What goes better with Fall than apples? We have many fun and easy apple activities for kindergarten and preschool and even toddlers to enjoy this fall season. Combine apple science, sensory, and fine motor play, along with apple art activities for a simple set-up apple theme!

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Learn and Play With An Apple Theme

Hands-on learning through play is perfect for this time of year! What better way than with a seasonal preschool apple theme?

Do you take a family trip to an apple orchard each year? It’s become a great tradition for our family! Tractor rides, apple picking, cider doughnuts! There’s so much to love about fall and apple season! Check out all the activities below you can do with apples.

Make apples erupt, race apples cut them up, and do a taste test, and more. These simple preschool apple activities use items you have or can pick up quickly and inexpensively at your local store. Why not enjoy some cider along with your apple activities?

We have found our Apple projects are perfect for preschool-age kids ranging from 3-6 but also work well for kindergarten and early elementary-age kids. Of course, you can extend the learning with Apple STEM activities and Apple science experiments! A few have printable journal pages.

Also, check out the printable Apple activities pack, including five senses activities at the end of the page.

Click here to get your free printable Apple activity!

Why Do Apple Activities with Preschoolers?

Exploring an apple theme with preschool-age kids offers numerous benefits that align with their developmental needs and cognitive growth. Here are some reasons why it’s valuable:

Hands-on Learning: Engaging in hands-on activities related to apples allows preschoolers to interact with the subject matter in a tangible way. This tactile experience helps them better understand and retain information.

Sensory Development: Apple-themed activities often involve various textures, tastes, smells, and colors. These sensory experiences contribute to the development of children’s sensory perception and cognitive skills.

Language Development: The apple theme provides opportunities for conversations, discussions, and storytelling. Describing the taste, texture, color, and smell of apples helps preschoolers build their vocabulary and communication skills.

Math and Science Exploration: Activities like counting apples, comparing sizes, and observing the parts of an apple (seeds, core, flesh) introduce basic math and science concepts in a playful and relatable context.

Fine and Gross Motor Skills: Many apple-themed activities involve cutting, pasting, picking, sorting, and manipulating objects. These actions promote the development of fine motor skills and coordination.

Cognitive Development: Exploring the life cycle of an apple, understanding why apples float, and observing changes in apple slices due to exposure to air encourage critical thinking and curiosity.

Social Interaction: Participating in group activities centered around the apple theme encourages social interaction, collaboration, and sharing among preschoolers. It helps them develop social skills and learn to work together.

Creativity and Imagination: Art projects, pretend play, and imaginative activities related to apples stimulate creativity and imaginative thinking in young children.

Fostering Positive Attitudes toward Healthy Foods: Through activities like apple tasting and cooking, children can develop positive associations with fruits and healthy foods. This can contribute to lifelong healthy eating habits.

Connecting with Nature: Learning about apples allows children to connect with nature and understand where their food comes from. This connection fosters a sense of appreciation for the natural world.

Readiness for Formal Education: The exploration of themes like apples prepares preschoolers for more structured learning experiences in school. It enhances their ability to learn through thematic units and adapt to different subject matters.

Tips to Set Up An Apple Theme Unit

Exploring an apple theme with preschoolers can be both educational and enjoyable. Here are some fun and engaging ways put together an apple unit:

Grab our Complete Peschool Apple Unit to get started!

  1. Apple Tasting Party: Set up a tasting station with different types of apples (red, green, yellow) and let the children taste and compare them. Discuss their flavors, textures, and colors. You could also provide some toppings like peanut butter or caramel for dipping.
  2. Apple Art: Create apple-themed art projects. Use cut apples as stamps to make apple prints, or let the children paint apples with various colors. They can also make apple collages using torn paper or tissue paper. See many fun ideas below!
  3. Apple Science: Explore the concept of buoyancy by experimenting with whether apples float or sink in water. You can also cut apples in half horizontally and vertically to observe the different parts inside.
  4. Apple Math: Use apple-shaped cutouts for counting and basic math activities. You can create simple addition and subtraction problems using apple visuals.
  5. Apple Story Time: Read apple-themed storybooks during story time. Choose age-appropriate books that involve apples or orchard adventures.
  6. Apple Cooking: Involve the children in simple apple-themed cooking activities. Make applesauce, apple slices with cinnamon, or mini apple pies using pre-made pie crusts.
  7. Apple Exploration Table: Set up a sensory exploration table with different types of apples, magnifying glasses, and various textures like leaves, twigs, and even apple-scented playdough.
  8. Apple Sorting: Provide a variety of apples in different sizes and colors. Have the children sort them into categories based on their attributes.
  9. Apple Investigation: Cut open an apple and let the children observe the core, seeds, and other parts. Discuss the life cycle of an apple and its growth stages.
  10. Apple Hunt: Hide plastic or paper apples around the room or outdoor area for the children to find. This can be a fun physical activity that also incorporates counting.
  11. Apple Science Experiment: Cut apples into slices and dip them in various liquids (lemon juice, water, milk) to see how they react and change color over time.

Try These Apple Activities!

Add some of these apple activities to the tips above and you’ll have a fun and full preschool apple unit which can also be used for toddlers and kindergarteners as well!

Apple Dot Painting

A simple apple art project! Grab a printable apple template and paint an apple using only dots.

Apple Stamping

Get stamping or printmaking this fall with a fun process art activity that uses apples as paint brushes. Red, green or purple… What color are your favorite apples? 

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Apple Stamping

Fizzing Apple Art

Baking soda and vinegar meet art for one a favorite apple theme STEAM activity.

Apple Bubble Wrap Prints

Who doesn’t love playing with bubble wrap! Here you can use it to create fun and colorful apple prints for fall.

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Apple Sensory Bin

Create a simple sensory bin with an apple theme to work on fine motor skills, counting and more!

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Apple Playdough

Enjoy sensory play with homemade apple playdough. Also includes activity suggestions!

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Apple Playdough

Apple Squeeze Balls 

Make your own homemade sensory balls or squeeze balls for calm down time, stacking, and counting to go along with one of our favorite fall books.

Apple Oobleck

Here is a fun fall twist on the classic oobleck recipe. We added one extra ingredient to give it an apple theme for play and learning. Great for getting kids talking about liquids and solids!

Erupting Apple-Cano 

MUST TRY! Our erupting apple-cano is a real hit! Grab a real apple and turn it into a fizzing baking soda and vinegar reaction. Make sure to check out our pumpkin-cano too!

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Apple Volcano

Apple Pie Cloud Dough

Cloud dough is an easy two ingredient sensory recipe made from your kitchen cupboards. Taste safe too! Here it makes an excellent filler for an apple pie sensory bin!

Ten Apples Up On Top 

This has to be the perfect Dr Seuss book for fall. We paired it with a sensory bin filled with dried peas and toy apples. A classic book for sensory play and a fun math lesson. Extension activities included.

Parts of an Apple

Find out how an apple grows and so much more when you explore real apples inside and out. Also get our parts of an apple printable!

Apple Physics: Learn About Ramps, Angles, and Gravity

This makes a fun outdoor {or indoor} science activity that is quick and easy to set up. Tasty too!

Applesauce Playdough

Want a quick play dough that you can make with what you have? Keep the kids busy with this easy no cook playdough recipe.

Build LEGO Apples

No fancy bricks required for these fun and simple LEGO apples that also make a great STEM lesson.

Red Apple Slime

While you wait and dream for lush apple orchards to pick whatever you want, make this fun red apple slime instead.

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Red Apple Slime

Printable Preschool Apple Activities Pack

Get ready to explore this year with our growing Preschool STEM Bundle!

What’s Included:

There are 4 fun preschool themes to get you started. This is an ” I can explore” series!

  • My 5 Senses
  • All About Me
  • Science and Scientist
  • Apples

Each unit contains approximately 15 activities, with instructions and templates as needed. Hands-on activities are provided to keep it fun and exciting. This includes sensory bins, experiments, games, and more! Easy supplies keep it low cost, and book suggestions add the learning time. 

Or grab the Apple Preschool Pack on it’s own!