Visiting an apple orchard and plucking apples right from the tree is on my bucket list. So, my husband planned to make this dream a reality. Now, I am usually the planner, but it was nice for once just to hop in the car and not worry about the details. That is until we showed up at the apple farm, an hour and a half away, and it was closed for the day. Let’s hope for better luck this fall! Meanwhile, we will just pretend we are picking real apples with this apple orchard dramatic play!
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Apple Lesson plans
Apple Orchard Dramatic Play
Ideas for Set-Up
First things first: gotta set up your apple stand! There are three main areas: the orchard, the snack shop, and the kitchen.
Print the giant apple tree puzzle to set up the orchard and tape it to the wall or a white poster board (to use again next year).
On top of the apples, add the rough side of some Velcro dots. Red pompoms stick to these like a charm. Add the “Pick Your Own” sign and a grass mat, and your orchard is ready for apple picking.
Next up is the apple snack shop. Cube shelves are perfect for displaying some DIY apple snack props. Check out how we made them below. The “Apple Snack Shop” sign is propped up on the stand using a picture frame stand, and we are ready for business!
Last, set up your kitchen area. Instructions on how to make applesauce, apple cider, and apple pie hang on the wall. Below, use labels to organize the kitchen items so the bakers can get to work!
Materials:
Apple Dramatic Play
DIY Apple Snacks
Kids love anything they can get their hands on, so I love designing interactive activities. These apple stand props are easy to make and will bring your dramatic play center to the next level of interaction!
Save your applesauce cups because the labels included in this playset fit perfectly on top. Use clear packing tape to secure the label on one side so the kids can flip it open to add their own “applesauce” straight from the kitchen.
While you work on saving those applesauce cups, remember to save small plastic bottles. Add the apple cider labels and some yellow pompoms, and you have yourself some apple cider!
Last, it’s time to make your pie crusts. First, trace the large part of the pie tins on tan felt. Then, cut out plain felt circles for the bottom of the pies and scalloped circles for the tops. To make the squares in the middle, just fold the felt in half and cut small slits one way and then the other. Ta-da!
Now you have some great props to add to your apple stand!
Materials:
- Apple Stand Dramatic Play
- applesauce cups
- small plastic bottles
- yellow pompoms
- tan felt
- small pie tins
Apple Picking
Apple Orchard Dramatic Play
One fun way to play with this apple orchard dramatic play is by pretending to be the customer. Just like me, it’s on their bucket list to pick some apples straight from the trees!
The customer grabs their basket and heads to the orchard to gather colorful pompom apples. After filling the basket, they bring their apples to the scale, weigh them, and then visit the snack shop to pay and pick out some tasty treats.
Materials:
Apple Snack Shop
Apple Stand Dramatic Play
After a day of picking apples in the orchard, customers are ready for a tasty break! They can head to the Apple Snack Shop for delicious, freshly made treats straight from the apple stand kitchen.
Apples, apple cider, applesauce, or apple pie—whatever sounds delicious! The children can use the apple bucks to pay for their treats—perfect for incorporating number recognition and counting!
Materials:
- Apple Stand Dramatic Play
- picture frame stand
- lamination
- faux apples
- brown paper bags
Apple Orchard Dramatic Play
Baking in the Play Kitchen
Growing up, I loved baking. Or maybe I just loved licking the bowl. Either way, many memories were made with my mother in the kitchen. Nowadays, I love baking with my daughters, carrying on those bowl-licking traditions, and making memories with them along the way.
In this apple stand kitchen, students will love getting involved! They’ll chop colorful pompom apples on the cutting board, roll out soft felt pie crusts, and mix all the ingredients in the pot to “make” applesauce, apple cider, and apple pie.
So many amazing things happen when children are invited to cook in the kitchen, whether in the dramatic play center or at home with loved ones.
Materials:
- Apple Stand Dramatic Play - Kitchen Labels
- red pompoms
- pots & pans
- pretend cutting board
Pretend baking
Following Visual Directions
While toddlers aren’t expected to follow instructions to a tee, adding simple instruction sheets to the dramatic play center offers valuable benefits.
First, it allows teachers to model each step so students can observe and mimic the actions.
Second, learning sequences, like the steps to bake an apple pie, can strengthen students’ ability to understand and recall ordered events, which is important for later comprehension.
Finally, displaying these instruction sheets in the play center can spark new ideas and encourage more imaginative play, which is exactly what we want: for them to play and explore!
Materials:
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Even though I’ve always wanted to pick apples straight from the orchard, I haven’t had the chance—yet! But this apple-themed dramatic play center offers many ways for students to explore that experience through playful, hands-on learning. Hopefully, this apple orchard setup brings the magic of apple picking to life for you and your students!