Apple Tree

Allow children time to explore textures and materials included with this art project.  Remember, it is the process that supports learning, not the product.  Encourage children to make their project their own; all projects do not need to look alike or resemble the graphics..

Supplies: (many are included if you order the kit)

• 2 green tissue paper squares
• Red tissue paper square
• Cardboard tube (empty toilet paper roll)
• Construction paper (on which to draw a treetop)
• Brown yarn
• Sheet of brown construction paper
• Glue or glue sticks
• Containers for glue
• Paintbrushes for glue
• Tape
• Newspaper
• Scissors
• Brown crayons (optional)

Adult Preparation:

• Download the instruction sheet from the Art Studio image to the right.
• Cut a 1 1/4" slit straight down the top, in the side of a cardboard tube.  Cut a second 1 1/4" slit in the side directly opposite first slit.  Repeat for each tube.
• Cover the table or work surface with newspaper.
• Draw a double-sided treetop on construction paper (like example on downloadable direction sheet) and cut out.

Note:

You may want to have the children wear pant shirts during this project, the tissue paper may bleed and may stain. 

 Activity with Children:

Optional: Invite the children to use the brown crayons to color the tree branches on the tree-top brown. 

1. Take a tree top shape and carefully cut it out from the sheet.
2. Fold the tree top shape in half along the center line.
3. Spread glue on the white plain side of the tree top and press together, gluing the tree top together.
4. Take a piece of brown construction paper and tear into pieces.  Glue the torn pieces of construction paper to the cardboard tube to create bark on your tree trunk.
5. Push the folded side of the tree top shape into the slits of the cardboard tube.
6. Take 2 green tissue squares. Use one green tissue square and tear into pieces.  Use a paintbrush and spread glue onto the one side of your tree top shape.  Place the torn pieces of green tissue into the glue.
7. Repeat for the second green tissue square on the other side of your tree top shape.
8. Take a red tissue square and tear into pieces. Use a paintbrush and spread glue onto one side of your tree top shape.  Place the torn pieces of green tissue into the glue.
9. Take your piece of yarn and cut into various lengths. (Younger children may need help with cutting.)
10. Tape your pieces to the outside bottom end of the cardboard tube to make roots for your apple tree!

Craft provided by Mother Goose Time Preschool Curriculum.
Please visit www.MotherGooseTime.com for more great craft and enrichment projects for preschoolers.

Whether you teach preschool children in a classroom or living room or under a tree, Mother Goose Time is flexible and easy to use. Open a box of Mother Goose Time materials and be ready to teach. For more than 22 years, Mother Goose Time has written a comprehensive Preschool Curriculum System to support teachers and parents with children ages 2 1/2 to 5 years old. Explore our unique Research and Development Team, our beliefs about how children learn, and how we apply theory into educational tools and daily activities.

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