Apples Archives - I Can Teach My Child!

Apple “A” Peel-Away Art

September 5, 2012 by Jenae — 1 Comment

Have fun creating some alphabet art that is super easy and lots of fun!

Little Brother and I set sail on our maiden voyage of crafting together…it started off wonderfully and ended up with a screaming fit (it was obviously time for a nap). I’ve learned that my two children couldn’t be any more different–where as Big Brother LOVES to do crafts and projects with me, Little Brother just doesn’t. Oh well, we’ll just keep trying (not forcing) while simultaneously doing other things together (i.e. playing 3D Angry Birds–LB’s favorite).

Here’s what you’ll need: red tempera paint (or fingerpaint), a paintbrush, a large sheet of white paper, green and brown construction paper, contact paper, a marker, and scissors.

1. Trace your letters onto contact paper. Cut out.

2. Prepare your paper–we used this fingerprint paper that I’ve had forever.

3. Place your contact paper letters in the center of the paper.

4. Let your child begin painting over the entire surface of the paper.

5. Make sure to cover the area around the letters well. Let the paint dry.

6. Remove the contact paper. When I attempted to remove it, it just began flaking off! I’m not sure if it was the reaction of the contact paper, fingerpaint paper, and tempera paint or what…but even if yours doesn’t “flake” off, you should be able to peel it off! :)

7. Cut the paper into an apple shape and add the stem and leaf!

Little Brother was so proud of his creation after he woke up from his nap! :)

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Filed Under: 2-3 years, 3-5 years, Alphabet, Alphabet Crafts, Apples, Language Development

Apple Patterning

October 6, 2010 by Jenae — 5 Comments

This activity involves both cognitive development (patterning) as well as fine motor development (coloring, cutting, and gluing). It was also great practice for learning to color inside of the lines. It was like pulling teeth to get Big Brother to finish coloring all the apples…but he loved cutting them!

Here’s what you’ll need: white paper, a black marker, a red and a green crayon, child-safe scissors, and glue.

1. Draw 6 apples on 2 pieces of paper.

2. Let your little one begin coloring. We used the Jumbo-size crayons.

We’re still working on staying in the lines, but he did a great job!

4. Let your child cut the apples out with the safety scissors. Just 2 months ago, Big Brother had a major tantrum when I tried to get him to cut. This time he had when I tried to get him to stop! I held the paper and guided it while he cut.

5. Sort–put all the red apples in one pile and the green apples in another.

6. Let your little one put glue on the back of each apple.

7. We made a “Green, Red, Green, Red” pattern since this is the simplest. You can make whatever pattern you like. I helped Big Brother with the first three and then I would repeat the pattern (green, red, green…) and let him guess what would come next. I was pleasantly surprised that he successfully predicted each one!

All Done…

But Big Brother wanted to continue. We had a few apples left over and another piece of brown paper, so he created this one COMPLETELY on his own. :)

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Filed Under: 3-5 years, Apples, Cognitive Development, Fine Motor

Apple Toss

October 5, 2010 by Jenae — 4 Comments

I thought our apple theme was coming to a close, but then I remembered that I hadn’t done a gross-motor activity in this unit yet…

This activity will require a lot of creativity and imagination. This isn’t a bad thing…kids need to be encouraged in “pretend play.”

Here’s what you’ll need: beanbags (I just used the beanbags I made for the Stoplight Beanbag Toss and told Big Brother to pretend they were apples) and a basket.

I told Big Brother we were going to pretend to go to the apple orchard. I was the apple tree and he needed to pick the apples off of me. I stood with my arms straight out, dangling the beanbags so that it was a stretch for him to ”pick” them. Obviously, I couldn’t get a picture of this (though I’m sure it would have been humorous). :)

After he picked all the apples, he threw them in the basket. First, we started really close to the basket…

And then moved about 4-5 feet away.

And then the sweetest thing happened. Little Brother was patiently sitting in his high-chair, eating cheerios, when Big Brother suddenly wanted Little Brother to have a turn at throwing the beanbags (all of his own volition)!!! He took the beanbags and basket to him and everything. :)

Every good Apple Farmer needs an Apple Farmer hat…and a goofy, fake smile apparently too.

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Filed Under: 1-2 Years, 2-3 years, 3-5 years, Apples, Gross Motor Development

Apple Sensory Matching

October 1, 2010 by Jenae — 3 Comments

I’ve been a bit neglectful on the activities for 1-2 year olds lately…I’m sorry! So here you go…

There aren’t a whole lot of pictures in this “tutorial” because I was trying to finish up in a pinch…so we can go to a carnival tonight!

Here’s what you’ll need: a large piece of cardboard, sandpaper, foil, small pieces of corrugated cardboard (or anything else that is bumpy), a sharpie, a glue stick, and a piece of red flannel (which I had in my fabric scraps).

1 Cutout a “pattern” for your apples from a scrap piece of cardboard or cardstock.

2. Trace 2 of each onto the foil, sandpaper, corrugated cardboard and fabric. Also cut an additional 2 apples out of extra cardboard to put the fabric and foil on.

3. Use a Sharpie to color the foil red.