This is one of several engaging fall activities that combine art and math for young early learners. This project helps your child reinforce how much 100 actually is, as well as the fact that it is 10 groups of 10.
Materials:
- Green and brown construction paper
- Poster Board
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Marker
- Red fingerpaint
- Optional: Apples or apple-related recipes for a yummy snack
In this step, cut out 10 tree trunks, approximately 4-5 inches high, from brown construction paper and 10 treetops, about the size of a saucer, from green construction paper. Glue them onto the posterboard so that none of the trees or trunks overlap.
With the marker, number the tree trunks by 10s: 10, 20, 30, etc. Using the red fingerpaints, have your child (or students, if in the classroom) use their fingertips to leave fingerprints and create 10 apples on each tree. Children can mix different colors (such as red, yellow, and green) to create a colorful apple tree, then count up all the apples they have created to reach 100!
Save this poster for later. Making it an excellent tool for teaching counting by 10s!
This project is ideal for fall and helps children feel like artists as they print apples with their fingertips.
Optionally, if you bought apples, you can slice and enjoy them now or make your favorite apple-related recipe for a yummy snack later.
Introduction to fingerprint art
Fingerprint art is a fantastic way for early learners to dive into creativity while learning through play. The apple tree fingerprint craft is the perfect project for little artists to explore how their fingers can be used to create a colorful and lively apple tree picture.
By dipping their fingers in green paint for the leaves and red paint for the apples, children get to experiment with color and texture, making each tree unique.
This fun activity not only sparks creativity but also helps develop fine motor skills as kids press, stamp, and swirl their fingers to form the trunk, branches, and leaves. As they create, children can learn about the different parts of a tree and how everything from the sturdy trunk to the leafy branches works together to help apples grow.
With every fingerprint, kids are building confidence and discovering the joy of art in a hands-on, memorable way.
Benefits of the apple tree fingerprint craft
The fingerprint apple tree craft offers a wealth of benefits for kids. As children use their fingers to add apples and leaves, they’re developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. This project also encourages problem-solving, as kids decide where to place each apple and how to fill out their tree.
Counting apples as they go helps reinforce early math concepts, making learning fun and interactive. Plus, creating their own apple tree picture gives kids a sense of accomplishment and pride in their work (learn how to give meaningful praise to your child).
Most importantly, this craft encourages children to explore their creativity, learn about trees, and enjoy the process of making art with their own hands.