The BEST Way to Teach Apples in Pre-K
Use books and activities to make teaching apples in Pre-K a breeze!
One of my favorite back-to-school themes is APPLES. It’s perfect to incorporate into teaching in late August or even in September when introducing fall to your little learners.
There is so, so much to do with apples. Preschoolers can count, sort, identify letters, math, craft, build names, taste test, discuss social-emotional skills… the possibilities are endless!
Being intentional when selecting themed books and activities will ensure you are able to hit all of the classroom standards needed while still having lots of fun and keeping little minds engaged and excited.
Apple-themed Books
Here are a couple of my favorite apple read-alouds that are both informative and super fun to read:
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Ten Apples Up on Top! By Dr. Seuss
This children’s book is a silly read aloud about three animal friends who attempt to balance apples on their heads. It’s a great choice when introducing counting and can also be used to talk about having friends who look differently than you.
Pinkalicious: Apples, Apples, Apples! By Victoria Kann
Pinkalicious and her family visit the apple orchard and return home with lots of Pink Lady apples. They soon realize that they brought back way too many apples, but Pinkalicious figures out different ways to share the apples. This book is great for introducing different types of apples, discussing ways to use apples, talking about apple orchards, and sharing with others.
Find even more of my favorite apple read-alouds in my Amazon storefront.
Even with unit-specific books, like apples, it’s important to have a selection of books that represent the different situations the little ones in your classroom may experience.
Choose books that can help children learn about familiar & new experiences. Don’t forget to use books that highlight different ethnicities, abilities, and environments too!
Use Themed Activities
There’s no need to recreate the wheel when planning for your apple unit.
Grab some low-prep resources (like these in my TPT store) to target specific preschool skills like math, pre-reading, and fine motor.
Math
Target math skills by sorting and graphing apple cereal with this fun activity.
Practice counting, graphing, and building patterns with the Apples Math Pack. It pairs perfectly with Dr. Seuss’ Ten Apples Up on Top!
Letter and Sound Recognition
Teach capital letters, lowercase letters, and beginning sounds with these apple letter cards.
These are super easy to use in a quick matching activity or with any sensory-related bin you can think of (check out an easy Rainbow Rice DIY here!)
Categories
Use Attribute Apples by Learning Resources for a fun hands-on way to sort, match, and compare apples by different categories. Your little learners won’t even realize they’re also strengthening their fine motor skills during play too with this fun resource.
Apple Pie Sensory Bin
Make another fun apple-themed sensory bin for your favorite little learners to explore!
What You Need
- Pie pan
- Oats
- Baking tools
- Attribute apples from @learningresources
How To
It’s seriously so easy! Just throw your oats, baking tools, and apples onto your pie pan and let little hands begin exploring while they learn about applies in Pre-K!
PRO TIP: grab the extra baking tools you have stashed in that far-away drawer at home or run to your local dollar store to grab several inexpensive sets that can stay in your classroom for future fun!
Watch this apple sensory bin in action here!
How will you use apples to teach your little ones this year? Do you already have a favorite apple book or activity? Let me know on IG!
You might also be interested in:
The TOP Halloween Books & Crafts for Preschoolers
Teaching Math to Preschoolers Using Snacks
Comprehensive Activity Guide for Teaching Transportation in Pre-K
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