Let the kids create simple handmade cards, wrapping paper, art aprons or t-shirts using real apples as “stamps.” Slice fresh apples in half, straight through the core. Give each student one half of an apple. Dip the apples in washable paint if you’re creating a paper craft or fabric paint if the children will be stamping on fabric. Dab the apple onto a piece of scrap paper to remove the excess paint, leaving a light coat on the apple. Press the paint-covered apples on blank cards, sheets of butcher paper to become gift-wrap, plain fabric aprons or white t-shirts.
Help the children design apple-themed picture frames to display a favorite photo at home. Create apple shapes by pressing a 2-inch apple-shaped cookie cutter into a sheet of red craft foam sold at craft or teaching supplies stores. Use scissors to cut the shapes out. Let each student decorate the shapes with markers, stickers or glitter glue. Use white glue to affix the apples side-by-side to cover a pre-made foam or chipboard frame sold at craft and art supply stores.
Organize an apple tasting to encourage the kids to appreciate the sweet fruit and play a game at the same time. Check with the students’ parents to ensure that none of the children are allergic to apples before the children participate in the activity. Blindfold each player and feed her apple slices to determine who can tell the difference between red, yellow and green apples. After the activity, let the class enjoy the rest of the apples with dipping sauces such as caramel or fruit preserves.
Set up an apple game that allows the children to run around the classroom picking paper and sticker apples. These can be purchased from scrap booking or craft stores. Place 50 to 100 apple stickers or card stock apple die-cuts around the classroom. Give each child a small basket or bag to see who can “pick” the most apples in one minute.
Design apple-themed place mats that the students can use to minimize messes during craft or snack time. Enlarge a clip art image of an apple on a copy machine and print the image on 11-by-17-inch pieces of paper. Provide the kids with markers, paints, glitter glue and stickers to embellish the apple picture. Once the designs are dry, laminate the place mats at a copy center or teaching supplies store for added durability.