Start your second graders off with some easy printable apple activities available online. Websites like Dltk-Kids and Teaching Heart have printable activities such as coloring pages, connect the dot puzzles, Johnny Appleseed coloring pages and apple-themed writing paper. Give the students crayons and markers to color the pictures. For another easy activity, give each student a sheet of paper and have her write down as many words as she can using the letters from the word apple. Award a small prize to the child who writes down the most words.
If you have enough real apples, use real apples for a counting activity. Small plastic apples from your local craft store are inexpensive and perfect for counting activities. Write numbers on index cards and place them on a table. The students must place the corresponding amount of apples on the index cards. You can also write numbers on buckets and have the children place the correct amount of apples in each bucket. Turn the activity into a race between two students and award prizes to the winners.
Print pictures of apples and write numbers on the back of each apple (make two of each number). Laminate the apples to make them last longer and more durable. Place the numbers face down on a table and have the students play a game of memory. The student who finds the most pairs wins the game. Alternatively, you can play with letters instead of numbers. For a more difficult game, write an addition or subtraction problem on one apple and the answer on the other apple. The students have to find the correct problem and answer in order to keep the match.
The students can use apples to make a healthy snack in the classroom. Make sure to check with parents for any food allergies before starting the activity. Give each child an apple on a stick. The children can use peanut butter or melted chocolate to cover the apple. Allow the children to decorate the apple with sprinkles or nuts. They can also use candy to create different faces on the apples. Alternatively, cut the apples into slices and give each child a caramel dip or peanut butter to dip the slices into.