A is for Apples!

Apple Week is a fun theme for preschoolers and kicks off our awareness of the special things about the season of fall!  Our first letter of the week and Apple starts with "A" so we will jump right into letter recognition and letter sounds. Apple harvest season is in the fall, during September and October, so this is a great time for your family to visit an apple orchard, make an apple pie, or just eat more apples you got from the farmer’s market.  Apples also open doors to other learning experiences.

Language Arts

There are many books to read, songs to sing, and discussions to have about apples. Be sure to ask your kids about the apple songs they are learning at school. At home you can read books about fall and apples too. If you have an opportunity to go apple picking, that could be a really fun experience for your preschooler. This article lists 15 places in the DC Metro area for apple picking. Call before you go to verify hours and what each location offers.

 

If an apple picking day trip isn't something you can do, a visit to the grocery store is just as good. Your children can see a variety of apples and you can use this as a bridge to talk about what they are doing and learning at school. Talk about other things to look forward to doing in the fall, like gathering leaves, jumping in leaf piles, visiting a pumpkin patch, and Halloween.

 

Dramatic Play

In the classroom, we have created an apple orchard so our preschoolers can pretend to pick apples (pom poms). They will bring their apples to our Apple Pie Making Sensory Bin, where they will pretend to make their own, fresh apple pies. 

 

Your kids are at an age where they love to pretend to do what they see grown-ups doing. Extend dramatic play at home by letting your kids help with simple cooking or baking tasks.  When you are at the grocery store with your child, they can help by taking things off the shelves and putting them in the cart. They want to be involved in the day-to-day tasks we often find mundane so take advantage of their enthusiasm!

 

Numbers and Counting

Think of apples as big, juicy manipulatives your kids can use to practice counting! Put three apples in a row and show your child which apple is first, second, and third. These are all things we do in school that relate to the theme and are easily included in the home environment. If you go to an apple orchard or the grocery store, let your child count out the number of apples you are going to buy. 

Sequencing and Following Directions

Cooking is a great activity for sequencing and following directions. At home, most of us cook every day, sometimes several times a day. We will be making applesauce at school and sending home a recipe in case you want to try it yourself.  If applesauce isn't your thing, try another simple, kid-friendly recipe at home.  Search online for picture recipes for preschoolers like this.