PlayIsTheWork.com

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. Living in Seattle is far different than growing up in the Midwest where the change is so dramatic it knocks your socks off. Every year in early November, my parents would load the three of us up into the station wagon and we’d head for northern Michigan where we could see the huge maple leaves in colorful states of change. My brother and sister and I would race to see who could find the biggest leaves with the most colors. It was amazing. The fall my children are growing up with is a bit soggier and definitely greener but we still celebrate the harvest and get excited about bobbing for apples and taking a trip to our friends apple press.
Here is a great idea for some experiential fun with your little one to celebrate the return of fall…

Part I : Read a Story to your child…

The Little Red House with No Doors and No windows and a Star Inside
http://www.tooter4kids.com/Apples/Apple_Story.htm.  My son’s teacher taught us this story and I absolutely love it. Apples are a favorite in our house and telling this story and then engaging in the craft below is a lot of fun. Enjoy!

Part II : Apple Prints

Materials Needed:

• Apples
• Paper Towels
• Styrofoam Plate, Meat Tray, or Other Shallow Dish
• Construction Paper
• Paint

Instructions: Cut an apple in half. Experiment with your apples by cutting them different ways. Cut through the top and out the bottom to make a ‘traditional’ apple print, cut through the middle/side to make apple ’star’ prints. Extra credit: Cut the apple into quarters for a different print also!
Fold a paper towel into 4ths and place it onto a styrofoam plate. Pour paint int center of paper towel to make it into a stamp pad. If you like fall colors use red, green, brown, orange and yellow paint to represent the different kinds of apple shapes.
Dip the cut side of the apple into the paint and print away!!!

Posted on October 21st, 2007 by Sam
Filed under: Uncategorized