CRAFT: Back-to-School Apple Tree

A fun and seasonal craft idea to do with young kids at the beginning of September is making "Back-to-School Apple Trees." This activity not only incorporates the theme of going back to school but also introduces young children to basic crafting skills and encourages creativity. For the younger kids, you can simply enjoy the craft itself; for the older kids, they can write intentions or goals for the new school year on each apple. Another great idea is to use the apples as placeholders for fun school pictures throughout the year!

Here's how to do it:

Materials Needed:

• Construction paper or cardstock in various colors (green, brown, red)
• Child-safe scissors
• Glue or glue sticks
• Crayons or markers
• Small, round stickers (optional)
• Cotton balls or pom-poms (optional, for texture)

Instructions:

• Tree Trunk and Branches:
  • Start by cutting a tree trunk and branches from brown construction paper or cardstock. The tree trunk can be a rectangle, and the branches can be simple lines coming out from the top of the trunk.
  • Glue the tree trunk and branches onto a piece of green construction paper or cardstock to create the tree.
• Apples:
  • Cut out small apple shapes from red construction paper or cardstock.
  • Let your child decorate the apples with crayons or markers. They can draw faces, patterns, or any design they like on the apples.
• Leaves:
  • Cut out green leaves from green construction paper or cardstock.
  • Glue the leaves onto the branches of the tree.
• Attaching Apples:
  • Use glue or glue sticks to attach the decorated apples to the branches of the tree. Encourage your child to decide where they want to place each apple.
• Optional Texture: If you have cotton balls or pom-poms on hand, you can glue them around the base of the tree to create a textured "ground."
• Personalize: Have your child write their name and the date on their artwork to make it more special.
• Display: Once the craft is complete and the glue has dried, you can proudly display the "Back-to-School Apple Tree" on the refrigerator or a bulletin board.

This craft is not only enjoyable for kids but also a great way to kick off the school year and talk about the changing seasons as September marks the beginning of fall. Plus, it provides an opportunity for creativity, fine motor skill development, and a sense of accomplishment as kids proudly display their finished tree.