Apples Mini-Theme - Week One
Preschool and Kindergarten Lesson Plans
Preschool and Kindergarten Activities - Connection to Numbers and Literature

Many of the themes connect to other aspects of the curriculum through integration.  The "Apples Theme" also integrates the concept of numbers. To introduce the theme and the concept of numbers and counting, the book Ten Apples Up on Top by Dr. Seuss would be read to the children.

Printable Emergent Reader 1 - Follow-up
The reader Apples in the Meadow would be used as a follow-up to model the reading process, as well as locating and counting the apples napping and introducing the letter "a" within its story context.    The children will complete it by coloring and counting the number of apples napping. This book was also meant to introduce the concept of subtraction.  The children count only the apples that are napping, on each page one awakens and runs away leaving one less.   A discussion could take place predicting where each apple may be running to.

Apples in the Meadow Reader Sample Page

Big Book Color Sample Page

Preschool and Kindergarten Lesson Plans
Preschool and Kindergarten Activities - Another Connection to Literature
The book Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins is another literature book that can be used to extend the concept of numbers related to the Apples Theme.  The book is a rhyming book and a good introduction to subtraction.  The apple tree has 10 apples to begin with but in succession different animals pick them off.


 Emergent Reader 2 - A Concept Number Number and Color Book - Used to Introduce Letters"a" or "t"
The printable emergent reader Falling Apples is another concept reader that also introduces letter "a" or "t" within its story context, as well, a continuation of counting.  It is also used to introduce the concept of colors.   Larger pictures to make this into a big book are also available in both color and black and white. Each day the children would complete the interactive component in the reader.  They would color and count the apples and the animals according to what is stated in the story line.  A discussion as to how each falling apple disappeared would also be initiated (introduction to subtraction).

Trees Mini-Theme - Week Two

Emergent Reader 3 - Introduces letter "t" and Importance of Trees

Prior to introducing this mini-theme you could read the book "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein.   It would be a good introduction to how trees help us.  After, the emergent reader "Trees" would be used for a shared reading experience.  The small black and white version pictures could be placed in a predictable chart along with the sentences  There is also an enlarged color version that can be used to make this reader into a big book which is displayed in the photograph. The letter "t" could be introduced within reading the story context.

The story line reads as follows:

Trees give us air. Trees give us food. Trees give us heat. Trees give us wood. Trees give us paper. Trees are a home for the animals. We like climbing trees.

Trees Reader Sample Page

Picture Mnemonic Activities
Using Visual Stimulus Apple Craft Activity - Research has shown that the children learn the letters and sounds more successfully if they are associated with a picture or visual image.  Letter "a" would be introduced within the context of using the readers Apples in the Meadow or  Falling Apples.  After, the activity displayed to the right would be completed.  The letter "a" outline would be painted (sponge) and the apple would be colored, cut and glued into the center of the letter outline.

Using Visual Stimulus Tree Craft Activity
After introducing the letter "t" for tree and trunk and its related sound from using the context of the reader Trees, the craft activity displayed to the left could be completed.  The letter "t" could be painted and cut or traced on brown construction paper.  The children would trace around the trunk to make a tree top out of green construction paper.  A red bingo marker can be used to make the apples.

Preschool and Kindergarten Writing Center
Apple Mini-Theme
The children write or dictate what they learned about apples. The apple, hands and artist/writing hat would be painted, cut, assembled and glued on the writing template as shown in the photograph.

Tree Mini-Theme
The children write or dictate what they learned about the importance of trees on the writing template provided. The trunk would be painted or traced on construction paper and the writing portion glued on. The tree top would be painted, cut and glued to the trunk.  Scrunched green tissue paper could be added as shown in the photograph.

Apple Theme Crafts
Follow-up Craft for Book "Ten Red Apples"
The tree template displayed above would be painted and colored.  A red bingo marker would be used to make the apples.  The template could also be used to add to the math center.  A number could be printed on the tree and children would place that many apples (red pom poms) according to the number printed.

Follow-up Craft for Book Ten Apples Up on Top
In the book Ten Apples Up on Top a lion, dog and tiger try to balance a different amount of apples on top of their heads.  The children could paint and add other features to the templates as displayed in the photographs.  A chosen amount of apples would be colored, cut and glued on the top of the selected animal's head.

Funny Apple
As a fun activity the children might enjoy making funny face apples such as the one shown in the photograph.  The apple was painted for the face and the leaves for the hair.
 
Torn Construction Paper Apple
The apple template would be painted and cut.  The children would tear red and green construction paper and glue it to the apple as displayed in the photograph.
Apple Puppet
The apple template would be painted, cut and glued to the paper bag as displayed in the photograph.

Tree Theme Crafts
Hug a Tree Hand Craft
In the tree mini-theme the children will be learning about the importance of trees.  This is a follow-up craft used after reading the related emergent reader "Trees".  The tree trunk would be painted.  The children would trace and cut their hands to make the tree top.  Strips of construction paper would be used to make the arms and the hands would be attached as displayed in the photograph.

Another Connection to Literature
The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall is about a girl who describes her apple tree from winter to fall.  It also explains the steps in making an apple pie.  The book could be used to discuss how trees change through the different seasons.  The craft activity outlined below could be completed after reading the book.

Follow-up Craft Activity
In the theme book or member's area you will find a trunk template as displayed in the photograph below (one for each season).  Each template could be completed as outlined below:

Summer - Trunk would be painted brown (ensure a light brown so leaves can be seen).  Children use a green bingo marker to make the leaves and a red one to make the apples.  Grass, flowers and the sun can be drawn.

Winter - Paint the tree trunk and leave it bare.  Children can draw a winter scene (snowmen).

Fall - Paint the tree trunk.  Use different colored bingo markers to make the colorful leaves.  These could also cover the ground.

Spring - Paint the trunk brown.  Use a green bingo marker to make the leaves and scrunched tissue paper to make the blossoms.  Grass and and flowers can be drawn.

Connection to Literature - "The Alphabet Tree" by Leo Lionni
After reading "The Alphabet Tree" by Leo Lionni the children could make their own alphabet tree.  There are two templates available to complete this craft as shown in the photographs.  In the picture frame version, the children paint the tree trunk and then sponge-paint the leaves for the tree top. The children can stamp on alphabet letters to the tree top.  In the other version, the children paint the tree template and then they can stamp words on leaves made out of construction paper and this is glued to the tree template as shown in the photograph.  The tree template is cut and displayed.

Literacy Center Ideas
Literacy Game One - Match the Color Words
Easier Version - Match the Words (visual discrimination)
The color words are placed in a container.  The children pick out a word.  They must match this to the one on the game board and say the color word.  If they pick up a happy face card, it is returned back into the container and it becomes the other partner's turn.  The first person to have their game board completed is the winner.
More Difficult Version
The game board without the words displayed would be used.

Note:  This would be used in conjunction with using the emergent reader "Falling Apples".  There is both a color and black and white versions of the game board available.

Literacy Game Two - Alphabet Fun - Is is "a" or "u"?
In this game the letters "u" and "a" would be printed on bingo chips. If you are using the alphabet program, these would be review vowel letters. The children pick up a bingo chip from a container and they must determine where to place the chip to represent the picture on the game board.  The first person to have their game board completed would be the winner.  This game is different, in that it requires children to discriminate the vowel sound found in the middle of the word.

Literacy Game Three - Easier Version - Alphabet Review Game
The review letters "c, u, a and t" would be printed on bingo chips and placed in a container with blank bingo chips.  The children would pick up a bingo chip and match it to the picture that begins with that sound using the word displayed by the picture to assist them (visual discrimination).  The first person to have their game board completed is the winner.
More Difficult Version
The game board without the words displayed would be used.  The children would need to use their knowledge of beginning sound-letter correlation to play this game.

Alphabet Review - What's Missing - A Memory Game

Each day alphabet pictures beginning with the review sounds (found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures") would be displayed. These can be displayed on a flannel board or white board.  Discuss what pictures begin with the focus sound and those that do not.  After discussing, have the children close their eyes while you remove one of the pictures.  The children guess what picture is missing.  The person that guesses the correct picture will have an opportunity to remove the picture for the next round.  This game could continue in the Literacy Center.

Alphabet Match
The children can match the upper-case and lower-case letters or match the letters that are the same.  There are both color and black and white templates. 

Word Family - "at"
The children have now been introduced to the letter "a" and "t".  They are now ready to be introduced to the "at" word family.  The apple template is cut in half as displayed in the photograph.  Discuss the new word that is formed each time you add a different letter half.  This can be added to the literacy center for further experimenting.

Sight Word Game

The sight words would be printed on the spinner board and chart.  Each player would have their own chart.  The children would would spin the top. They must say the name of the sight word that it lands on and mark this off on the chart. The first person to have their chart marked off is the winner. Note:  In the photograph the spinner was placed in an aluminum pie plate to control the path of it.  It takes a little practice for the children to learn how turn the spinning top but once they learn how, this will keep them quite occupied.

Preschool and Kindergarten Math Games and Centers

Numbers Teaching Practice Kindergarten and Preschool

This theme focuses on number recognition, counting and printing.  Each day a number and its correct printing formation is introduced. This game helps children reinforce this concept. The focus numbers are printed on dice or a die.  If the child rolls the focus number they mark this off on their chart (they could also print the number).  The first person to have the focus number filled-in would be the winner.

Apple Sorting -   The apples would be copied on red paper.  These could also be copied on different colors and used for patterning or sorting.

Seed Matching - The children count the seeds on the apple and find the corresponding number to match the number of seeds indicated on the other apple.  Both color and black and white pictures are available.

 Apple Shapes -The apples would be cut  in half along the line provided.  The children must find the correct half to complete the shape shown on the apple as displayed in the photograph.  This is a good review of shapes that was introduced in the previous theme.