Ten Apples Up On Top Gross Motor Game

When you think of the beginning of the school year, apples immediately come to mind! Preschools have apple themes and everyone loves to count with the book Ten Apples Up On Top. We've extended the math learning in this book by turning it into a gross motor movement activity for kids!

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We're excited to kick off this school year with a weekly post on a well loved children's book along with tons of educational ideas to go with each one! This series is called the Virtual Book Club for Kids and we hope you'll join in the fun. 

This week's book is Ten Apples Up On Top by Dr. Seuss. The only other material you'll need for our game is sidewalk chalk. 

Begin by inviting children to trace the body outline of a friend. This is fantastic pre-writing practice but an adult may need to do the tracing depending on this child's fine motor skills. 

Once the person outline is complete, kids can add details to their self-portrait. Children or adults can add the apples on top of the head but be sure to make them large enough for a child to stand inside each space. Number the apples as the kids help you count. 

Read the book as children move the the corresponding apple each time you say a number. Kids need to move often while they are learning so this is the perfect way to practice math in an active way!

We loved this movement activity because there are so many ways to play. Here each kid was asked to stand on their age. 

Our older daughter practiced addition using the apples. I would give her a math fact then she would move along the number line to solve for the sum. Challenge kids to practice skip counting by only stepping on the odd or even numbers. 

I love to think of creative ways to allow kids to move as they learn instead of requiring them to sit still. You can invite them to hop, step, and stop along these apples as they work on number identification and practice one to one counting all at the same time. 

Other Ten Apples Up On Top Ideas: 

Apple Themed Pre-Writing Activity by Sugar Aunts

Are Apples Round? Shape Exploration by Peakle Pie

Names Apple Picking by Preschool Powol Packets

Fingerprint Apple Name Tracing by Witty Hoots

Apple Snack for Kids by CraftCreateCalm

Fine Motor Apple Graphing by Extremely Good Parenting

Ten Apples Up On Top File Folder Game by Views From a Step Stool

Sequencing Number Words by Adventures of Adam

Apple Scented Play Dough by Rainy Day Mum

Finger Painted Apple Trees by Clare's Little Tots

Play Dough Apple Stacking Activity by Inspiration Laboratories

Making Applesauce and Cinnamon Apple Peels by Mama Smiles

Science in Motion Apple Game by The Educators' Spin On It

Apple Color Mixing Science Experiment by Powerful Mothering

Colorful Spin Art Apple Banner by Toddler Approved



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