Apple picking is a fun fall activity for many families. Bring the fall fun indoors with a Preschool Apple Orchard dramatic play in the classroom. Pick apples at a freestanding tree, enjoy some sweet apple cider, buy some apples, or make some pies. Preschoolers will ask to “pick” this dramatic play center over and over!
There are several important parts to the Preschool Apple Orchard. It can be as simple as a tree to pick apples from and a cash register. But why stop there?
Way Up High in the Apple Tree
One of the most important elements of an orchard is, of course, the trees! While it probably isn’t practical to have an entire forest in the dramatic play area, one preschooler-sized pretend tree is perfect. Of course, adding pictures of an apple orchard or a backdrop, like this one, helps add to the story. If it is not possible to put up a freestanding tree, another option would be to cut a trunk and leaves from paper, laminate them, and mount them on a wall like an interactive bulletin board.
Get all of the labels, signs, and more for an adorable Preschool Apple Orchard right here!
Apple Orchard Dramatic Play
$4.99Enjoy the colors and flavors of fall at this Apple Orchard Dramatic Play Center. Students will pretend to pick apples, sort them by color, and make caramel apples for the farm stand. So much literacy, math, and learning… all during play!!
Making a 3D Apple Tree for the Preschool Apple Orchard
Making a freestanding tree isn’t as intimidating as it looks. Gather these materials and follow the directions to create a tree for the classroom!
- Large cardboard boxes or 3-4 sheets of sturdy cardboard
- Spray adhesive
- dark green felt
- light green felt
- red felt
- yellow felt
- bushel baskets
- cardboard cutting tool
“Leaf” it to the Imagination
First, draw out a cloud-like shape on one piece of cardboard and cut it out. This will be the leaves. Next, spray it with the spray adhesive and wrap the shape in the green felt on each side. If the tree is going to be hung on a wall, there is no need to do both sides in felt.
Pack a Trunk!
Next, draw a large trunk shape on another sheet of cardboard. Cut it out, lay it on top of the third sheet of cardboard, and trace it. This gives you two identical trunk pieces. After cutting both pieces out, sandwich the green leaves between the two pieces of the trunk, going about halfway down. Use the spray adhesive again to attach the leaves to the trunk.
Standing Tall
To make the tree stand up, it will require some trial and error. Starting at the bottom of the trunk, find the center and cut a notch about a half-inch wide by about 8-12 inches long. Create a cardboard stand piece by layering cardboard pieces to make a “root” the same thickness as the notch. An empty fabric bolt can also be used. The length of the root will vary, depending on how tall the tree is. Slide the “root” piece into the trunk to create a perpendicular stand!
Apple of my Eye
For the apples, cut apple shapes out of the red, yellow, and green felt. The felt apple shapes stick to the felt on the tree just like a felt board. Place baskets near the tree to collect the apples and enjoy!
Materials for the Preschool Apple Orchard Apple Stand
- Empty plastic apple cider jug, washed and dried
- Take-out cups with lids
- Plastic apples
- Paper bags
- Tiny fabric apples (for the pies)
- Felt pie crusts
- Aprons
- Overalls
- Toy cash register and pretend money
- Toy scale
- Play caramel apples (directions below!)
- Assorted baskets or small bushel bins
Sowing Seeds: Setting up the Preschool Apple Orchard
The preschool apple orchard’s apple stand has a few different areas. There’s a kitchen area, where students make yummy apple pies. An apple cider area is perfect for thirsty apple pickers. Of course, there’s a cash register where customers purchase pies, cider, apples, and even caramel apples!
Before introducing the center, read the students a book like Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington. This book, in particular, is fantastic because it discusses all the different parts of the dramatic play area.
How Sweet! Making Caramel Apples for a Preschool Apple Orchard
These caramel apples are sure to be a huge seller at the Preschool Apple Orchard! Create these sweet-looking treats for students to enjoy – without the sugar rush!
- Styrofoam craft balls
- Red tissue paper
- Brown felt
- glue gun or fabric glue
- Large craft sticks
- Ribbon
- Cellophane (we used red!)
First, wrap each styrofoam ball in red tissue paper. Insert a craft stick on top of the ball. Next, cut out some “splat” shapes from the brown felt. Attach the felt to the bottom of the wrapped ball using the glue gun. The craft stick makes a helpful handle to avoid burns! If the craft stick is a little loose, use a dot of hot glue to help keep it in place.
To finish the look, wrap each apple in cellophane and tie it with a decorative bit of ribbon. And make sure you remind the students that these apples are pretend, so don’t unwrap them or take a bite!
Dramatic Play Drama
The dramatic play area is a place where children practice their communication and social skills. However, students often struggle with using it appropriately. It is important to model positive play interactions by simply having the teacher join the students from time to time. Especially in a new classroom, with new peers and new toys, guidance from the teacher is necessary. The teacher can demonstrate how different items are to be used and how to interact with others in the shared space. It is important, though, to allow students the freedom to creatively play and take the lead.
Apples Everywhere
Here are some more apple-themed resources for the classroom!
- This easy interactive bulletin board is great for turning a blank wall into a learning center.
- A handy list of apple books feeds preschoolers’ appetites for apple knowledge.
- The Preschool Apple Orchard has pretend pies. Make real tiny apple pies for a treat!
- Do an Apple Taste Test with students and chart the results.
- Whip up a batch of Apple Cinnamon Play Dough and set out this Apple Play Dough Tray to create an irresistible sensory center!
- Apple Counting Mats are a fantastic addition to the math center.
- A bushel of apple activities awaits with this Apple Circle Time roundup.
Where is the dramatic play wooden structure from?
That’s the Create-It-Station from Constructive Playthings. Here’s a link!