Apple Day activities are a great way to bring seasonal, cross-curricular learning into your classroom. Some teachers plan a single themed day, while others dedicate an entire week to first grade apple activities. You can schedule your celebration around Johnny Appleseed Day on September 26 or coordinate it with a local apple orchard field trip.
However you choose to organize it, a first grade Apple Day gives students a hands-on opportunity to engage with reading, writing, science, and math in a way that’s both educational and fun.
Tips for a Successful Apple Day
Your Apple Week activities don’t have to be over the top to be interesting for your students. Here are a few tips to help make it both fun and manageable:
Ask for help. Invite a parent volunteer or an older student to help manage stations or prepare materials. Apple slicing, crockpot prep, and group activities are much easier with a second pair of hands.
Pick what works. Don’t try to do every possible activity you see on Pinterest. Choose the lessons that make sense for your class, your time, and your teaching goals.
Make it cross-curricular. Apple Day activities can support reading, writing, science, math, and more. Keep your lesson goals in mind and use this opportunity to have fun while you’re teaching.
Below, you’ll find Apple Day activity suggestions organized by subject. Some of these ideas include links to additional resources or apple themed printables, while others offer simple ways to extend your Apple Day activities with what you already have in your classroom.
Apple Read Alouds
Start your day with a read aloud. Reading apple books for kids sets the tone for the day and gives you a natural way to tie in comprehension, sequencing, or writing.
Read “The Apple Pie Tree” by Zoe Hall
This book follows the life cycle of an apple tree and ends with two sisters baking a pie. After reading, try a sequencing activity where students place life cycle cards in order (e.g., first, next, then, last).
Prepare a set of life cycle cards or sentence strips with steps like:
- The tree grows blossoms.
- Bees pollinate the flowers.
- Apples begin to grow.
- The apples are picked.
- The apples are used to make a pie.
As a class, reread those key parts of the book and model how to place each card in order using “first, next, then, last” language.
Want more apple read alouds? This list includes 21 apple-themed picture books that work well for fall reading lessons, science tie-ins, and classroom discussions.
If you’d like a copy of The Apple Pie Tree, click here to find it on Amazon. (This is an affiliate link, which means we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.)
Apple Writing Activities
Apple Day is the perfect time to bring writing into your themed lessons. Here are a few apple writing activities to get you started:
How-To Writing: Make Applesauce Together
Use shared writing to model how-to writing as your class prepares crockpot applesauce. (An easy crockpot recipe is at the end of this blog) Set up your easel or chart paper and write the recipe together as a class.
Start by discussing the ingredients and supplies students will be using. As you move through each step of the applesauce prep, pause to ask:
- “What should we do first?”
- “What comes next?”
- “How can we explain this clearly so someone else could follow our directions?”
You’ll do most of the writing on the chart, but your students will supply the ideas and help you decide how to say each step. Keep the sentences short and clear. For example:
- First, we peeled the apples.
- Then, we chopped them into small pieces.
- Next, we put the apples in the crockpot.
- Last, we added sugar and cinnamon and let it cook.
Once the recipe is complete, reread it together to check for order and clarity. Display your class recipe or make copies for students to illustrate and take home. This activity supports sequencing, procedural writing, and vocabulary development.
Free Apple Writing Paper
We’ve created a set of 36 free apple-themed writing pages—perfect for your Apple Week activities. You can use as many or as few pages as you need, depending on your schedule. These are a great fit for having students reflect on their Apple Day activities, like writing a recipe for applesauce, labeling the parts of an apple, or describing their favorite way to eat one.
The set includes pages with primary lines and space for a picture, making it ideal for first graders who are still developing their handwriting and love to illustrate their work.
Download your free apple writing paper here.
Apple Writing Centers
Set up your independent writing center with differentiated apple writing activities that support a range of student needs. This Apple Writing Center resource includes everything you need to get started without a lot of extra prep required.
Inside, you’ll find:
- Apple-themed picture cards to support vocabulary and sentence building
- A vocabulary mini-book that students can use for reference or complete as part of their writing routine
- Sentence-building pages that guide students through writing with structure
- Writing templates with a variety of line styles to match different writing abilities
Each activity is designed to help your students turn their apple-themed ideas into writing, whether they’re just starting to build sentences or ready to write a full paragraph. This resource works well as a fall literacy station or as a part of your Apple Day activities. Check out the full Apple Writing Center here.
Apple Day Class Book
Throughout the day, take photos of students during apple science experiments, apple tastings, crafts, and apple read-alouds. Afterward, print the photos and glue them onto pieces of construction paper.
Have students write captions for the photos. Depending on their skill level, this can be a full sentence (“I made apple volcanoes with my group”) or a simple label (“apple tasting”).
You can also turn this into a shared writing activity, where students contribute ideas and you model writing on the board before they write their own.
Once all the pages are complete, bind them together into a class book and add it to your classroom library. It’s a great way to remember their Apple Day activities and build classroom community.
Apple Day Math Activities
Turn your Apple Week into a chance to reinforce counting, graphing, measurement, and number sense.
Favorite Apple Snack Graph
Create a picture graph of your student’s favorite way to eat apples. Choose 4 to 6 common apple snacks your students are familiar with. For example: apple slices, applesauce, apple pie, apple juice, or caramel apples. Make sure to ask them for other ways to eat an apple. That way, they are contributing to the chart. This helps you make this Apple Day activity a little more student-led.
Create a large chart to draw columns labeled with each snack option. Print or cut out small paper apples ahead of time, or give each student a sticky note to cast their vote.
One at a time, students come up and place their apple or sticky note above their favorite snack.
As the votes are added, your class will see the columns grow, providing a visual way to compare the different choices.
After voting, guide students through reading the graph:
- Which snack had the most votes?
- Which had the fewest?
- Did any snacks get the same number of votes?
When you’re done, take a picture of the apple tasting graph and add it to your Apple Day class book.
Nonstandard Measurement with Apples
Give your students a hands-on way to explore measurement by using apples as a nonstandard unit. This apple measuring activity introduces important concepts like length, comparison, and counting, without needing a ruler.
Start by selecting a few similarly sized apples. Model how to line up apples end-to-end along an object, such as a book or a pencil box, to measure its length.
Emphasize the importance of placing the apples carefully without gaps or overlaps.
Then, invite students to measure objects around the room using the apples. Good choices include:
- The length of their desk
- The height of a stack of books
- The width of a classroom chair
- A whiteboard marker
- Their own shoes
Create a simple recording sheet where students can draw the object, write the name, and record how many apples long it is. If you’re doing this as part of your Apple Day activities, let students work in pairs and rotate through measurement stations.
Wrap up with a group discussion:
- Which item was the longest?
- Which was the shortest?
- Were there any surprises?
This activity supports early measurement skills while keeping students actively engaged, and makes a great addition to your fall math lessons or your Apple Day celebration.
Apple Fractions
Use real apples to introduce your students to early fraction concepts like halves and quarters. This hands-on activity helps students visualize equal parts while learning important math vocabulary.
Start by slicing a few apples in front of the class. Show one apple cut in half, and explain that it’s split into two equal parts—these are called halves. Then cut another apple into four equal parts—called quarters.
As you model, use clear math terms:
- “This is one whole apple.”
- “When I cut it in half, I have two pieces that are the same size.”
- “When I cut it into quarters, I have four equal parts.”
Then, give students a chance to explore. You can set up stations with apple slices where students sort them by halves and quarters, or work in small groups with adult supervision to help cut their own slices using plastic knives or pre-cut samples.
Wrap up the activity with a discussion:
- Which is more—one half or one quarter?
- How do we know the parts are equal?
This is a great addition to your Apple Day math activities and helps build strong connections between hands-on experiences and early fraction concepts.
Ten Frame Apple Counting
Use ten frames with red and yellow dot counters to help your students build number sense, develop subitizing skills, and explore combinations of ten, all with an apple-themed twist.
Start by giving each student a ten frame mat. Provide red and yellow dot counters, representing red and yellow apples. Begin with simple number building:
- “Show me 5 red apples.”
- “Now add 2 yellow apples. How many apples in all?”
As students place their counters, prompt them to describe what they see:
- “I see 3 red apples and 7 yellow apples. That’s 10 in all.”
- “There are 4 red apples. How many more do we need to make 10?”
This reinforces early addition and helps students recognize number pairs that total ten. Add different apple number challenges like:
- “Make 8 apples using two colors.”
- “Use red and yellow to show a number greater than 5 but less than 10.”
Ten Frame Apple Counting makes a simple addition to your Apple Day math stations—and it gives students a fun way to strengthen core math skills using a familiar visual structure.
Apple Science Experiments
Apple science experiments are a great hands-on way for first graders to learn about the world around them. These easy prep experiments help students learn how to observe the apples and predict what will happen next.
Tips for Doing Apple Science Experiments in First Grade:
Start with a safety talk: Remind students not to eat experiment materials unless you say it’s okay, and have goggles on hand for any vinegar-based activities.
Keep materials organized: Use trays to hold supplies for each group. This cuts down on transitions and spills.
Invite helpers: Ask a parent volunteer or an older student to help run each experiment or assist with cleanup.
Use visuals: Anchor charts or picture instructions can help students follow along and stay engaged.
Give every student a role: Assign simple jobs—like “recorder,” “tester,” or “clean-up crew”—to keep everyone involved.
Tie into writing: Have students record predictions and results on simple worksheets or in mini science journals.
Plan for messes: Keep paper towels, wipes, and a trash bin nearby. You’ll thank yourself later!
Here’s an easy apple science experiment to try:
Apple Oxidation Experiment
Objective: Predict which liquid will keep apples from turning brown.
Materials:
- Apple slices
- Water, lemon juice, vinegar, soda, and milk
- Small bowls or cups
- Chart or worksheet for predictions/results
Instructions:
- Place one apple slice in each liquid.
- Wait 30–60 minutes.
- Observe which slice browned the fastest and which stayed the freshest.
This is just one of six experiments in our Apple Science Experiments blog post, which includes directions, supply lists, and learning goals for each activity. Click here to see the first grade science experiments.
Apple Day Social Studies Activities
Apple Day is also a great time to bring in history, geography, and real-world connections. These quick social studies lessons give your students a chance to learn how apples are part of different cultures, communities, and traditions.
Johnny Appleseed Day (September 26)
Teach a short lesson about the life of John Chapman, known as Johnny Appleseed, and his travels across the U.S. Read a picture book biography (like Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg), mark his route on a map, and discuss why he’s remembered.
Activity idea: Make simple tin pot hats from foil and retell facts learned as a class. If you need to add this book to your classroom library, click here to buy it from Amazon.
Apples Around the World
Introduce students to how different cultures enjoy apples. For example:
- Germany – Apple strudel
- Turkey – Dried apples
- U.S. – Apple cider and pie
Activity idea: Show photos or bring samples, mark each food’s origin on a map, and discuss how apples are used in different parts of the world.
Apples From The Farm To The Table
Help students understand the journey of an apple from the orchard to the grocery store. Create a flow chart or sequence cards with steps like: growing on a tree, harvesting, sorting, transporting, and selling.
Activity idea: Have students draw and label each step, or act it out as a class.
These social studies activities add to your first grade apple activities by helping students connect what they’re learning to real people, places, and traditions. They’re easy to fit in and give your students a broader understanding of how apples are part of everyday life.
Apple Day Art Projects
Add a creative break to your Apple Day with simple, fall art projects your students will love. These apple-themed crafts are easy to prep and use materials you likely already have on hand.
Apple Stamping
Make a stamped apple art piece from the middle of an apple.
Supplies:
- Apples (halved)
- Washable paint (red, green, yellow)
- Paper plates or paint trays
- White construction paper
Instructions:
- Cut apples in half and blot with a paper towel.
- Let students dip the apple halves into paint and press them onto their paper.
- Encourage them to create patterns, rows, or even apple trees using the stamps.
This is a good opportunity to show them what happens when you cut an apple in half from top to bottom, or from side to side. Apple stamps that show the star shape in the middle of an apple always turn out really nice.
Torn Paper Apples
Make a textured apple collage using torn paper.
Supplies:
- Red, green, and yellow construction paper
- Blackline apple outlines (or have students draw their own)
- Glue sticks
Instructions:
Have students tear small pieces of colored paper and glue them inside the apple outline to fill the space. You can assign colors based on apple varieties or let students choose their favorite. This activity works well for fine motor practice too.
Fingerprint Apple Trees
Supplies:
- Green construction paper
- Red washable paint
- Brown construction paper (trunk)
- Scissors and glue
Instructions:
- Pre-cut tree shapes or let students cut their own.
- Have them dip their fingertips in red paint and press onto the green paper to make apples.
- Attach a brown trunk at the bottom using a rectangle of paper.
- Once dry, you can hang them for a fun fall display.
These art projects add something special to your Apple Day celebration. Students will remember the fun of creating something seasonal, and they’ll be excited to bring home a keepsake that shows what they did in class.
Crockpot Applesauce Recipe
Making applesauce is often a highlight of Apple Day. It’s simple to prepare, kid-friendly, and makes your classroom smell like fall all day long. If your class visits an apple orchard, students often receive a small bag of apples to take home This is a great opportunity to have each student “donate” one apple to the pot. It adds a personal connection and gives them a sense of ownership: they made the applesauce together.
Tips for Prep:
Use an apple peeler-corer (like this one) so students can help turn the handle and watch their apple peel, core, and spiral. It’s a great visual, and they love taking part in the preparation.
No corer? Peel and slice apples yourself or ask an adult helper. Then, give each student one slice and a plastic knife to safely cut it into smaller pieces before adding it to the crockpot.
Supplies You’ll Need:
- Apples (about 1 per student), peeled and sliced. Apples will soften as they cook down, so if it looks like a lot, you can adjust it to your liking.
- A splash of water
- Ground cinnamon
- Optional: sugar or nutmeg
- Crockpot
- Serving spoon and small bowls or cups
- Paper towels or wipes for cleanup
Cooking Instructions:
- Add apples, a small amount of water, and a sprinkle of cinnamon to the crockpot.
- Let it cook on low throughout the school day.
- Stir occasionally.
- Give your applesauce a taste as it’s cooking to see if you need to add sugar or more cinnamon.
- The apples will soften and break down on their own—no need to mash.
- Serve warm in small bowls.
It’s a simple recipe, but students will remember making (and eating!) something they helped create. Don’t forget to take pictures for your class Apple Day book!
Wrapping Up Your Apple Activities
Apple Day doesn’t have to be elaborate to be effective. You can keep it simple with a few focused apple-themed activities or turn it into a full-day celebration. However you plan it, the goal is the same: create hands-on, engaging lessons that tie into your learning goals and leave your students excited about what they’ve learned.
The best part? They’ll remember it all—especially the part where they helped make applesauce.
