Make apple place mats to encourage imagination and creativity. Cut apples in half. Provide ink pads and large sheets of light-colored paper. Instruct the children to press their apple half onto the ink pad and then onto the paper. Encourage them to create any pattern they like. Laminate the paper or cover it in strips of clear packing tape to create a waterproof surface for place mats. Elementary-age children can do this themselves; tear off appropriate lengths of tape and affix the ends to the edge of a table or the child's desk to prevent tangles. Serve an apple snack on the new mats.
Plan a lace-up activity to encourage fine motor skills and teach lacing skills. For each child, cut two large matching apple shapes from red card stock. Older children can trace and cut their own. Assist children in punching holes about an inch apart around the sides and bottom of the apple, leaving the top open. Instruct them to lace a string, shoelace or yarn with the end wrapped in tape through the holes. Show examples of different styles of stitches, such as a simple running stitch, X stitch or blanket stitch. Provide stickers, die cuts, markers and stamps for children to decorate their apples. By leaving the top open, the children have a pocket to hold their drawings, sayings or Johnny Appleseed poems.
(See Reference 1.)
Plan a crunchy apple toast treat to teach a hands-on lesson about healthy snacking and good nutrition. Core one Golden Delicious apple per child. Leave the peel on to increase the nutritional value. Give each child a plastic knife and assist them in slicing their apples into rings, or have an adult do this. Have each child spread peanut butter on a slice of whole wheat bread and place their apple rings on top. Help them sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top. (Put this in a pizza-cheese shaker for ease.) Toast the slices of bread in a toaster oven and enjoy. Offer butter instead of peanut butter for children with peanut allergies. (See Reference 2.)