Apple Themed Activities for Learning & Play in Preschool!

Our newest theme, APPLES, is now available at The Preschool Toolbox Blog!  We are pleased to offer many new and exciting ideas centered around an Apple Themed activities just for kids!  If you are looking for a way to get your children into the school year with ease, check it out!  The theme includes 40 pages of literacy, science, math, play, cooking, art, power points, all .pdf files for activities, pictures for visual aids, and online resources that will easily give your children  2+ weeks of APPLE FUN!

Try some  sample activities from the APPLES THEME!

APPLE BALLS AND RECIPE SEQUENCING CARDS! Recipe_Sequencing_Card

Recipe Ingredients:

2 cups light cream cheese (softened)

1 cup coconut

1 cup diced apples (mix the apples with 1 ½ tsp. of lemon juice)

1 cup shredded carrots

1 ½ cups crushed graham crackers.
Place the grahams in a gallon-sized freezer bag.  Pass the bag around and have the children press their hands into the bag to crush the graham crackers.  In a medium bowl, mix the softened cream cheese with the coconut, carrots, and apples.  Chill until firm approximately 2 hours. (You can also make this the night before. Turn the mixture onto waxed paper, wrap, and keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.)  Next, have the children roll approximately 1” balls from the cream cheese mixture.  Place the balls on a tray or cookie sheet lined with wax paper until ready to roll in the graham cracker crumbs.  After the balls are made, have the children roll in the crushed graham crackers.  Serve for an apple themed snack!

The following activity can be used as a follow-up to this recipe.   Print the Recipe_Sequencing_Cards.pdf (see link above) and have the children place the cards in the order of preparation.  Next, have students verbally try to re-tell the sequence of steps for you.

Shake the Apple Tree (Tune: Row, Row, Row the Boat)

Shake, shake, shake the tree, (children reach arms up HIGH and pretend to shake an apple tree)

The apples all fall down, (children flutter fingers down to the side of their bodies)

Red & juicy they will be, (children rub their tummy in anticipation of the juicy treat)

Now pick them from the ground! (children bend to touch the floor and pretend to pick the apples up)

~Adaptations to traditional song by The Preschool Toolbox

Apple-Scented Sensory Bags

Materials needed:  Gallon size zip lock freezer bags, unscented shaving cream, 2Tbls. applesauce, ½ tsp. of any of the following:  cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves, (you might even add red food coloring), and smocks or paint shirts to protect clothing.

Place all ingredients inside the zip lock bag and seal.  Try to remove as much air as possible from the bag.  It is also suggested to duct tape the zipper closure to avoid leaks.  Have the children “squish” the ingredients together with their hands.

The children can lay the sensory bags flat on a table and draw or write on the outside of the bag with their fingers or paintbrushes.  These bags are great ways to let younger children practice making shapes, letters, and numbers without getting messy!