In the fall when there is a rich harvest of ripe apples to pick from trees or a colourful and wide variety to buy from the grocery stores or farmers’ markets, I like to tell preschool children the story of the star in the apple. I'd suggest you read this story first before you start the craft.
Once you are done the reading the story and show the children the star in the apple, use the apple to make star prints on a piece of paper.
Supplies:
- One or two apples of different sizes
- Knife and cutting board
- Acrylic Paints in several colours
- Sheet paper
Directions:
- Cut the apple crosswise with a sharp knife. It is important to make the surfaces absolutely flat to get the best imprint of the star. Use the half with the stem so you have something to grab to get the apple off the paper. A fork jabbed into the apple works too.
- Paint the face of the apple. Press it down on the sheet of paper. Wash the paint off when you are ready to change colours and continue stamping.
- Not all is lost if you find you didn’t get a flat cut on the apple. Just place the paper on top of the apple and gently rub it to get the imprint.
Why not make it a day full of fun apple activities by making some yummy apple sauce too? Here’s the recipe.
- Add one cup of water and half a cup of sugar to a pot. (You may want to add more or less sugar, depending on the sweetness of the apples.)
- Bring it to a boil on the stove.
- Wash 5 apples and peel and core them. Throw the cores in with your compost and eat the peels.
- Using a plastic knife let the children cut the apple into smaller chunks.
- Add them to the boiling water and cook at a gentle boil for 10 minutes at medium heat.
- Sprinkle in a bit of cinnamon for added flavouring if you like.
Let it cool and enjoy the flavour and aroma of cooked apples and cinnamon.
[Photograph by Linda Dunbar. Reproduction prohibited]
