1-2-3 Come Make An Apple Craftivity With Me
Apples is one of my favorite fall themes.
For those of you who are familiar with my work, you know I love dabbling with a "play on words" to add a smile and interest to activities.
"'A-peel-ing' Apples" is that kind of craftivity, as the "peel" is a spiral, which provides excellent fine motor practice, and looks amazing dangling from the ceiling!
It's a quick, easy & super-fun apple craft that covers a variety of standards.This is also an interesting way for your students to learn more about their classmates, as there never seems to be enough time for all of the fun "getting to know you" activities for back-to-school.
I like to do at least one "learning about each other" activity each month, to help continue to build community & the cameraderie which comes from that.
An added bonus is that completed projects make an outstanding display, as the apples swirl & twirl from the ceiling.
You’re sure to get a ton of compliments as this apple craft has the “Wow!” factor.
I’ve included a variety of posters to not only enhance your display, but to help introduce the lesson, and teach older kiddos a bit about nouns & adjectives, as this lesson is easily diversified for a variety of grade levels, from kindergartners on up.Spirals: My kiddos are absolutely fascinated watching me demonstrate how to “follow the line, staying on the road” as I cut my spiral and the “peel” begins to dangle down.
Cutting out a spiral is a great way to strengthen those finger muscles, and evaluate your students “listening & following directions” skill too.
TIP: Cutting is so much easier, if you demonstrate what you want your kiddos to do.
I tell my students to "Stay on the road and cut on the dark line."
I also have a room helper cut around the spiral, instead of leaving it in a square (see photo).
It is less confusing for little ones to know where to start, if they are just cutting on one line.
I've also made a pattern for your left-handed kiddos as well.
Grab that teachable SCIENCE moment, to reinforce the “parts of an apple” with the various pieces used to assemble the finished project.
Creating apples in red, yellow & green also practices the fact that an apple’s skin comes in more than one color too.
There are a variety of options for you to choose from to make differentiating easy-peasy.
There are 4 different apple writing prompt options.
There are also 2 “apple toppers” pictured on the right.
Younger kiddos can simply jot down one thing they find “a-peeling” while older students can create a list to practice that writing standard.
Preschool kiddos can dictate their answers to a room helper, or you can make this a homework assignment, where parents can assist their child.
I use the definition poster to teach what the word “appealing” means, then explain the play-on-words of an apple peel, showing them that the spiral represents the peeling of the apple.
We brainstorm a bit about all sorts of things we find appealing. Children think about one thing they find appealing then write it on the blank circle and illustrate it.
This is a super-fun project to do with older reading buddies; my kinders work with a 5th grader who can help them with spelling.
I've provided 4 styles of paper patterns for students to write on and then glue under their apple or topper. The paper patterns are long and narrow; perfect for making a list.
Students can simply make up their own list, or you can read the "Tell me Ten" response worksheet. For example, one of the questions is "What color do you find appealing?"
Students take far less time with a structured format such as this, and you can include the question worksheet as part of your display.
You can use my sample questions, or create your own.
When displaying student work, the apple-topped lists can be hung back-to-back, then suspended from the ceiling.
A "whole apple" list, can also be hung singly, or back-to-back.If you're going to do this, have one student glue their "peel" to the top or side of their apple, while the other child glues theirs to the bottom of their paper.
Extend the lesson and have children draw a picture to illustrate their answers, by using the blank, white "center", which they can glue to the back of their apple.
The yellow apple sample pictured on the right, uses a template that has students complete the sentence with an animal, color & activity they find appealing.
The red apple pictured on the left, reinforces nouns, and has students complete the sentence with a person, place and thing that they find appealing.
Remind kiddos to add end punctuation when completing the sentences. (Woo hoo another standard practiced!)
If you're doing this with older students, they can write their own, complete sentences.
Patterns come in black & white, as well as full color, so that teachers can quickly and easily make an example to share.
Be sure and make a personal one, so that students can learn more about their teacher too.
To save time, I’ve also included my completed patterns.
Today's featured FREEBIE also has an apple theme.
It's an "Aa is for apple" alphabet wheel.
It's the first in a series of 26, ABC letter wheels. I hope you enjoy it.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.
The sun has finally ventured out after an all-day deluge of rain, so it's time to take my poodle pup Chloe, for a walk!
Wishing you a fun-filled week.
"Anyone can count the seeds in an apple; only God can count the apples in one seed." -Robert H. Schuller
