Apples are always a popular preschool theme in the fall. So, I’m adding some helpful resources for an apple unit … the links to free apple printables for preschoolers through 1st graders (and sometimes older) along with hands-on apple activities.
Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Montessori-Inspired Apple Activities Prepared Using Free Apple Printables
For the apple color sorting activity, I used the free Candy Apple Math Game from No Time for Flash Cards. Instead of using candy apples, I used red, yellow, and green miniature pom poms from a craft store. I used 3 miniature buckets with color-coding dots placed in the bottom to help with the color sorting. I added Montessori Services quick sticks to the tray to include a practical life transferring activity.
Aa is for Apple Tray
For this activity, I used the free Aa is for Apple Lacing and Puzzle from 1+1+1=1. . I used one of the 5-piece wooden trays from Multicraft.
I added an inexpensive letter “a” sandpaper letter to the tray. You can use ideas from “Inexpensive and DIY Sandpaper Letters” to buy or make sandpaper letters. You’ll also find ideas for presenting letter sounds. You could either say, “/ă/” as you trace the letter or “The letter ‘a’ makes the sound /ă/.” style=”font-size: small;”>
Aa Is for Apple Playdough Tray
This activity uses the Aa is for Apple Page from 1+1+1=1. I used a large plastic tray from Montessori Services.
You can use homemade or purchased playdough, or use modeling clay if you’d like the modeling material to stay soft and moldable. I added a pair of scissors to the tray so children can get practice cutting their rolled playdough strips into the correct sizes to fit the letters.
Follow the a Path Tray
For this activity, I used the free Follow the a Path (in Apple Pack part 2) from 3 Dinosaurs. I added a practical life activity to this language tray by using a strawberry huller to add glass gems to the path. A sugar tong works very well, too. Amazon has a variety of glass gems, which I used for this and often use for Montessori-inspired activities.I especially like glass gems for these types of activities because the letters can be seen and magnified through the glass gems.
Add the Apples Activity
This activity uses the Add the Apples (in Apple Pack part 2) from 3 Dinosaurs. (Note: There are also printables in the pack for subtraction or greater than/less than.) I used red and green apples from fall acrylic fall fillers I found at Michaels craft store.
Because I used two different colors of apples, I placed the apples below the page rather than right on the tree. I added the apples and numbers for 9 of each color apple. You could just let the child choose the number of apples of each color and then count (add) them to find the sum.
This uses the Apple Fractions Math Game from Itsy Bitsy Fun. It was easy to prepare and could be used for a simpler fraction matching activity or more advanced game.
Apple Hundred Chart Art
I love hundred chart art. It’s a great extension for the Montessori hundred board. This uses the Apple Hundred Chart Art (in Apple Pack part 2) from 3 Dinosaurs. Older children could follow the directions to create the apple on the blank hundred chart. Younger children could simply match the colors on the control chart to create the apple. I use small glass gems so they’ll fit on the hundred chart spaces.
Hundred Chart Game: Apple Picking Time
For this hundred chart activity, I used the Hundred Chart Games: Apple Picking Time from Primary Inspiration. There are simple directions for assembling the spinners along with ideas for children who aren’t comfortable with place value.
Free Apple Printables (of all kinds) for Preschoolers-First Graders (some printables for up to grade 3)
- Life Cycle of an Apple from Montessori for Everyone
- Letter A is for Apple Tot School Printables from 1+1+1=1
- Printable Apples from First Palette
- Apple Activities from 3 Dinosaurs (with a number of free printable apple packs)
- Apple Play Dough Counting Mats from PreK Pages
- Ten Red Apples Counting Mats from PreKinders
- Apple Same/Different Cards from PreKinders
- Apple Do-a-Dot Printables from Gift of Curiosity
- Apple Unit Study from Gift of Curiosity (with a number of free apple printables)
- Apple Roll and Pick from Childcareland
- Apples Printables from Making Learning Fun
- Apple and Apple Tree Tree Hundred Chart Art from Lil’ Country Librarian
- Number Cards for Counting Apple Busy Bag from The Educators’ Spin On It
- Apples for Ten Apples up on Top from The Mother Huddle
- Apple Tree Alphabet Sorting from Life Over C’s
- Apple Grid Printable from Mama Jenn
- Apple Unit {Expanded} (includes apple varieties cards) from 2 Teaching Mommies
- Letter A for Apple from Confessions of a Homeschooler
- Apple PreK/K Pack from This Reading Mama
- Apple Printables from KidSparkz
- Apple Printables from KidsSoup
- Johnny Appleseed Lapbook Printables from Homeschool Share
- Johnny Appleseed Printables from Making Learning Fun
- Apple Pie Tree Lapbook from Homeschool Share
- A Trip to the Apple Orchard Activity Pack from Plants and Pillars
- Apples Read Build Write from Homeschool Creations
- Apple Activities from DLTK’s Crafts for Kids
- Apple Tree Numbers and Apple Pattern Cards from Spell Outloud
- Apple Basket Addition from First Grader … At Last!
- Apple Emergent Reader from Fun-A-Day!
- Apple Printables from ABC Teach
- The Story of the Apple Star from Come Together Kids
- Tasting Different Kinds of Apples from Things to Share and Remember
- Apple Printables from Teachers Pay Teachers
More Apple Resources
- Montessori-Inspired Apple Unit, 30+ Apple Sensory Tubs
- Free Apple Printables and Montessori-Inspired Apple Activities
- 20+ Apple Phonics Activities
- Fall Sensory Bin with Practical Life and Math Activities
- Fun with Montessori Apple Coring, Slicing, Spreading, and Sharing
- Free Apple Printable for Ten Apples Up On Top Activities (Instant Download)
- Ten Apples Up On Top Sensory Bin & Table (Free Printables)
- Ten Apples Up On Top Activities with Spielgaben {Free Printables}
- Free Fall Playdough Math Pack (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Montessori-Inspired Playdough Math Activities for Fall {Free Printables}
- Free Seasons of an Apple Tree Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Tree Songs and Educational Videos {Learn about Trees, Apple Trees, and Seasons}
- Apple Unit Study Pinterest Board
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Montessori Monday Link-Up
Beth (Homeschooler) ( says
So many fun apple ideas! Pinning =)
Beth
Stacy says
Great post with so many great printables! Thanks for including mine!
Cassie says
Love all the activities you put together! It is always fun to see printables in use.
Anna says
Love this beautiful round up, Deb! These activities look so inviting!
Selena says
Pinning these for fall!
Stopping by from the TGIF linky. 🙂
Tera Shores says
Isn’t Montessori schooling typically geared towards the child’s interest and not thematic?
Carrie says
Some great ideas!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
JDaniel4's Mom says
Thank you so much for linking up to The Sunday Showcase last week. What an amazing round up of apple themed activities!
Brushwork Painters says
really loved this article! It gave me some new insights I never really thought about before.