Make-It Topic: Apples

PICKING APPLES

Here’s a little apple tree,
(Left arm up, fingers spread.)
I look up and I can see,
(Look at fingers.)
Big red apples, ripe and sweet,
(Cup hands to hold apple.)
Big red apples, good to eat!
(Raise hands to mouth.)
Shake the little apple tree,
(Shake tree with hands.)
See the apples fall on me.

Here’s a basket, big and round,
(Make circle with arms.)
Pick the apples from the ground,
(Pick and put in basket.)
Here’s an apple I can see,
(Look up to the tree.)
Waiting there just for me.
I’ll reach up. It’s ripe and sweet
(Reach up to upper hand.)
That’s the apple I eat!
(Hands to mouth.)

APPLE TREE

This is the tree
With leaves so green.
(Make leaves with fingers outstretched.)
Here are the apples
That hang in-between.
(Make a fist)
When the wind blows
(Blow.)
The apples will fall.
(Make a falling motion with hand.)
Here is the basket to gather them all.
(Use arms to form basket.)

APPLE TREE
Way up high in the apple tree
(Stretch arm up high.)
Two little apples smiled at me.
(Hold up two fingers.)
I shook that tree as hard as I could.
(Make shaking motions.)
Mmmmm- they were good!
(Smile and rub stomach.)

APPLE CHANT
Apples, apples, good to eat.
Apples, apples, juicy and sweet.
Pick them off the tree.
Buy them at the store.
Apples, apples,
We want more.

FIVE RED APPLES
Five red apples hanging in the tree,
(Hold up five fingers.)
The juiciest apples you ever did see.
The wind came by and gave an angry, frown,
(Fingers flutter downward.)
And one little apple came tumbling down.
(One finger falls.)
Four little apples hanging on a tree, etc.

MY APPLE
Look at my apple, it is nice and round.
(Cup hands.)
It feel from a tree, down to the ground.
(Move fingers in a downward motion.)
Come, let me share my apple, please do!
(Beckoning motion.)
My mother can cut it half in two -
(Slicing motion)
One half for me and one half for you.
(Hold out two hands sharing halves.)

ART

• Make apple prints by dripping halved apples in red paint and then pressing onto paper.
• Stamp with round items on large sheets of apple-shaped paper.

GROSS MOTOR

• Toss apples (red, yellow or green sponge balls) into baskets.
• Hide apples about the room, just before snack. Have the children locate the apples and then wash them for snack.

SAND/WATER

• Wash apples in water. Place several different kinds of seeds in the sensory table. Provide scoops, bowls, and bottles to fill.
• Add small trucks, large round beads, and small baskets to the sand table.

SCIENCE

• Cut different varieties of apples for a tasting party. Sample a variety of products that have apple as a main ingredient, i.e. apple pie, apple sauce. Compare apple juice and apple cider.
• Cut and core an apple into sections. Dip half the apple into lemon juice. Set both halves on a plate. Notice the effects of the lemon juice coating, how it keeps oxygen from the apples, and so they do not discolor as rapidly.
• Cut an apple into halves crossways. Have the children notice the star shape in the center of the apple.
• Collect seeds from the apples that are eaten at snack. Rinse, and then observe with a magnifying glass.

IMAGINATIVE PLAY

• Set up an apple stand. Provide paper bags, plastic apples, cash register, money, stand, and bushels.
• Set up a bakery. Provide metal or plastic pie plates, loaf and muffin pans, pie servers, pot holders, aprons empty spice containers, recipes for items that include apples, measuring cups and spoons, and other items that would facilitate the play.

TABLE TOP/CONCEPTUAL

• Cut apple shapes of various sizes from paper for a sequencing game.
• Provide a scale and various-sized apples for the children to weigh on the scale.

BLOCKS

• Provide large wooden beads to represent apples. Add trucks and small baskets to move the beads about. Plastic trees and people figurines could be added.
• Add bushels of various sizes to use with the blocks.

FIELD TRIP

• Visit someone in the neighborhood who has an apple tree in their yard.
• Visit a grocery store to see the variety of apples available for purchase. Have each child choose an apple to purchase, and then enjoy the apples at snack time.
• Visit a bakery and observe the baked goods that have apples as part of the ingredients.