Growing an Apple Tree

I love apples week! It is probably one of my favorite weeks of teaching, behind the month of December. One of my favorite activities to do with my class is growing an apple tree in the classroom. Before I lose you…no, it is not a real tree. It is simply one made of butcher paper, but the kids work hard to grow it from planting the seed to picking the apples. It is the perfect interactive visual that will be help students see exactly how a tree is formed. Use this activity alongside more of our apple learning activities and resources!

Most of the grunt work for this week long activity will you require YOU to do some prep work either before of after school. You will want to find a somewhat empty space in your classroom, preferably a wall or very large cabinet. You will be stapling or taping various pieces of butcher paper throughout the week to grow your apple tree. For week long apple science lesson plans to accompany this activity, click here.

Growing an Apple Tree DAY 1:

Before school starts, you will want to have some brown butcher paper scrunched up. Staple or tape against the wall like the picture below. When you are teaching your science lesson, you will want to talk to students about how apple trees form. In order to grow into an apple tree, a seed needs to be planted. Choose one student to make a hole in the “dirt”. Have another student place an apple seed inside the hole. Lastly, have another student “water” the seed.

Growing an Apple Tree DAY 2

Before school starts, make a sprout using green butcher paper. At this point students will be intrigued. Most of them will notice that something has grown from the seed almost immediately after walking into your classroom. Feel free to briefly talk to students as they ask questions, but let them know you will be going into detail later on today. When science starts, talk to them about how the seed turned into a sprout. I always like asking them what they think will happen next. It gets them thinking about the life cycle of an apple tree.

Growing an Apple Tree Day 3

Before school starts, make a tree out of butcher paper. I make a long brown trunk and then cut a huge piece of green butcher paper to make the leaves of the tree. Talk to your students about what the sprout turned into. I always find it great to review the previous days and then ask what they think may happen tomorrow. You can purchase apple life cycle cards in my Apples Unit by clicking here. 

Growing an Apple Tree DAY 4

Before school starts, add pink flowers to the tree. I typically just cut some pink flowers out or use the die cut in the teacher’s lounge. Whichever is easiest for you. Talk to your students about how pink flowers form on apple trees before the apples start growing. Like the previous days, discuss the life cycle of the apple tree up to this point and ask them what they think will happen next. 

Growing an Apple Tree DAY 5

Before school starts, take the pink flowers down and place apples all over the tree. Today is the day students have been excitedly waiting for! They will be SO excited when they come in and see that their tree has made apples. Talk about the life cycle of an apple tree in its entirety. Review everything that they have learned throughout the week when growing an apple tree. 

Can you not find a resource that you would LOVE to have for your classroom? Contact me and I would be happy to make it for you.

Are you looking for more apple ideas, activities, and printables to do at home or in the classroom? If so click here.

I hope that you enjoy growing an apple tree!