A Week of Apple Adventures!

Materials Needed for the Week:

• Books: "Ten Apples Up On Top!" by Dr. Seuss (or any apple-themed storybook)
• Fruit: 3-4 different types of apples (e.g., Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Gala)
• Art & Craft Supplies:
  • Red, green, and brown construction paper
  • Child-safe scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Washable paint (red, green, brown)
  • Paper plates
  • Large sheet of paper or poster board
  • 10-15 red and green pom-poms or balled-up pieces of paper
• Kitchen & Science Supplies:
  • Baking soda
  • Vinegar
  • A small tray or dish with sides
  • Kid-friendly knife (for adult use) and cutting board
  • A small bowl or basket
  • Tongs or large tweezers
  • Small cups for sorting
• Other:
  • Pencil or marker

Monday: Apple Stories & Letter "A" Fun

Time: 30 minutes

Learning Focus: Language Arts (listening comprehension, letter recognition), Fine Motor Skills (cutting, gluing).

Activity 1: Story Time (10 minutes)

1. Find a cozy spot to read "Ten Apples Up On Top!" together.
2. As you read, point to the apples and count them aloud. Encourage your child to count with you.
3. Ask simple questions like, "What color are the apples?" or "Do you think you could balance apples on your head?"

Activity 2: "A" is for Apple Craft (20 minutes)

1. On a piece of construction paper, draw a large uppercase letter "A".
2. From red and green construction paper, cut out small apple shapes. You can do this ahead of time, or let your child practice their scissor skills with supervision.
3. Have your child glue the paper apples all along the lines of the letter "A".
4. Talk about the sound the letter "A" makes while you work. "A... a... apple!"

Differentiation Tip: For a simpler activity, have your child tear red paper into small pieces and glue them onto the "A" instead of using cut-out shapes.

Tuesday: Apple Math & Counting Games

Time: 30 minutes

Learning Focus: Math (counting, sorting, one-to-one correspondence), Fine Motor Skills (pincer grasp).

Activity 1: Apple Pom-Pom Sort (15 minutes)

1. Set out the red and green pom-poms in a mixed pile. Place two small cups or bowls nearby.
2. Give your child the tongs or tweezers.
3. Instruct them to pick up the "apples" (pom-poms) with the tongs and sort them by color into the correct cups.
4. Count the apples in each cup when they are finished. Which cup has more?

Activity 2: Apple Tree Counting (15 minutes)

1. On a large sheet of paper, draw a simple tree trunk with empty branches.
2. Call out a number between 1 and 10.
3. Have your child use their finger to make that many red paint "apples" on the tree branches.
4. Wipe their finger clean and repeat with a new number. You can even use a real apple cut in half as a stamp for this!

Differentiation Tip: For a challenge, write the numbers 1-5 on the branches and have your child place the correct number of fingerprint apples on each corresponding branch.

Wednesday: Apple Science & Sensory Exploration

Time: 30 minutes

Learning Focus: Science (observation, prediction, anatomy of a fruit), Sensory (taste, touch, smell).

Activity 1: Apple Investigation (15 minutes)

1. Gather 2-3 different kinds of apples. Talk about their colors and shapes. Do they feel different? Do they smell different?
2. With your child watching safely, cut one apple vertically (top to bottom) and another horizontally (across the middle).
3. Show them the star shape in the middle of the horizontal apple! Point out the parts: the skin (its "coat"), the flesh (the part we eat), the core, and the seeds.
4. Let them taste a slice from each type of apple. Ask which one is sweeter, more sour, or crunchier.

Activity 2: Apple Volcano! (15 minutes)

1. Take one of the apple halves and scoop out the core to create a small hole.
2. Place the apple on a tray or dish.
3. Help your child spoon about a teaspoon of baking soda into the apple's hole.
4. Let them slowly pour some vinegar on top and watch the fizzy eruption! This is a fun, safe chemical reaction.

Thursday: Apple Art Studio

Time: 30 minutes

Learning Focus: Art (creativity, color mixing, printmaking), Fine Motor Skills (gripping).

Activity: Apple Stamping Masterpiece

1. Cut an apple in half horizontally (to get the star shape) or vertically. You can even cut a little handle into the back of the apple skin to make it easier to hold.
2. Pour red, green, and brown paint onto separate paper plates.
3. Show your child how to dip the cut side of the apple into the paint and press it firmly onto a large sheet of paper to make a print.
4. Encourage them to create a pattern, a scene (like an apple orchard), or just a colorful design. They can use the brown paint with their fingerprint to add stems to their stamped apples.
5. Let their masterpiece dry and hang it up for display!

Differentiation Tip: Add a challenge by encouraging them to make a pattern, such as red apple, green apple, red apple.

Friday: Apple Picking Fun & Healthy Snacks

Time: 30 minutes

Learning Focus: Gross Motor Skills (running, bending, coordination), Life Skills (food preparation, health).

Activity 1: Indoor Apple Picking (15 minutes)

1. Use the red and green pom-poms or balled-up paper as your "apples."
2. Scatter them around the room.
3. Give your child a small basket or bowl.
4. On "Go!", have them run around and "pick" all the apples, placing them in their basket.
5. You can make it more challenging by asking them to only pick the red apples first, then the green ones.

Activity 2: Simple Apple Snack Prep (15 minutes)

1. Bring a whole apple to the sink. Let your child help you wash it. Talk about why it's important to wash our fruit.
2. On a cutting board, you slice the apple into thin, manageable pieces.
3. Let your child help arrange the slices on a plate.
4. Enjoy your healthy, delicious apple snack together to celebrate a fun week of learning!