Lessons by Molly

Ready-made Craft Kits

I've come across dozens of ready-made craft kits that looked fantastic in photos but didn't work well in the classroom. The most common problem is that the pattern pieces are too small or complex for young children to cut out on their own. How disappointing to watch students become frustrated because they can't manage to cut out the pattern pieces! Additionally, it's discouraging for teachers when a simple project ends up requiring an extra hour after school to cut and prepare pattern pieces. I designed the Granny Smith Apple craft with busy classroom teachers in mind. The apple pattern is round and large, so students can cut it out easily without feeling overwhelmed. Crafts should feel fun, not frustrating.

Colorful Autumn Apples

This project works beautifully for autumn because apples come in so many varieties. Your students can create bright green Granny Smiths, yellow Golden Delicious, or even deep red Rome apples. (But here's a tip: don't use Red Delicious. Those apples have bumpy bottoms, while this apple template has a rounded base—just like Rome, Golden Delicious, or Granny Smith.) Not only does this flexibility let students choose their favorite apple color, but it also ties in nicely with fall themes, apple units, or even nutrition lessons.

Beyond Cookie-Cutter Crafts

Another challenge I've noticed with many classroom crafts is that they end up looking identical. Every child glues the same eyes, mouth, and nose in the same place, and by the end of the lesson, the projects all look like carbon copies. This apple craft gives students more freedom. In addition to the classic apple face option, there's also a blank apple template that lets kids design their own facial expressions. They can draw silly eyes, make wiggly smiles, or create a surprised face—it's entirely up to them. This extra choice means every apple will look unique, just like your students.

Benefits of This Apple Craft

Kid-friendly pattern pieces - simple shapes that are easy for young children to cut
Flexible apple varieties - Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Fuji, or Rome
Creative Freedom - blank apple face option prevents the "cookie-cutter" effect
Perfect for fall themes - works for apple units, bulletin boards, or a follow-up activity after a field trip to an apple orchard.

Easy Prep for Busy Teachers

This apple craft is:

Easy to prep and cut out.
Flexible for multiple apple varieties.
Fosters fine motor development. (cutting patterns and accordion-style folding)
A great way to encourage individuality and classroom pride.

Fall can be a hectic season in the classroom, but this Granny Smith Apple Craft offers a fun and stress-free way to combine art, seasonal themes, and hands-on learning. All you need to do is print the patterns on cardstock or colored paper, and your students are ready to go. The pieces are large enough for small hands, so even first-grade students can complete the project with confidence.

Student Work Display for Open House

This craft looks great suspended from the classroom ceiling, letting the apple characters dangle and dance in the air—while keeping your wall space free for other media! Tap the image shown below to get your APPLE CRAFT CHARACTER.

Back-to School Coloring Page

This back-to-school coloring page isn't just a coloring activity—it's packed with ways to differentiate learning for your students. The included choice board lets students pick an activity that suits their skill level and interest.

What is a Choice Board?

A choice board is a simple graphic organizer that presents students with multiple activity options. It encourages student choice, independence, and engagement. The choice board below offers seven activity options, along with the opportunity to create your own task using the back-to-school coloring page.

Here's how this choice board taps into different strengths and preferences:

Writers can describe the differences between two similar coloring pages.
Visual learners might enjoy finding and identifying a mistake in one of the pictures.
Artists can add drawings to the classroom bulletin board in the coloring picture.
Word lovers will have fun with the word-building activity.

With this resource, students can:

Add drawings or captions to the blank bulletin board.

Count and record the number of items in the picture, like the number of pencils.

Find the difference between two similar coloring pages and write about the difference.

Build words and make the big school-related word with all ten letters.

Find the mistake in the classroom scene.

Complete a yes/no chart identifying objects in the scene and not in the scene

Classroom Coloring Page Doubles as a Puzzle!

Want to add more fun? Students can turn the coloring page into a nine piece puzzle by cutting along the grid lines—perfect for hands-on learning. Or print the puzzle on colorful card-stock paper and transform the puzzle into a center activity. This versatile resource engages creativity, math, literacy, and observational skills, making the first days of school both exciting and educational!