Apples are a fun way to explore STEM during the fall! These easy apple STEM activities combine science, technology, engineering, and math through building, testing, measuring, observing, and problem-solving.
Use real apples and simple supplies for hands-on activities that work well for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary learners.
Areas: Science, Engineering, Math
Grades: Preschool–Elementary
Concepts: Building, balance, gravity, buoyancy, measurement, problem-solving, observation
Best Apple STEM Activities
Start with these hands-on apple challenges that encourage kids to build, test ideas, and make changes.
Build Apple Structures
Cut an apple into pieces, add toothpicks, and challenge kids to build shapes, towers, or other structures. This makes a fun snack-time STEM activity (add cubes of cheese!).
🔎 Try asking: How tall can you build? What shapes make the strongest base? What happens when you change the design?
Make Apple Boats
Use apple pieces and simple paper sails to build boats that float.
Test different-sized apple pieces and sails, then make changes to improve the design. This is an easy way to combine buoyancy with engineering and problem-solving.
Stacking Apples STEM Challenge
How many apples can you stack?
Pair this challenge with Ten Apples Up On Top! for a simple building activity that explores balance, stability, and design.
Build LEGO Apples
Use LEGO bricks to design an apple while exploring building, shape, symmetry, and problem solving.
3D Paper Apples
Use the printable pieces to build a three-dimensional apple while exploring shape, symmetry, structure, and spatial reasoning.
Balancing Apples
Explore balance and stability using real apples and paper apples.
Kids can test different arrangements and see what helps an object stay balanced.
Apple Fractions
Turn snack time into hands-on math.
Cut apples into halves, fourths, and other equal parts, then pair the activity with the free apple fractions printable.
Apple Graphing Activity
Collect and compare apple data, then organize the results in a simple graph. Kids can graph apple colors, favorite varieties, taste-test results, or other observations for an easy hands-on math activity.
Apple Gravity Experiment
Use apples and a ramp to explore motion and gravity.
Compare different apples, make predictions, and observe how they move.
Apple Sink or Float
Predict whether an apple will sink or float, then test it.
🔎 Once you know a whole apple floats, try apple pieces or turn the investigation into an engineering challenge by building an apple boat.
Add Some Apple Science
STEM activities often begin with science questions. These apple investigations are easy additions when you want to explore chemistry, observation, or life science.
Erupting Apple Volcano
Set up a fizzy baking soda and vinegar reaction inside an apple.
Why Do Apples Turn Brown?
Explore oxidation and test ways to slow down browning.
Apple 5 Senses Activity
Compare different apple varieties using sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste.
Count Apple Seeds
Cut open apples and other fall fruits and compare how many seeds you find inside.
Apple Oobleck
Explore the unusual properties of a non-Newtonian fluid with an apple-themed twist.
How Does an Apple Grow?
Explore the parts of an apple and how apples grow from flower to fruit.
Apple STEAM Activities
Want to add art to STEM?
Fizzy Apple Art
Combine baking soda and vinegar science with process art for an easy fall STEAM activity.
Free Apple Science & STEM Activities
Grab the free printable Apple Science & STEM Activities guide for easy fall learning ideas in one place.
👉 Get the Free Apple Activities Guide
Use it to choose activities for a fall STEM day, apple theme, or classroom science week.
What Is STEM?
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math.
For young learners, STEM does not need to be complicated. A simple activity can become STEM when kids are encouraged to ask questions, build, test, measure, compare, and improve their ideas.
Good STEM activities give kids a problem to solve or something to investigate rather than focusing only on getting one correct result.
👉 Learn more about STEM for Kids.
Printable Apple Science and STEM Pack
Want even more apple activities ready to go?
The Apple Science and STEM Pack includes more than 125 pages of apple-themed projects and printables for Kindergarten through elementary.
Inside you’ll find science investigations, STEM challenges, apple life cycle activities, recording pages, and printable resources for fall learning.
Teaching Preschool?
Many of these apple STEM activities can be simplified for younger learners, especially building, balancing, sensory observation, and simple sink-or-float activities.
For more preschool-specific ideas, explore the Preschool Apple Activities Pack.
More to Explore
Apple Science Experiments | Fall STEM Activities | STEM Activities for Kids | Apple Life Cycle
Great ideas Thankyou!
Thank you!
These are great activities that I will use for my Kindergarten class. Thanks for sharing them. I love the fact that they are quick, easy and inexpensive to do.