Kids Craft: Painting Apples... With Apples!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DTJLIwiVFgendofvid [starttext]
Here's a really fun craft that ties right into the theme of "Sometimes Foods and Anytime Foods."

But, in case you were wondering, here are those links I promised you in the video:

• Get your Apple Picture

• The Benefits of Dotting

• Avoid the Gluey Mess

One of the things that I always noticed that kids love is painting with something other than a paintbrush. So, we would paint with all sorts of things - hands, feet, sponges, marbles, and then some. There were even times when we used food to paint. In this case, we're going to use an apple to help us paint a picture of an apple.

Here's What You Need:
• Tempera or Poster Paint (red, green, or yellow)
• School glue
• An apple (mini apples work great for this craft)
• An apple outline (or the printable to the left)

Here's What To Do:
1. Cut the apple in half (Probably best for the grownup to do this part, although there are definitely some kiddos who are working on cutting with a knife. You know your little one best.)
2. Pick out the apple seeds from both halves of the apple and set them aside.
3. Spread lots of paint onto one half of the apple OR Pour some paint into a shallow bowl and dip the apple in it.
4. Start dotting your apple picture with the painted apple half. Stop to "refill" your apple if you start running out of paint.
5. After your apple is all painted, go ahead and glue those saved seeds onto the paper, right next to the apple.
6. Count the seeds and, if you child is up for it, she can even write the number of seeds next to them as well OR you can write it and she can copy it OR you can write it and she can trace over it.

Remember as you're working on this activity that apples are a great Anytime Food that are healthy to eat Anytime you are allowed to have a snack. In fact, when you're all done with this craft, you should have an extra half-an-apple laying around, just waiting to be eaten!!!

Enjoy!!

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