Printing with Apples (and 8 other apple activities)

I don’t know about the area where you live but it seems that at the moment, where I live,  every village has an apple or harvest festival scheduled. With many wonderful products to buy, eat and taste.  In this activity, try printmaking using apples and other fruits.

Age Group: 2years+

What you need:

• Apples or other similar fruits
• Foam pads/kitchen cloths
• Plate, meat trays, or shallow dish. Plastic plates work well.
• Construction Paper
• Paint (in desired colours)

What to do:

1. Cut the apple in half.  Cut through the top and out the bottom to make a ‘traditional’ apple print.
2. Cut through the middle to make apple ‘star’ prints. (the core makes this interesting shape)
3. Cut the apple into quarters to make wedge shapes.

Place the foam pad on to the plate or dish. Pour paint into the center of the foam pad to make it into a stamp pad. Using red, green, and yellow paint to represent the different kinds of apples can be fun, but you could just use whatever your child likes or whatever you have at hand.

Press the cut side of the apple into the paint and then press it onto the paper to make a print.

Tips and Ideas:

• Use fabric paint and make an apple print T-shirt or tea towel
• Use other fruits. Try pears for example
• Talk about apples and the different types available. Find pictures in books or on the internet.
• Do apple taste tests: buy a variety of types and cut them up-have your child taste them and choose a favourite.
• Go apple picking (if you have a farm nearby). Which types grows locally?
• Attend an apple festival and participate in the games and activities.
• Make apple pie/tart or stewed fruit.
• Look for apple flavoured or smelling products in the supermarket and make a list.

There are so many things to do with apples. Take advantage of the abundance of apples at this time of year and get your child hooked! Happy Harvesting!