Last Updated on September 21, 2021 by Sheryl Cooper
Inside: Put together a week’s worth of apple learning activities with these fun ideas for toddlers and preschoolers. Free printables included!
One of the best themes to kick off the fall season is apples.
There are so many fun apple learning activities that build multiple skills!
I’ve put together a variety of ideas that are simple to do at home (or at school!) that also focus on building different skills.
Make sure to check out these “A Week’s Worth” collections, too:
A Week’s Worth of Color Recognition Activities
A Week’s Worth of Shape Recognition Activities
A Week’s Worth of Alphabet Activities
A Week’s Worth of Pumpkin Learning Activities
A Week’s Worth of Apple Learning Activities
We’ve categorized these apple learning activities to make it easier for you to plan your week!
How many of these activities you can do in a week will depend on your daily schedule. There are certainly enough activities in this collection to focus on apples for longer than a week!
Art
- Apple Suncatchers – Download the free printable template and press colorful tissue pieces to contact paper.
Supplies: Free printable template, tissue paper squares, Contact (sticky) Paper
- 3-D Apple Trees – Recycle paper tubes and use corks to press apples on the tree.
Supplies: Paper tubes, brown tempera paint, red tempera paint, green construction paper, wine corks
- Apple Stamping – Slice apples in half (with a trick to carve a handle into them) and print onto a paper apple.
Supplies: Free printable apple paper (provided), sliced apples, red tempera paint
- Apple Coffee Filter Craft – After applying markers to a coffee filter, watch what happens when water is sprayed on top. (Gift of Curiosity)
Supplies: Coffee filter, spray bottle filled with water apple-colored markers
- Pinecone Apples – Combine nature and art to make these cute pinecone apples. (Non-Toy Gifts)
Supplies: Pinecones, red paint, sticks, hot glue, green cardstock paper
Related: 12 Paper Plate Fall Crafts
Fine Motor
- Paper Plate Apple Lacing – Weave yarn in and out of the holes for a fun fine motor activity. (Preschool Inspirations)
Supplies: Paper plate, red tempera paint, hole punch, brown and green construction paper, glue, yarn
- Paper Plate Apple Craft – Tearing paper is a great way to strengthen fine motor skills, and helps create a fun apple tree. (Simple Today Life)
Supplies: Red, green, and brown construction paper; paper plate; craft glue or glue sticks
- Apple Picking – Practice fine motor and number recognition with this fun activity. (The Mama Workshop)
Supplies: Green and red cardstock, craft sticks, glue stick, tape, marker, small box
Related: Amazing Collection of Fall Fine Motor Activities
Gross Motor
- Indoor Apple Picking – Create a tree on the floor using tape and pick the apples! (Hands On As We Grow)
Supplies: Painters’ tape, apples, basket
- Ten Apples Up On Top Game – Jump on the numbered apples that are drawn on the sidewalk. (Still Playing School)
Supplies: Sidewalk Chalk
- Apple Orchard Activity – Get the apples safely into the baskets without using your hands. (The Inspired Treehouse)
Supplies: “Apples” (red balls, tennis balls, rolled up socks, etc.), basket or box
STEAM
- Apple Balance Challenge – Work on balancing skills with apples and paper tubes and/or cups. (Days with Grey)
Supplies: Paper tubes and/or paper cups, apples
Literacy
- Alphabet Apple Punching – Punching holes in different letters is a great way to work not only letter recognition, but also fine motor skills. (Toddler Approved)
Supplies: Black marker, red paper, hole punch, apple template (provided)
- Apple Tree Alphabet Game – Practice letter identification while developing fine motor skills. (Fun Learning for Kids)
Supplies: Green and brown construction paper, black marker, foam counting blocks, red apple erasers (or pom poms or gems)
- Apple Tree ABC Match – Match the letters on the stickers to those on the free printable. (I Heart Crafty Things)
Supplies: Apple tree ABC printable (provided), round circle stickers, black marker
Math
- Apple Color Graph – Sort apples into colors and use the free printable cards to graph the amount.
Supplies: Apples (red, yellow, green), free apple printable cards
- Apple Counting Activity – Work on number recognition, counting, and 1:1 correspondence using the free printable page.
Supplies: Mini apple erasers (or stickers), free printable apple counting sheet
- Apple 1:1 Correspondence – Invite your child to connect the numbered dots. (Days with Grey)
Supplies: Dot stickers, marker
Sensory
- Pom Pom Apple Tree Drop – Use tongs to drop pom poms (“apples”) down the trunk of the tree. (The Resourceful Mama)
Supplies: Cardboard tube, green paper, red and green pom poms, tongs, plastic tub
- Apple Foam – Whip up some simple foam, add apples, and have fun! (Toddler Approved)
Supplies: Bubble bath, water, hand mixer, squeeze bottles, containers, apples, measuring cup
- Apple Pie Cloud Dough – Have fun with this scented 3-ingredient cloud dough. (Views from a Step Stool)
Supplies: Flour, vegetable oil, apple pie spice
Related: Fall Sensory Bins Toddlers and Preschoolers Love
Colors
- Color Sorting Apple Activity – Sort Fruit Loops by color and place on the matching tree. (Preschool Inspirations)
Supplies: Brown, green, red, yellow construction paper; glue; Fruit Loops; Small Bowl
- Simple Apple Sorting – This activity requires little prep and works on important concepts. (The Resourceful Mama)
Supplies: Apples, basket, red basket, green basket
Playdough
- Apple Scented Playdough – This recipe is taste-safe, so it’s perfect for younger children. (Crayons and Cravings)
Supplies: Apple playdough (recipe in post)
- Green Apple Scented Playdough – Super easy to make and it smells wonderful. (Life Over C’s)
Supplies: Green apple playdough (recipe in post)
Related: 15+ Fun Fall Playdough Ideas
Science
- Erupting Apples – This simple chemistry activity is always a hit. (Little Bins for Little Hands)
Supplies: Apples, baking soda, vinegar, container
- Edible Apple Bubble Experiment – A snack and a science activity! (Preschool Powol Packets)
Supplies: Apples, orange juice (or water or any other juice), milk, straws
- Jumping Apple Seeds – After reading the book Ten Red Apples, watch what happens to the apple seeds in this science experiment. (J Daniel 4s Mom)
Supplies: White vinegar, plastic cup, 10 apple seeds per child, baking soda, measuring spoons
Snacks/Cooking
- Easy Apple Muffins – Invite your children into the kitchen to make these yummy muffins. Comes with free sequence printable cards!
Supplies: Muffin recipe (supplied in post), assorted kitchen utensils, free sequencing cards
- Quick Applesauce – Using a rice cooker to steam apple slices speeds up the process of this tasty applesauce.
Supplies: Rice Cooker, apple slices and other ingredients
- Crunchy Apple Boats – Your kids will love helping assemble these cute apple boats. (Childhood 101)
Supplies: Apples, peanut butter or other favorite spread, puffed rice, cheese, toothpicks
Music/Fingerplays
🍎 Fall Activity Plans 🍎
I’ve teamed up with other early childhood teachers and homeschoolers to put together these hands-on fall activity plans for toddlers and preschoolers!
Easy to follow activities that include modifications and adaptations to meet the needs of all learners.
Note: This is a digital product. That means when you make a purchase, you will be emailed a link to the activities.
For more information, click on the graphics below:
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Heather Cassarino
Sheryl,
You are AMAZING!!!! Thank you very much for your wisdom and insight. I am very fond of you. Your ideas are always inspirational. Can’t say enough about how much I appreciate your website and You Tube channel. You should be proud of yourself 🙂
Heather from NH
Sheryl Cooper
Thank you, Heather!