Learning About Apples 9 Hands On Activities

Learning about apples can be a fun family activity. If you’re looking for a fun and interactive way to learn more about apples, try these 9 hands-on activities that are perfect for families and kids of all ages. From apple tasting to apple crafts, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

As you scroll through the list, we start with activities with the entire family. Then, move from younger to older kids, including writing stories. The list of books also progresses from younger to older children, so everyone is learning about apples with hands on activities.

Apple Tasting and Comparing Different Varieties

One of the best ways to learn about apples is to taste them! When we lived in Idaho, we loved to visit a local orchard. One of the orchards allowed us to eat apples while we were there. Our kids could talk about whether or not they liked each apple.

Now that we’re in Texas, we don’t have nearby apple orchards. If that’s the case visit a farmer’s market or your local grocery store. Pick up a variety of different apples to try. Encourage your family to compare the taste, texture, and appearance of each apple.

You can even create a chart or graph to track everyone’s favorite varieties. This activity is not only fun, but it also helps to develop your sense of taste and appreciation for different types of apples.

Apple Smiles

After you chart your different apples, make some fun apple smiles. All you need are apples, peanut butter, and mini marshmallows. Follow the images below to make your own apple smile.

What apple snacks do you serve your own kids?

Learning about Apples with Books & Edible Crafts

It’s fun learning about apples when you tie together apple books with apple crafts. Most of these books are all free…from my library!

Read Applesauce Season, by Eden Ross Lipson. Have fun using the applesauce recipe in the back of the book for a fun edible, apple craft.

Read Apples, by Jill Esbaum. Then, make caramel apples. Or, try our Mini Apple Pie recipe below.

Apple Art Activities for Kids

Read or watch above the book, Apple Farmer Annie, by Monica Wellington. This book comes in Spanish, too…if you want to practice your Spanish. That’s what I did. There are many activities you can do after reading this book. A fun art activity is sidewalk chalk paint.

Make your own chalk paint by using the Learn-Play-Imagine recipe here. Then, dip apples in the paint and paint your sidewalk.

Apple Math & Language Arts

I love Anne Rockwell books because they are simple, but contain good information for kids at all ages. After your read Apples and Pumpkins, by Anne Rockwell, get your apple and pumpkin. Let your kids tell similarities & differences (compare/contrast).

Create a Venn Diagram to record their findings. You can color the circles red for the apple items and orange for the pumpkin items.

Ten Apples Up On Top!,  is by Theo. LeSieg (better known as Dr. Seuss).

I wish I knew about this book when my kids were younger, but I now have it ready for the grandkids. Use this book to help your kids learn to count or to learn rhyming words. Be sure to download my free printables you can use with Ten Apples Up On Top!

Learning about Apples with Science

If you’re not able to find your own copy of Apples, by Gail Gibbons, watch the read-aloud above. This is a fantastic book about apples & their life cycle. Learn all about pollination, seeds, seasons, and more. After learning about apples, make one of the activities in the back of the book. You choose from

1. Planting an apple tree
2. Baking an apple pie (see below)
3. Making apple cider
4. Compare apples listed in back of book. Use EducatingLayton apple comparison chart here.

Mini Apple Pies

At our house, everyone preferred the taste of the pie crust apple pies over the biscuit apple pies.  However, the biscuits are much easier for young kids to make.

After peeling the apple, I remembered I had an apple slicer.
My kids still like slicing the apples at Thanksgiving.

Method #1: Biscuits

Method #2 – Pie Crust

Here are the results:
#1 Mini Apple Pies with Biscuits

#2 Mini Apple Pies with Pie Crust

Which one tastes best?

According to my family, the pie crust mini’s won, hands down. Just remember the biscuit pies are easier for kids to make.

My mom made these cookies for me when I was a child. I didn’t like pie, but oh how I loved these cookies.  Leftover pie crust pieces sprinkled on top with cinnamon sugar.  It brought back 45 year old memories today!

Learning about Apples with Older Kids

Read the Johnny Appleseed story and use it as a basis for a story writing assignment. You might choose from any of these books or the link above.

• Johnny Appleseed, by Steven Kellogg
• Johnny Appleseed, God’s Faithful Planter, John Chapman, by David R. Collins
• The True Tale of Johnny Appleseed, by Margaret Hodges

First, let your kids tell back, or narrate the story.

Next, outline the Johnny Appleseed story, using the Story Outline Chart from Teaching Writing Structure & Style (unit 3). Allow your students to rewrite the legend in their own words. Remember they can change any & all aspects of the story “except” the problem. They must keep the problem, even if they change the characters, setting, timing and so forth.

If you use the book by David R. Collins, you might have your children write a paragraph about John Chapman as a missionary. Use Teaching Writing Structure & Style (unit 5).

Regardless of which writing activity you use, you’ll want to allow your kids the opportunity to improve their first draft. They can add dress-ups & sentence openers. Finally, edit & complete your final copy. Teaching Writing Structure & Style will help you in all these areas of writing.

I have a Free Apple Activity Guide for you. Besides math, writing, reading, science & art activities, it includes Johnny Appleseed activities.

All you have to do is enter your first name and primary email below & click the button below. We will send it to you immediately.

Question: What apple activities for kids do you do? Any other topics you’d like us to list books with corresponding books? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

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