Apple Math

This last week, we did an apple theme here. I came up with a couple new pages for the week and thought I would share them here.

The first was inspired by Raegan's: 

Apple File Folder Game- Counting

I wanted to do this, but didn't want to do the file folder thing. So I made this. I printed it and laminated it. I can write whatever I want on the baskets with a dry erase or wet erase marker. I think you can print from the image, but if not, here is the link in my google documents.

I had her first sort the skittles into three different bowls, then she put the correct number into each basket.

This was inspired by my 

Apple Seed Counting

I wanted to put the seeds on the apple and have the kids do math with them. The idea here is you put seeds in each apple, then the child counts and writes how many under the apple. You decide if the child is doing addition, subtraction, multiplication, division...write that in the square between the apples. The child writes the answer on the provided line. I liked this because I can use the same sheet for all three of my children. I laminated it so I don't have to do a bunch of printouts. My kids get a big kick out of using the markers to write. Here is the link in Google Documents.

Apple Unit Ideas

We must love apples around here because we have lots of ideas for you with apples.

Baked Apples with Cranberries

Paper Plate Apple {plus fine motor bonus}

Simple Apple Sort

Blast from the Past: Apple Prints

Apple Books

Handprint Apple Tree

Apple Seed Counting

Apple File Folder Game- Counting

Apple Sort

Fruit Bowl Math

Miniature Candy-ish Apples

Turkey Apple

Fall Craft: Apples & Thankfulness

Apple Unit for Toddlers

And how about some ideas from Pinterest

Diagram of an Apple

Apple-Themed Activity Pack

Apple Unit (First Grade)

Long List of Apple Ideas

Apple Printables

Baked Apples with Cranberries

This is cooking project we did after apple picking last year. I found the recipe in the mail from my grocery store and knew it was something J could do with me. I had all the ingredients, so we could do it right away!
Baked Apples with Cranberries
1. Preheat oven to 375*F. Core the apples, leaving the bottom closed (creating a small bowl in the apple). Peel the top half of the apple.
2. Fill the apple with dried cranberries (I used frozen and it was fine).
3. Top with a spoon of brown sugar, 1/2 tsp of butter and sprinkle with cinammon.
4. Bake for 35-45 minutes (until the apples are soft).
J helped with steps 2 and 3 and then of course helped with eating. This was a simple cooking project for him. You can make just one or a dozen. I really decided to do this last minute because I had all the ingredients, no planning required.
I forgot to take end result pictures of my own, this is from Nicola’s Blog (ours did not look so pretty anyway!)

This would be a good recipe for any age toddler, even the youngest could manage this. Preschoolers could accomplish it mostly on their own. You could create a picture list for them to follow on their own. All ingredients are safe for taste sampling if they get distracted while “cooking” and if they were to add more than the actual recipe called for, no harm done. Use a spoon or tongs for adding the cranberries and you’ve included some fine motor skill practice.



Becca also blogs at Fun and Engaging Activities for Toddlers

Paper Plate Apple {plus fine motor bonus}

So this is my other fun activity from Kaitlyn's preschool class I wanted to share. It is a paper plate apple with a fine motor activity. You could do one or the other or both together.

The paper plate apple is a very simple craft. You paint the paper plate the color you want it. Then you cut out and glue a green leave to the top. You could also add a brown stem. Children LOVE to paint. You could also color it or do cheating paint and paint with do-a-dots. If I want to do "paints" but don't have the patience for paints, we use do-a-dots.

The other is a worm fine motor writing activity. There are simply pictures of worms, a dotted line for the path the worm took, then the apple the worm ate. You could find pictures of worms on the internet. Then find pictures of apples on the internet. Copy them and put them into a Word document. Then make dotted lines.

OR 

You could print the little pictures, cut them out, and paste them onto a page and draw the dotted lines yourself.

OR 

You could just draw the whole thing. I am not artist, but lately I  have come to prefer that method. Then it turns out how my head wants it to :) But I do check the Internet first in case someone has previously stolen the image from my head and kindly put it on the Internet first ;).

You then have the child color the pictures and trace the dotted like. This builds fine motor control for preparing for handwriting. You can see these lines Kaitlyn did get harder to do, and you can see how her top lines are perfect, and bottom lines are not. Good practice!

Simple Apple Sort

Kaitlyn (4) is now in preschool three days a week. Last week she learned about apples at preschool and came home with lots of fun ideas. I just love her teacher. This one is very simple. The children each got a little baggie of apples. These are die-cuts. You could do printouts or stickers as well. They then sorted them by color into the four different sections on the page. 

For younger children, you could color each section the colors of your sorting ideas. So one red, one green, one blue, and one yellow. It would make the sorting easier for younger children (like toddlers). Quick and easy!

Blast from the Past: Apple Prints

Last month, we tried out Raegan's idea for making apple cards. If you haven't tried this out, I think your kids will love it! Paint is always fun. We used ours to send a cousin a birthday card. I wrote "Have an "App"solutely Amazing Birthday!" Aahh cheesiness. How I love it.

Apple Books

Last year, Raegan posted with some ideas for some good Fall books. I wanted to add a few fun Apples/Fall books I have come across recently.

Piglet's Fall Day
I couldn't find this on Amazon, which means it is a harder book to find. If you can find it in your library, it is a cute little book about Piglet and Fall. My kids have all loved the Pooh series books when little.


The Apple Orchard (A Visit to...) by Patricia J. Murphy
This book is on Amazon, but out of stock right now. This book has full color photographs that explain a visit to the apple orchard. This is a great book if you can't make it to a real orchard. It would also be a great book to read before you visit to introduce concepts and after you visit to reinforce concepts.



Johnny Appleseed
There are many, many versions of the tale of Johnny Appleseed out there. We borrowed two from the library that were both quite different. I noticed several in Brayden's book club order this Fall. I have linked to all Johnny Appleseed Children's books on Amazon so you can browse through and see if there is one that looks best for your child.



Apples and Pumpkins (Stories to Go!) by Anne Rockwell

I think this is my favorite find this Fall. I loved that it combined the apple and pumpkin themes. It goes through fall activities you do with your family.







The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons

Okay, this one is also a favorite. It shows a tree through all seasons of the year. Every so often, a page has a box with extra information. For this reason, it makes it a great book for the younger crowd as well as the older. You can keep it simple or add more info.




Apple Countdown by Joan Holub

This is a fun new book about counting things around the apple farm.

Handprint Apple Tree

A simple way to make a cute hand print keepsake!
Materials:

• Washable paint
• Cardstock (or construction paper)
• Paintbrush (optional)
• Do-A-Dot markers, or small sponges, or paintbrush
• Munchkin hands :)
  

Steps:

1. Dip hands in brown paint. I sponge painted the hand after they dipped it, so it would cover the entire hand.
2. Wait for it to dry.
3. Do-a-dot or sponge paint the leaves on the tree (or finger paint).
4. Dry.
5. Use 1 finger to dot apples in the tree and around the bottom.

For older kids, or more detailed project:

You can make 4 trees, one tree for each season of an apple tree. You'd need a few more colors (pink, white, fall colors) for the different seasons. A good book to read is The Season's of Arnold's Apple Tree.

Apple Seed Counting

If you decide to spend some time learning about apples this Fall, you might choose to do the Apple Print Activity Raegan shared last year. Or perhaps you will choose to have apples as snacks one day. Either way, you will be cutting into an apple. As you do, you can add a number counting activity!

AGE RANGE

A great thing about counting things is that any age can benefit from it. If you have a baby or pre-toddler, you can count for them. My little 17 month old can count to two or three if you say "one..." That is just from her hearing me count things all the time. The Toddlers and older can start to count on their own, though young toddlers will need a lot of help.

SUPPLIES

• Apple
• Knife

PREP

Cut apple in half

ACTIVITY

Remove the apple seeds from the apple. Count the seeds with your child. For the younger crowd, just count. For the older toddler and preschooler, have her count them herself by holding them and counting. For the older preschooler and older, do some simple addition or subtraction with the seeds depending on your child's ability.

This activity was inspired by The Toddler's Busy Book, page 195.

Apple File Folder Game- Counting

Here is another example of a file folder game I made, this time focusing on counting. If you'd like the template for the small baskets, here you go! Here's the template for the large basket, if you'd like it.
Okay, for the activity. The file folder with 12 baskets is for my 3 year old, the 6 baskets are for my 19 month old. I printed, cut and glued down the baskets where I wanted them. Then, again, I "laminated" them with packing tape. This game I'm really excited about because it's very versatile. You can write on the baskets using a Vis-A-Vis marker, or dry erase marker. Wipes right off, so the game can change as your child's needs change. Again, super cheap to make, easy to store, and the girls both had a blast.
Since our theme this week is apples (at our house), I used red, green, and yellow "apples" (Skittles) for counting.
.
For my 1 year old: We are working on 1-1 correspondence and recognizing numbers. I wrote a #1 on each basket and she has to put 1 skittle in each basket.

For my 3 year old: I wrote different numbers, 1-10 (I started easy for her for the introduction to the game), and she has to count out the correct number of apples for each basket.

Some options:

• Different numbers
• Patterns (AB, ABB, AABB, etc)
• Introduction of a new number (ex:write 7 on each basket, and they will get between 6-12 times to practice counting out that number per game played)
• Addition, subtraction, multiplication, etc
• Letter matching. Instead of candy apples, put a group of letters (paper, magnetic, etc) and write a letter on each basket. Have them match the correct letters. It could be capitals to capitals, or capital to lower case.
• Color matching

Apple Sort

One of my favorite things to utilize when I taught---File Folder games!!! Imagine...all the pieces in one spot, practicing a skill, one-on-one or independent, quiet games. Oh, and talk about simple storage for you! This took me about 30 minutes TOTAL (looking for pics, printing, cutting, etc) to make.
I simply went to Google Images, typed in free clip art, and chose the apple pictures that I wanted. Cut, paste, repeat.
I made this game for my 19 month old. You can choose 2 or more colors, whatever theme you want, and the game cost me about $1 to make. :)
Supplies:

• File folder (I bought a cheapy box of the plain. About $3 for 50 at Wal-mart.)
• Printed and cut apples (or cars, teddy bears, etc)
• Packing tape (I used it to "laminate" my pieces so they would last longer. $2 for a huge roll)
• 2 white envelopes, cut in half and taped for sturdiness.

I use the pocket at the top for storage of pieces (opening facing inward to avoid pieces falling out, but ease of use for a 19 month old).

Now I have a game I can pull out when I need a few minutes to finish something I'm working on, for practicing skills together, and something for her activity tray for her to work on while I cook dinner. I can also take it easily with me to a doctor's office, or any place I need her to sit quietly and still for a little while.

She adored the pocket idea, though you could just use a white piece of paper and let the sort and stack them instead.

Fruit Bowl Math

This idea is inspired from the Math In Focus program. This is one of those things I thought I would try out, but was sure the kids would be only mildly interested. Then they surprised me by not wanting to ever stop.

AGE RANGE: It is meant for Kindergarteners, but my 3 year old also did it all with no problem at all. I would say definitely preschooler and up, with some older toddlers being able to do it. You could also do a variation for younger toddlers. See Variation section below.

SKILLS LEARNED

This activity works on teaching similarities and differences among objects. It also works on counting and shapes. You will also get some color work in there.

SUPPLIES

• bowl
• Two apples
• One banana
• One lemon
• One strawberry

PREPARATION

Simply put the fruit in the bowl.

ACTIVITY

• Choose two fruits. Have your child say the name and what is the same and/or different about them.
• I had my children describe the shape of the fruit
• I put all of the fruit in a bowl and asked the child to take out two circle shape fruits or two yellow fruits, etc.
• Put X number of fruit in the bowl and ask your child to count them
• Take all fruit out of the bowl. Ask your child to put X number of fruits in the bowl
• Put two fruit in the bowl. Ask your child to make it so there are four fruit in the bowl
• Put five fruit in the bowl. Ask your child to make it so there are three fruit in the bowl.

Etc.

VARIATION

For the younger crowd, go through the fruit in the bowl and describe what is the same and different around them. Hearing you talk about it will help build his vocabulary and awareness. Say colors, shapes, number, etc.

Miniature Candy-ish Apples

I call them candy-ish since they aren't dipped in caramel or that red sticky stuff. But they are mini and they are FUN! Here's what you need:

• Apples (whatever kind you like)
• Melon baller/scoop
• Toothpicks
• Dipping choices (peanut butter, marshmallow fluff, chocolate, etc)
• Sprinkles

Here's what you do:

1. After washing your apples, scoop the apples with the melon baller and stick a toothpick in the tops, so you can see the skin.
2. While you are scooping, in small bowls, melt the chocolate, peanut butter, etc so it's at a good dipping consistency.
3. Pour sprinkles on a separate plate.
4. Holding the apples by the toothpick, let your kiddos dip the apples in the gooey yumminess and then in the sprinkles.
5. Eat!!!! The favorite here was peanut butter!
   As you can see, she did not enjoy this at all. If you try this, what did your munchkin(s) like for dipping the most? You could also crunch up cereal or nuts instead of sprinkles!

Turkey Apple

Brayden brought this home from preschool the other day. I thought it was so cute. He colored feathers, a turkey head, and feet. He cut them out and then taped them to toothpicks and stuck the toothpicks into the apple. I thought it was a fun idea!

Fall Craft: Apples & Thankfulness

I was looking for a way to help emphasize being thankful with my toddler. There's such a natural sense of me, me, me that toddlers have, and I want to help Charis learn how it feels and what it looks like to be thankful for the wonderful people in our lives. Here's what we came up with around here.

Materials Needed:

*Washable paint

*Apples (1-3)
*Paintbrushes or sponge brushes
*Blank cards with envelopes

Ages: 2+

Prep:
*Put down paper on the table to keep paint from getting everywhere.

*Cut the apples. One needs to be cut in half, so it keeps it's pretty "apple" shape.

The other apple(s) I cut in half horizontally, so that the shape of the core makes a star. Then I cut the apple around the star, to make an easy to hold square (like a stamper).

*I put paint in individual jars, for easy access for the brushes.

*Lay note cards out flat.

Activity:

1. Show your toddler how to paint the sliced apples. It works better to paint the slices rather than dip them.

2. Show them how to press the apples on the card. It's okay if they wiggle, it's their creation...a piece of them.

3. After they dry, draw (or if your child is old enough, let them) apple seeds and stems on the apples.

4. Keep the note cards handy. It's a good idea to write a thank you or "I appreciate you" note right then. Explain that when you care about someone, appreciate someone, or want to say thank you, it makes their day brighter to get a card.

We keep the cards in plain sight so I can grab one when the opportunity presents itself.

It's never too early to set the example of being grateful. Make sure you do the same, and tell your child when you send a card or call someone to say thank you, I miss you, Happy Birthday, or whatever you decide.