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Sep 3, 2014
Apples Theme Activities· Fine Motor Skills for Tiny Fingers· Fruits and Vegetables Theme Activities· Preschool and Kindergarten Skills

Apple Theme for #Preschool: Scented Playdough Pre-Writing Activity #PlayfulPreschool

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Apple Playdough Pre-Writing Activity

 Apples Theme for #PlayfulPreschool

Fall offers many opportunities for playful learning in preschool.  This fall (and throughout the school year) we will be combining forces with some of the best preschool bloggers to provide hands-on and playful activities designed JUST for YOUR kids!  The #PlayfulPreschool blogging team is working diligently on a variety of learning experiences centered around a weekly theme.  This week’s activities are designed around an APPLES THEME.  Be sure to visit this blog each Wednesday throughout the school year for creative and playful learning suggestions that can be used in the childcare classroom, at home, or at school!

Apple Theme Playdough Writing

APPLE SPICE PLAYDOUGH PRE-WRITING LINE PATHS – APPLE TREE PLAYDOUGH PATHS

Disclosure:  This post and others within this blog contain affiliate links.  Please see our ABOUT page for full disclosures.

Using apple-scented playdough for pre-writing is a fun way to combine fine motor development with sensory learning!  The sense of smell is powerful for children (and adults)!  The fall scents of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon used in the playdough will provide lasting memories for the children.  By inviting preschoolers to use as many of The 5 Senses as possible, parents and educators can offer learning opportunities that will last long after the activity has ended!

OBJECTIVE:   The creation of the apple-scented playdough line paths will encourage the fine motor development necessary for writing through hands-on playful learning.

Materials needed:  Homemade apple playdough (or red commercial playdough and apple pie spice),  large wooden craft sticks, and a permanent marker.  If desired, the children can create the line paths on the APPLE TREE PLAYDOUGH MAT (linked above). Laminate the playdough line path mat for durability or to re-use later.  Note – if laminating supplies are not available, clear contact paper will work, too. **If using the commercial playdough, invite the children to press the playdough into a large circle.  Sprinkle the circle with 2 tsp. of apple pie spice.  The children can then fold the circle over (in half) and then knead the dough to distribute the spices.  When the children are finished kneading the playdough, demonstrate for the children how to roll the dough with the palm of their hand to make long playdough worms.  Experiment and practice rolling worms with the scented dough.  The playdough worms will be used to form the line paths when the children are ready for a more challenging task. Line Paths for Preschool 001 Prior to the activity:  Make different line paths with a permanent marker on wooden craft sticks.   Note: the line paths in the photo above are suggestions, but any line path can be used. Invite the children to choose one craft stick at a time and try to copy the pattern (re-create the line path) shown on the craft stick to the apple printable using the spiced playdough worms. Apple scented playdough line paths for preschool

ADDITIONAL APPLES THEME RESOURCES from THE PRESCHOOL TOOLBOX:

APPLES THEMATIC UNIT – literacy, math, science, large motor, dramatic play, songs/fingerplays, foods and food crafts.  This is an entire preschool theme for apples and includes over 80+ pages of playful learning and activity suggestions.

APPLE TREE LIFE CYCLE SEQUENCING CARDS  

APPLE CORING AND APPLE PRINTED PINWHEEL CRAFTS

APPLE TREE COUNTING ACTIVITY

APPLES ALPHABET MATCHING CARDS – free printable alphabet and numbers

APPLE MOSAIC CRAFT and APPLE NUMBER MATCHING

APPLE SONG, SENSORY BAGS, RECIPE SEQUENCING CARDS, and a POSITIONAL WORDS ACTIVITY

Meet the #PlayfulPreschool Blogging Team:

Playful Preschool Bloggers

Plan your learning week with Preschool Apple Theme Activities from the Playful Preschool Education Team:

SOCIAL STUDIES  From Orchard to Table. Watch and Make  at The Educators’ Spin On It SCIENCE  Examining Apple Parts, How Does It Grow, Sink/Float at Little Bins For Little Hands MUSIC & MOVEMENT Apple Hop at Learning 2 Walk MATH Counting Apples with Preschoolers: Real-Life Math at Life Over C’s Apple Math Fun in Preschool – Tasting and Graphing Apples at Fun-A-Day LITERACY Alphabet Activity: Apple Tree Letter Matching at Mom Inspired Life Alphabet Learning: Apple Stamping at Growing Book by Book Apple-Bet Match : Matching Lowercase with Upper Case Letters at Tiny Tots Adventures SENSORY  Applesauce Dough for Sensory Play at Still Playing School COOKING  How to Make Homemade Apple Pie – Cooking with Preschoolers at Powerful Mothering SCIENCE  Apple Oxidation Experiment at Raising Lifelong Learners CRAFT Paper Plate Apple Craft at The Kennedy Adventures

We would also like to extend an invitation to join in and watch our APPLE THEME Google+ On Air Hangout tonight, September 2 at 9:00 EST. Hope to see you there!
     

37 Comments

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Previous Post: « Apple Prints Pinwheel Craft for Preschool & Kindergarten
Next Post: My Funny Family: Family Tree Stick Crafts for Preschool! #Playfulpreschool »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nicolette Roux says

    September 3, 2014 at 1:17 pm

    playdough is always a hit in my house!

    Reply
    • pschooltoolbox says

      September 6, 2014 at 12:27 am

      In ours, too! Thanks for taking the time to visit!

      Reply
  2. Danielle @ Mom Inspired Life says

    September 3, 2014 at 2:04 pm

    I love how easy this activity is to put together and complete with your child. I know my son would really enjoy it!

    Reply
    • pschooltoolbox says

      September 6, 2014 at 12:27 am

      Danielle – it is easy and the kids do love it. We have rolled a LOT of playdough “worms” this week!:) TY for taking the time to visit and comment!

      Reply
  3. Mary Catherine says

    September 3, 2014 at 6:37 pm

    Oh, I bet that apple spice play dough smelled delicious and really worked those little fingers!

    Reply
    • pschooltoolbox says

      September 6, 2014 at 12:26 am

      Mary Catherine – it does smell good:) Great way to ease into Fall! Thanks so much for visiting and your comment!

      Reply
  4. Colleen says

    September 3, 2014 at 8:34 pm

    I love the idea of using playdough on the prewriting lines! We have some I’ll be printing off tomorrow to do this activity. Thanks!

    Reply
    • pschooltoolbox says

      September 6, 2014 at 12:25 am

      Colleen – thanks so much for taking the time to visit!:) It’s a fun (and EASY) activity!

      Reply
  5. Jodie @ Growing Book by Book says

    September 3, 2014 at 8:38 pm

    Oh my goodness, this is fantastic. We just made a new batch of playdough so I’m eager to introduce this to my preschooler! Thank you!

    Reply
    • pschooltoolbox says

      September 6, 2014 at 12:24 am

      Jodie – thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment! Greatly appreciated!

      Reply
  6. Natasha says

    September 4, 2014 at 6:36 am

    This is something that I need to work more on with my three year old. What a fun way to help them with writing. I will be giving this a try very soon.

    Reply
    • pschooltoolbox says

      September 6, 2014 at 12:24 am

      Natasha – thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  7. Kim says

    September 6, 2014 at 4:59 am

    I love the idea of writing the lines on the popsicle sticks. That would make it so easy to use for other themes as well!

    Reply
    • pschooltoolbox says

      September 6, 2014 at 3:11 pm

      Kim – thanks for the comment! We use dice and popsicle sticks OVER and OVER throughout the year!:)

      Reply

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