Apple Fun

It's Apple-Mania here at Play to Learn this month.  In addition to all of our Apple Circle time lessons, we are also doing bushels of apple centers.

Letters of my Name

This simple arrival activity is perfect for our brand new students.  Each sentence strip is programmed with one child's name (in capital letters).  On the back is an envelope with a set of apple pieces with corresponding letters.  The students take their apples out and try to match the letters.  We've been so pleasantly surprised that all of our 3's are able to complete this activity independently!  Hooray for visual discrimination skills!

Apple Prints

We broke out the paint with our new class of students, and they loved it!  To make these apple prints, we cut notches on the top of the apple.  The students used it as a handle to make beautiful apple art.

Beginning Sound Sorting

Just like in the elementary classroom, we have a wide range of students in preschool.  To meet all of their needs, we differentiate our centers as much as possible.  This beginning sound sort is for our little overachiever friends.  :)  The blue cards have 2-3 apple baskets labeled with a letter.  On the back is an envelope full of pictures of things that begin with those letters.  The students say the name and then place the apple on the correct basket.

Color Patterns
Patterning is a major preschool math objective.  We introduce the skill by inviting students at the table games center to use pom-poms to copy AB apple patterns.

Counting Apples

Another math goal is number recognition and number sense.  This is a great activity from Lakeshore Learning.  Students place rubber apple counters onto the trees.  (We use these apple counters for many other centers too!)

If you're looking for other developmentally appropriate Apple centers, you can find many of my favorites here:

Have fun playing and learning with your children today!