by Amanda Dcosta

Created on: October 26, 2009   Last Updated: October 27, 2009

Kids love apples. Usually it is not because of the taste but because of its bright red color. Based upon this, many interesting facts are taught to kids that are voluntarily grasped and easily assimilated. Some interesting 'Apple Crafts for Kids' are given below. They may be in the form of artwork, hand prints or even through the craft of cooking.

#1. Easy Apple Salad

Bright Red Apples: 4, diced

Pecans: a handful

Raisins: a handful

Black currants: a handful

Chopped celery: a handful

Lettuce leaves: to dress the plate /serving dish

Mayonnaise or French salad dressing: 2 tablespoonsful

Allow the kids to do everything that is required to make this salad. It is not necessary for them to peel the apples. Little kids of five years and above may be allowed to dice the apples under supervision. Mix all the ingredients together except the lettuce leaves. Either Mayonnaise or French Salad dressing may be used to season the salad. Decorate or line the serving dish with lettuce leaves. A few lettuce leaves may be chopped into thin strips and sprinkled over the final assemble. Garnish with red cherries if desired.

#2. Apple Fruit Salad

Apple Red Delicious: 2

Apple Granny Smith: 2

Purple Grapes: a small bunch

Canned (Diced) Pineapples: half cup

Raisins: a handful

Make sure the fruits are washed well. Again, in this case, allow the kids to do most of the preparation, under supervision. They may be allowed to dice the apples. Canned pineapples are easy to use and the entire salad does not require sugar added to it because of the sugar content in the pineapples. Mix all the above mentioned ingredients together. They may be served as prepared or topped with custard.

#3. Apple Prints

Apples that are halved may be used to form interesting prints when dipped in paint. This is a craft that is taught to kids of age groups 2 and 3 who are just beginning school. After the apples are halved, dip the flat sides of the apple in paint and imprint on paper. Use fabric paints if it is to be done on cloth. Additional painting may be done with a paint brush to add leaves to the picture.

#4. Paper Lunch Bag Apples

This is a craft that is made from a brown paper lunch bag. Color the bottom two thirds of the bag red on both sides. Fill the bag with newspaper stuffing and shape it like a cylinder or a ball. Collect the top of the bag and tie it tight with a rubber band. Press it down in the centre. The red part of the ball is the apple and the above brown part is the stalk. Twist the brown part of the bad to get a stiff stalk. Use glue or cello tape, if required, to keep it in place. Green paper leaves or felt leaves may be attached to the brown stalk.

An alternative way is to first make the apple from the brown paper bag and then paint it red, leaving the stalk brown or painting it green.

#5. Apple Collages

Apple prints in project # 3 may be used to fill in a picture of an apple tree. On a big chart, Paint a tree with green leaves and fill in with apple prints. This is an ideal setting for a classroom where each child's photo may be glue over the centre of the apple print, with the rest of the apple as the photo frame.

Other interesting things that may be made using apples as the theme are the Apple Candle Holder or Apple Candle Stand (using apples with cores removed to insert the candle), Apple Magnets (using felt and magnet), Apple Necklaces and Apple Turkey (Use apple for the body, long carrot and cucumber strips for the tail feathers, and other fruit cuttings to make eyes and beak for the turkey).

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