For many teachers, the end of the month is a time to wrap up one theme and get ready to move onto the next. The end of a unit is the perfect time to have a day filled with activities and crafts. Teachers can choose to save all the hands-on activities for one day and have volunteers to help supervise the fun. It just takes a little planning but the end result is well worth it. Here is how to begin planning for Apple Day.
Plan the Apple Day
Usually the most ideal day to have a theme day is Friday. When the day has been decided it is time to plan the activities. Here are some suggestions for activities:
Apple Day Hats: Using black construction paper cut in half the long way and staple pieces together to make a long rectangular shape. Give each child a white piece of paper with an apple shape. Colour and cut out apple then glue on rectangle. Write "Happy Apple Day" on the board and have the child write the title on the paper not on the apple. Fit around the child's head then remove to staple ends together to make a hat.
Apple Day Poems and Sing a Long: Recite all the apple poems and songs learned throughout the month during circle time. Plan a time to have a class sing a long or go visiting classrooms to put on a show singing apple songs.
Apple Taste Testing: Display an assortment of apples from McIntosh to Granny Smith and have each child taste all of the apple and graph, which one was liked most.
Bake an Apple Crisp: As a large group have a cooking lesson and make apple crisp. This is a great time to discuss fractions.
Apple Booklets: Teachers can put together colouring printables to make a booklet.
Apple Game: Have each child pick an apple from the basket. Make sure there is at least two of the same colour. Then play a game of whoever has a red apple hop on one foot or how has a green apple twirl around once. This is a great listening activity.
Apple Play Dough: Add cinnamon to red, yellow and green play dough and ask each child to make a play dough apple to take home.
Apple Instruments: Decorate two paper plates as apples. Add beans or apple seeds then staple the pie plates together.
Read a Johnny Appleseed book as a Class: Read Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellog, [Morrow Junior Books, 1988]. Then make a paper apple tree. Rip brown paper for the trunk and glue on white paper. Sponge green paint for the crown of the tree. Using red paint, child can use a finger to dab paint on tree.
Use Parent Helpers in Class
Parents are a wonderful resource and fantastic help to have when planning a theme day. Depending on which crafts or activities, two or three parents would be plenty of help. It is usually a good idea to plan for parents help in the morning. Teachers should then plan the activities needing more supervision when parents will be there.
The students will have a wonderful time making apple crisp, playing an apple game and creating an apple hat. Asking for parent volunteers is another great way to tackle some difficult crafts. Planning a day full of activities will be a nice way to end the unit about apples.
If you found this article helpful check out Apple Activities for September.
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