Many picture books inspire apple theme literacy activities. Use the books to show children the bare branches of the winter tree, spring blossoms, the parts of a blossom, the green apples of summer and the ripe, juicy fruit of the autumn.
Picture books with bright illustrations, labeled diagrams, and simple text are great for introducing information about growing apples.
As you teach the apple theme, introduce sight words such as red, green, yellow, apple, tree, post the words in the writing center, read books with color words like, “Red is Best” by Kathy Stinston and make a simple frame sentence red book. An apple is red. A ______ is red.
Apple theme literacy – apple shape books
- Put apple-shaped booklets (3 or 4 pages ) in the writing center
- Have students copy the letter Aa on the front
- Post simple pictures with words of things that begin with “a” in the writing center
- Students draw one item of their choice on each page and copy word if they are able
Apple theme literacy – Make an apple web & graph
- Glue or draw an apple in the center of a piece of chart paper
- Have children brainstorm all the food items we can make with apples
- Examples – apple juice, pies, muffins, apple sauce, dried apples, apple butter
- Teacher draws simple pictures around the apple on the chart
- Using their knowledge of letter sounds, students help sound out the chart labels
- Have each student glue a small red apple beside their favorite apple food
- Count the small red apples with the students and print the number beside the apples.
- Ask, which food did the class like the most? the least?
Math and Literature Connection – Read “Ten Apples Up On Top!” by Theo. Le Sieg (Dr. Seuss) – and then try this class book counting activity.
Apple theme art activities
- Apple stencils – Cut apple shapes out of the front of an old file folder and let a student put paper between the folder and make apple shapes with paint and a stiff brush. Open file folder to dry after class.
- Printmaking with cut apples – Carefully cut the apples in half so the star shape shows, brush some colors on the apple half (works better than dipping in paint) and press the apple on to the paper
- Egg carton wasps (To go with the “Giant Jam Sandwich” story below – cut out 3 sections of an egg carton for each wasp. Teach head, abdomen, thorax, and which section the wings and legs grow from (tape on).
Apple theme literacy and listening center
Make an apple theme reading and/or listening center. Below are a few apple theme stories for young children.
Apple Theme Books
The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons
Use this book to teach the seasons and the growth of apples.
The Story of Johnny Appleseed by Aliki
There are many versions of this classic tale available.
When discussing apples the topics of wasps always seems to come up.The Giant Jam Sandwich
A National Geographic book that has beautiful photography which makes learning come alive for kids.
Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell
A clearly illustrated story about things that a family can do in autumn. Shows apple picking with the family at an apple farm, pumpkin picking, and carving a jack-o-lantern. The last three pages feature trick or treating with the children dressed up. A good transition between apple and pumpkin studies.
