Apple Painting Activity for Preschoolers

Looking for a creative and fun art activity for fall? Apple painting is a fantastic option for preschoolers! This easy, sensory activity is a process art activity that encourages children to explore texture, shape, and color in a hands-on way. Plus, it’s a perfect way to celebrate the fall season or integrate a lesson about apples and nature.

Why Apple Painting?

Apple painting will be a memorable activity your children will have fun with! This activity also offers several benefits to children.

1. Holding the apples and stamping them onto paper helps preschoolers strengthen their hand muscles, which is great for fine motor skills!
2. The texture, smell, and feel of apples help children is great for sensory exploration.
3. Children LOVE process art activities because it gives them freedom to create and make art with their own flare.
4. Incorporating apples into an art activity introduces preschoolers to nature and fruit that is popular in the fall! You may even decide to teach about the life cycle of apples for science.

Materials Needed

You only need a few supplies for apple painting.

• apples (any color)
• forks
• washable paint
• paper plates
• card stock paper
• paint smocks

Preparing the Activity

You will need to do a few things to prepare the activity. A little before the lesson, cut the apples in half using a knife. You can use one apple for two students.

Then place a fork through the skin side of apple for the children to hold. Also pour paint onto paper plates.

Teaching in Large Group

Before doing this activity, I recommend doing a little introduction as a large group.

Begin by showing children a whole apple. Ask what they observe and ask if they have any questions about apples.

Then cut one apple in half and show the students the star shape the seeds make. Talk about the purpose of seeds.

Lastly, demonstrate how to stamp with apples. Show the kids how to press the painted apple onto the paper, lifting it up to reveal the shape. They’ll love seeing the different textures and patterns each apple makes. You can even show how to mix two colors together to make a new color! Showing them how to do the activity will help when they try this on their own.

Apple Stamping Steps

1. Invite students to hold the fork (that is attached to the apple.)
2. Dip the apple in the paint.
3. Then stamp the apple onto a piece of paper.

Let the children mix colors, try different-sized apples, or overlap the prints to create new designs. They might even want to use the apple’s stem as a brush!

Once the paper is covered in colorful apple prints, let the paintings dry. You can hang these masterpieces around the room or even use them to create fall-themed cards or placemats.

Variations

There are other ways to paint with apples! If you don’t have forks and you are up for a little bit of a mess, you can just have students hold the apples without the fork.

They may start to just finger paint after a while!

Another idea is to cute wedges out of the apples so there’s a “handle” for them to hold.

I love process art!

More Apple Activities

There are so many activities you can do with apples! Here are just a few ideas:

• Nature Walk: After the apple painting activity, go on a nature walk to collect other natural materials like leaves or pinecones, and use them for additional prints.
• Apple Taste Test: Turn this into a full apple-themed day! Try different types of apples and talk about the flavors, colors, and textures. Also have fun counting seeds!
• Read Aloud: “Ten Apples Up On Top!” by Dr. Seuss and do this fun activity!

Apple painting is not just a fun, but it’s also an excellent opportunity for sensory play and early learning. Your preschoolers will love the hands-on experience!!

Let me know if you try this activity!

Sharing is caring!