Apple Faces

High interest project involving good fine motor practice.

Objectives

Children ages 4-5 can cut with the knife SH I
Children ages 3-4 can group consistently by one attribute (vegetable/fruit) Cog. IIIA
nd they are proud of what he/she makes and shows the others SE III
Children can also pick up toothpicks and pierces food pieces FM I

 

Materials

Apples; toothpicks; some of the following: carrots, celery, raisins, parsley, orange peel, cranberries (any food that can be attached to an apple with a toothpick). Have some of these cut up and in muffin tin compartments and leave some uncut in a bowl. Sharp knives with blunt ends.

Procedures

1. Gather children around table or on a clean floor. Have apples whole if small or have children cut them in half if large. Discuss halves and wholes.

2. Ask children if they can make apple faces (or animals or objects if they suggest it) by tacking food pieces onto apple surfaces (peel side if apple is in half). Demonstrate how to use toothpicks to stick on the pieces. Let children experiment freely with the foods and toothpicks. Tell them they may use knives to cut pieces the way they want to fit the "things" they are making.

3. Discuss which foods are fruits; which are vegetables; which have seeds in them; how they grow, taste, smell. Discuss emerging faces (animals, objects) and expressions on faces. Encourage creativity and new ideas.

4. Have children show their creations to each other. If apples are whole, cut a hole in the bottom to make finger puppets.

5. Children may eat them when finished, or save them to eat later.