Elementary Apple Themed Lesson Plans

An apple-themed, multi-disciplinary unit helps kindergarten and first grade students to learn language arts, science, and math counting skills. By teaching multiple concepts using a single framework primary school teachers are increasing the students’ ability to be successful in all areas.

Introducing primary students to different art techniques encourages creative expression and imagination. Allowing students to utilize the techniques to create their own unique pieces and displaying their work in the classroom gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment and motivates them to use art to express themselves.

Making Applesauce Language Experience Approach

Students' reading and writing skills are enhanced during a Language Experience Approach, especially one involving food. The teacher begins by leading the class through the shared experience of making and eating applesauce. She then has the class dictate the story of how they made applesauce. She writes their experience word for word on large chart paper.

The teacher then reads the "Making Applesauce" story to the students and then has the class read it with her. The students are able to predict and decode new words based on their experience with the topic. They are motivated to reread and practice the LEA because they are the authors. Teachers can use the story as a basis for many types of language arts lessons including spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Create Apple Print Artwork

Primary school teachers can use an apple theme to increase kindergarteners' and first graders' art knowledge while allowing them to have fun creating apple prints. The teacher can explain the different methods artists use to create prints and show the class examples of the different types of prints.

The teacher can then slice the apples and have the students dip the apples in paint to create their own prints. The students can experiment with different shapes and slices of apples and colors of paint. The finished artwork can be displayed on a classroom bulletin board or outside the room in the hallway.

Graph Apple Heights and Weights

Students become apple scientists during a lesson on weighing and measuring. The teacher brings different types and sizes of apples to class. After a ruler mini-lesson, students measure the apples and record the heights on a class apple chart. The students can then repeat this activity by weighing the apples and recording the weights on the chart.

After all of the measurements have been recorded, the teacher discusses the findings with the class. She then models how to take the numbers on the chart and graph them on large graph paper. With her assistance students volunteers can take turns filling out the apple graph on the front board.

Apple Seed Math Counting Lesson

The teacher begins the math counting lesson by reading or telling the story of Johnny Appleseed to the class. She then explains to the class that they will get to be Johnny’s assistants. She passes out bags of apple seeds to student pairs. The students work together to practice their counting skills. They use the seeds as manipulatives to aid in counting to 20 by ones, 50 by fives and 100 by tens. After the lesson is over the class can plant the seeds in small containers and grow their own trees.

During an apple-themed unit, apples become the springboard upon which kindergarten and first grade students learn reading, writing, science, math, and art skills. Primary school teachers can immerse students in apples and increase their ability to acquire new skills while having fun.

Apple Themed Kindergarten and First Grade Unit

Apple Prints

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