cleaner mustn’t have beads. Once the beads are on the pipe cleaners, hold five or six pipe cleaners in your hand. Twist the portion that doesn’t have beads in your hands to create a tree trunk. Older children will be able to do this step. Glue the miniature apple trees on a piece of cardboard to represent an apple orchard. Add tractors and small baskets children can play with.
Apple crumble manipulation bin
Fill a large bin with oats. Sprinkle a small amount of cinnamon over the oats. Hide tiny red and green pompoms or tiny apple shapes among the oats. Give each child two cinnamon sticks and let them use them to remove the apples from the manipulation bin, just like chopsticks. Children will love this highly fragrant challenge!
Apple science
Apply a small quantity of paint to an apple and let children spread the paint all over a large piece of paper. Use two paint colors to create a new color (blue + yellow=green).
What’s inside?
(Open educ-poster-Apples) Print and display on a wall. Give each child an apple model traced on a piece of red construction paper. Using white glue, children glue pieces of string (flesh) and apple seeds inside their apple outline. Display their work on a wall, next to the poster.
Round, round like an apple
Fill a bin with several different items that are round like an apple.
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.
Soap sculptures
Purchase apple-scented glycerin soaps. You will find them at your local dollar store. Provide small butter knives and forks children can use to sculpt them.
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.
Folded paper apple tasting game
(Open folded paper apple tasting game) Print. Fold where indicated. Slice a red apple, a green apple, and a yellow apple. Set each apple on a paper plate of the corresponding color. Manipulate the folded paper game in front of your group. Invite a child to pick a color or number when necessary. If, for example, the folded paper game indicates a yellow apple, encourage children to eat a yellow apple slice. Repeat until all the apples have been eaten.
Tiny applesauce bags
Help children set a small plastic bag in a bowl or drinking glass. The bags must be open. Set a few bowls filled with applesauce on the table and give each child a spoon. Children use the spoon to fill their bag with applesauce. When they are done, seal the bags, removing as much air as you can. Cut one corner of each child’s bag and show them how they can gently squeeze the applesauce into their mouth.
Apple donuts
With your group, prepare healthy treats. Slice apples after having removed the core. The apple slices should be quite thick, so they look like donuts. Give each child one apple donut. Set squeezable bottles of chocolate and caramel sauce on the table. Show children how they can use them to draw zigzags on their apple donut. Provide sprinkles or ice cream they can add before eating up their “donut”. Food item of the week: Apples (Open educ-poster-Apples) Print and laminate. Use the pictures to present the food item to your group. Display the pictures in your kitchen area.
Apple juice
Using a juice extractor, make apple juice with your group. Children will enjoy dropping apple pieces in the machine. Experiment with red, green, and yellow apples and observe the differences with your group. Why not make carrot juice, celery juice, beet juice, etc.
My senses
Encourage children to touch, observe, smell, and taste apples. Show them how you can slice, dice, and grate apples. Do they always taste the same?
Apple salad
Ask parents to send an apple to daycare. Use the different types of apples to prepare a special apple salad.
ARTS & CRAFTS
My caramelized apple
(Open my caramelized apple) Print for each child. Encourage children to color the apple with a red marker. Next, they can cut it out and glue it on heavy cardboard. Give each child a Popsicle stick they can stick behind their apple. Once the glue is dry, pour brown poster paint (to represent chocolate sauce) in a bowl. Let children insert the lower portion of the apple in the paint. Before it dries, provide sprinkles children can add to complete their craft.
My apple tic-tac-toe
(Open my apple tic-tac-toe) Print the tic-tac-toe grid for each child. If you choose to use the black and white version, have children color it. Ask them to cut out the apple and glue it on heavy cardboard. Each child will need 10 small pebbles that will represent apples. Provide green and red poster paint they can use to paint the apples (5 red, 5 green). Once dry, give each child a small bag they can use to store their grid and apples. They will be proud to take their game home to play with family members.
Stencils-Apples
(Open stencils-Apples) Print for each child. Use tissue paper. Tear it into small pieces, crumple them and glue them inside the shapes.
Three-dimensional apple trees
(Open apple tree trunk) Print for each child. Purchase a small green shower pouf for each child. Have them glue it on top of their tree trunk to represent leaves. Next, they can glue tiny red pompoms all over it (apples). Display children’s artwork.
Apple mask
(Open masks-Apples) Print and glue each child’s mask on a stick or elastic so they can easily wear it.
Apple glasses
(Open glasses-Apples) Print the model and trace it on heavy cardboard for each child. Cut the inside of each lens out and add red cellophane paper.
Apple hat
(Open hat-Apples) Print and cut out. Children can color and decorate their hat. Variation: You could also use a piece of fabric or a circle cut out of red construction paper and simply add a brown construction paper peduncle.
Apple memories
Paint each child’s nose and set an apple hat on their head. Photograph each child and print the pictures. Glue each child’s picture in an apple shape cut out of red construction paper. To create a collective poster, cut out a large apple shape and glue the pictures taken of each child on it.
Apple bin
Fill a bin with miniature apples and let children manipulate them, trace them on paper, and cut out the shapes. Use the apples to explore colors.
Models-Apples
(Open models-Apples) Print. Use the models for various projects throughout the theme.
Puppets-The apple grower
(Open puppets-The apple grower) Print on heavy cardboard. Have children cut out the models and decorate them. Stick a Popsicle stick behind the puppets.
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 (quite 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.
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
(Open coloring pages theme-Apples) Print for each child.
Identical coloring pages
Print the same coloring page for each child and an additional copy for your model. Color only certain parts of your picture. Present the model to your group and ask them to color their picture to make it look exactly like yours.
Sand drawing
Use white glue to trace the outline of certain parts of a coloring page. Sprinkle sand over the lines and let dry. Shake any excess sand off over a garbage can.
Musical drawing-Electronic games
Play musical drawing with your group. Give each child a coloring page. Have children sit around a table. When the music starts, they must pass the coloring pages around the table. Every time the music stops, they must color the picture in front of them until the music starts again.
Homemade color by number
Use the coloring pages to create your own color by number activities for your group. Write a legend at the bottom of the page and write the corresponding numbers in certain sections of the picture (ex. 1=red, 2=blue 3=brown).
Group coloring activity
Cut a coloring page into pieces so that each child has one part of the picture to color. When they are done, assemble the pieces and admire their collective coloring.
SONGS & RHYMES
(Open songs & rhymes-The apple orchard)
By: Patricia Morrison - Sung to: Here we go round the mulberry bush
The apple orchard
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
Have fun!
The educatall team