In September, as we move from summer to fall, it is time to look forward to apple season! Seasonal, colorful apples can be enjoyed as a tasty, healthy snack, or incorporated into a variety of fun learning and sensory activities for young children. In this article, we share picture books and activities for enjoying apple season with young children, from infants through pre-k.
Not only are apples fun to eat, they can also be made into stamps and other art supplies. For this project, all you will need are: apples cut in half, in quarters, or smaller sizes; paint; and construction paper.
Invite the children to place their apple pieces into the paint before stamping them onto the paper. (Apple cores make good stamps, too!) Talk with the children about the designs they can make by using apples cut into different shapes and sizes, and placed in a variety of directions and patterns. This activity can be enjoyed by early learners of all ages, from toddlers to pre-k!
from handsonaswegrow.com
This simple activity is perfect for toddlers and young preschoolers who enjoy opportunities to utilize their senses. An apple pie sensory bin is easy to set up using oats, apples, cinnamon sticks, and cooking items such as measuring cups and pie tins. Creative educators can have fun adding in other items that are available in the classroom. After preparing the bin, encourage children to explore by touching, feeling, and smelling the items, scooping them into the various containers, and imagining that they are baking their own apple pies!
from modernpreschool.com
Enjoy cooking and baking an autumn treat with the children in your care using this simple recipe. You’ll need just three ingredients: a box of spice cake mix, one apple, and two cups of applesauce. Little ones in preschool and pre-k can work together to cut the apples into slices, combine all of the ingredients together, scoop the mixture into the baking cups, and, of course, taste! This activity gives children an opportunity to practice fine motor skills as they use the cooking tools, and early mathematical skills as they measure each ingredient.
You and the children in your care might enjoy preparing more apple treats from G2K recipe articles… like apple pizzas and apple chips!
from preschoolpowol.com
You might be familiar with the marshmallow building activity, in which children create structures by using miniature marshmallows to connect toothpicks together. This activity is inspired by that, but instead of marshmallows, toothpicks are connected with pieces of apple. All you will need are the following materials: apples, toothpicks, and a knife (to cut the apples). You might also want to set out trays or paper plates for children to use as a building surface. Encourage children to use the apples and toothpicks as construction materials, and invite them to see how tall a tower they can build! Note: this activity is best for older preschoolers and pre-k aged children, as the toothpicks could be a safety hazard for younger children. You’ll want to be sure that the children in your care are able to work with the toothpicks safely, without putting them into their mouths.
from emmaowl.com
This simple playdough recipe requires preparation, but it can be put together fairly quickly using only a few ingredients: baking soda, corn flour, water, vegetable oil, red food coloring, and spices (cinnamon and allspice). Place all the ingredients in a pan, mix them together, and heat until everything is combined. Then, let the blended ingredients cool before kneading them into a playdough-like consistency. You can add more cinnamon or other spices to the dough to enhance the apple pie scent. Children from toddlers to pre-k will enjoy kneading the dough and sculpting it into different shapes. Offer the playdough with natural items for decoration, such as twigs, leaves, acorns, pinecones, or even star anise.
This board book, with its minimal text, bright illustrations, and interactive lift-the-flap pages, is geared towards infants and toddlers. The book counts backwards from five to one, with images of the corresponding number of apples on each page, helping young children practice number recognition and one-to-one correspondence.
This picture book follows its main character on her trip around the world to collect ingredients for an apple pie. Her journey begins on a steamboat to Italy for wheat, followed by a visit to England for milk, and then a trip to Vermont to pick apples. The story concludes with a simple recipe for apple pie.
Preschool and pre-k aged children will enjoy this simple story that takes them on a visit to an apple orchard. Illustrations featuring warm, autumn colors show readers how apples are picked and stored, and introduce them to many different kinds of apples.
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