Printable Apple Tree Craft

It was overcast and 71 degrees today, and this pregnant mama just about cried. I really do hate to complain, but with a built-in baby heater I’m definitely ready to say goodbye to the Kentucky humidity and welcome cooler weather–especially since it’s now late September! And to welcome fall it only felt appropriate to enjoy a fun fall project (though this apple tree craft could definitely be used any time of year). Read on to learn about one of our favorite apple tree books and make your own paper-pieced apple tree craft using a printable template.

The simple story Ten Red Apples by Pat Huchins has been a favorite of each of my kids while they’ve been preschool age and we frequently read (and re-read) the repetitive counting narrative of the farmer with 10 red apples hanging on a tree yippee, fiddle-dee-fee!

In each rhyming verse, an animal comes along and helps itself to a juicy red apple, counting down from 10 red apples to just one. So when the farmer’s wife comes along she’s disappointed that there are no more red apples to bake in a pie. Until–the farmer spies another apple tree full of juicy fruit. ” ‘Good!’ cried the farmer’s wife. You saved them for me! Yippee, fiddle-dee-fee!”

I love this book for it’s predictable text and rhyming verses which makes it easy for kids to “read” along–boosting their beginning-reading confidence and encouraging interaction and participation. The bold, bright illustrations of wooden toy characters also make the book eye-catching and fun. The simple story of a juicy apple tree inspired us some of our own apple tree paper pieced art.

To create this Apple Tree craft, you’ll need:

• Apple Tree Printable Template
• white paper or card stock
• paint/crayons/markers
• scissors
• glue
• (optional) colored card stock or patterned paper

1. Print Apple Tree Craft Template

Print the apple tree template. We prefer to use white card stock for a sturdier project.

2. Color or Paint Apple Tree Template

Color or paint the apple tree template pieces. For this project we chose tempera paint.

Just for fun we added some extra texture for “leaves” using the foam stamps we made. You could also add texture using household items like a fork or comb. Check out this post on making painted paper for some simple texture tool ideas.

 3. Cut and Assemble Apple Tree Craft Pieces

Cut apple tree pieces, and assemble with glue.

4. Mount Trees for Display

When finished, mount your trees on a piece of card stock, patterned paper, or painted paper, if desired.

This template also works well for a supplemental activity during a scripture lesson about the Tree of Life or the Tree of Knowledge of Good an Evil when telling the story of Adam and Eve. We painted our fruit white embellished with a gold metallic marker, but you could use your own creative interpretation!

Or try using the template to create simple flannel board feltie pieces to go along with retelling Ten Red Apples or another favorite apple book or poem. Tangible felt pieces make it fun for kids to get even more interactive with the story during or after the read. Just cut the number of “apples” needed for the story you tell! (Ten Apples Up on Top is another fun story to tell with the apple tree felties.)

You can download these craft templates (and many others!) by visiting the free craft template archive or Teachers Pay Teachers.