An apple unit is a perfect way to start the school year and welcome fall. With two toddler grandchildren, Sophia at 20 months and Caleb at 17 months, I’ve been having lots of fun preparing new apple experiences.
In addition to our initial shelf activities, we’ve had apple color matching activities. Now we’ve added apple fraction activities for multiple ages.
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Introductory Fraction Work
My 5½-year-old granddaughter, Zoey, and I had already done some fraction work using the fabulous new Montessori-Inspired Intro to Fractions Pack from Every Star Is Different. The fraction circles in the printables are what I’m using as our Montessori fraction circles, and they work great for home use!
I added two apple fraction books for our apple unit:
Apple Fractions (Rookie Read-About Math) by Donna Townsend is a Montessori-friendly book that’s very simple to understand. On Amazon, it’s recommended for ages 6-8, although even young preschoolers can understand most of the concepts.
Apple Fractions by Jerry Pallotta isn’t a Montessori-style book, since elves demonstrate how to divide apples into fractions. It’s recommended for ages 4-8, so you’d have to decide whether your 4 or 5 year old would be ready for it. You’ll find lots of helpful information in the book – even about varieties of apples. The book appears to be out of print, so a new book is expensive. I got a used book, which was reasonably priced.
Montessori Apple Fraction Activities for Multiple Ages
Materials used:
- Magnetic Apple Fractions (These are recommended for ages 5-7 and have a warning about small magnets. The magnets aren’t visible, though, and can’t be accessed unless … possibly … if the apples are broken. Just to be safe, I’m not keeping them on the shelf and only using them with my toddler grandchildren when an adult is working directly with Caleb and Sophia.)
- Fraction word strips and red fraction circles from the Montessori-Inspired Intro to Fractions Pack from Every Star Is Different
- 4 apples (I used red Gala apples for consistency. The magnetic apples aren’t the same variety, but I wanted to use the Montessori principle of isolation of quality with the real apples at least.
- Montessori Services Rug
Toddlers Examining Whole and Half Apple Fractions
Sophia and Caleb were both instantly drawn to the magnetic apple fractions. In the photo, Caleb is examining one of the apple halves, and Sophia has a whole apple. My daughter, Christina (Caleb’s mom), is guiding the toddler activity.
Note: Caleb’s stick isn’t part of the activity. He just likes to carry around sticks, small wooden hammers, and music mallets!
For toddlers, I recommend just introducing whole and half with a whole apple and apple cut in two pieces or 2 halves of the magnetic apple. The magnetic apple in two halves is fascinating for toddlers and isn’t hard for toddlers to put together. We’ll be introducing thirds and fourths as they’re interested and ready. I’m sure they’ll have fun with those parts of the magnetic apple, too.
Zoey also enjoyed working with the magnetic apple, although it surprises me that it’s recommended for ages 5-7. It’s very appealing as an introduction to apple fractions, but I can’t imagine it would get a lot of continued use at those ages. I think ages 3-4 is probably ideal for the magnetic apple fractions. When Sophia and Caleb are around 3 and 4, I’ll probably put the magnetic apple fractions in a basket on the shelf each fall.
Matching Apple Fraction Labels to Apple Pieces
We just had the toddlers watch the first part of the activity. For this part, Zoey did the work individually. First, she matched the apple fraction labels to the magnetic apple fractions and apple pieces Christina had cut earlier.
Enjoying an Apple Snack After Working with Equivalent Fractions
Since Zoey had worked with fractions previously, I introduced equivalent fractions. The magnetic apple fractions for halves and fourths are perfect for introducing the equivalent fractions 1/2 and 2/4. I also demonstrated the concept with a real apple. Then Zoey enjoyed an apple snack. Caleb and Sophia were already enjoying theirs!
Working with apples is a great way to focus on introductory fractions. It’s a fun way to introduce fractions … and the concept of fractions can be so easily reinforced and reviewed with food! 🙂
More Apple Resources
Free Apple Printables and Activities for a Montessori-Inspired Apple Unit
- Montessori-Inspired Apple Unit
- Montessori Apple Color Matching for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- 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
MONTESSORI-INSPIRED PACKS – SUBSCRIBER FREEBIES
Don’t miss our themed monthly packs! You’ll get the link and password for the Living Montessori Now subscriber library with the current pack and all the past monthly packs if you subscribe to the Living Montessori Now weekly newsletter!
2019 Montessori Series – Fall Themes
This post is part of the 2019 Montessori Series! See the fall-themed activities below:
- Delightful Montessori Lesson Plans for More Fall Fun | The Natural Homeschool
- Montessori Apple Fraction Activities for Multiple Ages | Living Montessori Now
- Weather Activity Trays for Kindergarten and First Graders | The Pinay Homeschooler
Have a great start to the school year, and a happy fall! 🙂
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