This cute and simple project can get a little messy, so it is best to do with students one by one. Collect a white piece of construction paper, brown paint and a paintbrush for each student. You will also need red pompoms and leaf shapes cut from green construction paper. Paint each child's wrist, hand and fingers brown. Help him spread his fingers and press down onto the paper, making the trunk and branches. Once dry, give each child his tree, glue, the pompoms and the paper leaves. Encourage him to decorate the branches of his apple tree.
This timeless activity is always intriguing and fun for preschool children. To prepare, collect several apples, red, green and yellow paint, paper plates and white construction paper. With your students watching, cut the apples in half through the center and show them how the seeds make a star in the middle. Pour the paint colors onto separate paper plates and put a few apple halves in each color. Show your students how to make prints by covering the bottom of the apple in paint and pressing it onto their papers.
This apple craft is also an excellent fine motor activity. You will need to prepare by cutting an apple shape from sturdy red tag board for each child. Then, using a hole punch, make several holes along the edge of the apple. Next, cut a length of brown yarn long enough to be threaded all the way around the apple and tie one end into the bottom hole. Wrap the other end of the yarn with masking tape. Give each child her apple and show her how to thread the worm through the holes.
This activity could also be done with small apples but they need to be very light. Collect three crab apples, a large shoe box type box, white paper, paper plates, tape, and red, green and yellow paint. Tape the white paper to the bottom of the box, pour each paint color onto a different paper plate and put an apple in each color. Have your students roll each apple in paint until coated and then place the three apples in the box. Show them how to gently shake the box, causing the painted apples to roll around the paper and make fun, colorful patterns.