This apple craft and counting game provide back-to-school fun for preschoolers. Kids can learn the names of their classmates, while reinforcing beginning number recognition. 

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Back-to-school means lots of new faces to see, and lots of new names to remember.

This apple craft is a fun way to help kids learn the names of their classmates while playing a counting game. The activity supports individual creative and fine motor skills during craft time, then invites small group interaction with a counting game. 

Social interactions are recognized as an important part of the early learning classroom. It's helpful to provide opportunities for both group play and independent play.

• Independent play occurs during free play time, in welcoming play spaces that encourage interaction and sharing. This can be a dramatic or pretend play area with a play kitchen and dolls, or a block corner with blocks and toy cars. 
  
  
• Small group play take place at circle time. It promotes fun and learning in a welcoming way with teacher-led activities that are inclusive and hands-on, like this apple rhyming game.

Back-to-school apple craft and rhyming game

This simple apple themed craft and rhyming game are perfect for early days in the classroom.

Make this part of your back-to-preschool planning, to welcome students with a fun activity

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A is for Apple Pinterest board.

1. Make the apple craft.

Materials list

• construction paper

• apple template

• glue

• numerals

• hole punch

• narrow ribbon

Instructions

1. Prepare the parts of the apple.

There are different ways to provide the apple parts, depending on the availability of materials and skill levels of the early learners.

• Trace an apple pattern onto construction paper. An apple pattern, or template, can be found on packaging or advertising materials. 
  
  
• Draw parts of an apple on plain paper for kids to cut out and color.
  
  
• Challenge kids to draw and cut out the parts of an apple.

You can also download and print this free  Parts of an Apple Printable  with patterns for the apple, leaf and stem.

Parts of the craft can be prepared ahead of time, while some students may be encouraged to create the apple in their own ways.

2. Hole punch around the perimeter of the apple.

3. Lace the apple with narrow ribbon.

Allow some extra length that can be tied to create a handle.

4. Add a leaf and stem.

Cut out a stem and leaf from construction paper. Glue them to the apple.

5. Add a numeral to each apple.

Add a self-adhesive numeral to each apple, or draw a numeral with a crayon or marker.

• Parents and teachers can make a set of apples to use in the home or classroom. Laminate the apples for durability.
  
  
• Kids can make individual apples to label with their names. Students can decorate the classroom, and also take their craft home.

Play the countdown game.

Play this rhyming game in the classroom to help kids learn the names of their new friends and classmates, while practicing numbers 1 to 5 (or more if preferred).

1. Children line up with their "apples", in order from one to five. (Engaging a small number of children at a time can make it easier to remember names and numerals.)

2. Play a takeaway game using the apple rhyme below. Repeat the rhyme until all the children have participated.

Five little apples on a new school day -
If ____(name)_______ eats an apple – crunch, crunch, crunch – take one away.

Four little apples on a new school day -
If ____(name)_______ eats an apple – crunch, crunch, crunch – take one away.

......and so on, counting backwards until each apple is "eaten"!

First days of school apple activity

This is a fun activity to add to an apple theme during the first days of preschool. Or it can be fun for a fall theme to practice number recognition and counting.

Visit our A is for Apple Pinterest board to find more apple activities to fill your preschool planner.