In the fall we like to use apples for a lot of hands-on learning.In the past we’ve used “falling” apples to practice addition. We’ve done apple threading to spell our names and other words. And we’ve tried this fun fine motor twist on “bobbing” for apples. This year we added an extra fun challenge to our math time with this apple ten frame fine motor math activity. Use it to practice a variety of math skills while trying to balance the apples carefully.
Apple Ten Frame Fine Motor Play
FIND ALL OF OUR APPLE ACTIVITIES IN OUR PRINTABLE LESSON PLANS
FOR HOME PRESCHOOL AND PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS.
Materials
- Small Apple Figures-Ours are approximately 1.5 inches in diameter. We found them at Walmart, but many options can be found in seasonal sections at a variety of stores.
- Styrofoam Block-Ours is 12 x 12 x 1, but use what you have especially if you already have styrofoam around the house.
- Golf Tees
- Apple Task Cards (optional)
Note: If you can’t find apples or the activity is too challenging with them, then you can also try using other manipulatives like red marbles and green marbles or playdough balls to represent apples.
To set up the activity make a ten frame on the styrofoam board. I used a ruler to place the golf tees approximately 2 inches apart.
Then place the apples next to the prepared ten frame as an invitation to play.
Playing with the Apple Ten Frame
Allow your child to spend some time freely playing with the items. Then introduce the math concept you want to practice. In our full task cards set we’ve included cards kids can use to practice matching sets, number recognition, number word recognition, making combinations, and addition.
Matching Sets, Number Recognitions, Number Words
Practice these skills by using task cards or giving oral directions. Have kids show the correct number of apples in a single color on the ten frame.
Remeber that when we use a ten frame we start at the top left and fill the spaces from left to right and then down to the second row just like reading. This helps kids get a visual representation of number sets that will be helpful in math activities later on.
Making Combinations and Addition
To practice combinations name two numbers that add up to a number that is 10 or less (4 and 3 in the example below). Have kids use different colored apples to represent each number. Again this helps them get a visual representation of the numbers being combined.
Once the apples are balanced on the golf tees count how many there are in all.
Practice addition sentences in the same way. Use visuals or our apple task cards with the plus sign instead of the word and (4 + 3 in the example below).
Use this 9-page free printable combinations task card set to set up this up as an independent math activity for kids to practice after you’ve introduced the manipulatives and how to use them.
GET A FULL WEEK OF APPLE THEME LEARNING AND PLAY
Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provided different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.
Help children learn more about apples in a playful hands-on way with the apple activities in this comprehensive set of lesson plans for preschool, PreK and TK classrooms. This apple theme preschool lesson plan pack can be used during the fall, back-to-school time, in conjunction with a fruit theme, aligned with exploring the letter A, etc. Watch this short video to see just a few examples of the types of activities and printables included in this set:
This set includes active hands-on learning ideas and the following printables:
- Apple Number Cards (0-35)
- “Counting Apples” emergent reader
- “I See Apples” emergent reader
- Apple Letters (uppercase and lowercase in both red and green)
- Apple Life Cycle Cards (in color and b/w)
- Label the Apple Diagram (in color and b/w) with labeling cards
- Apple Pattern Cards
- Put the Apples on the Tree Game Mat
- Editable cover and pages for a class apple book
GET YOUR LESSON PLANS
Home Preschool Apple Theme Lesson Plans
Preschool Classroom Apple Theme Lesson Plans
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