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During our apple study, my kindergarten students made the cutest apple craft window decorations with clear contact paper, tissue paper squares and a little construction paper. I make many of these “stained glass” decorations throughout the year and I love how festive they make my classroom feel! These decorations are also very quick to create and they are mess-free since no glue is involved in the project. I’m happy to show you a quick tutorial and share a free apple template so you can easily create the same decorations in your classroom (or home!)
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For this apple craft for kids to run smoothly, it is important to prepare the materials ahead of time. It involves a lot of cutting, so this is a great project to enlist the help of some classroom volunteers. You will need to cut the following materials:
I always do the set-up for this project while my students are away from their desks. Typically, this is while the class is out of the room at a special or during indoor playtime. To set up, peel one sheet of contact paper per child and place it sticky side up on each child’s desk. Add an apple frame, stem, and leaf onto each piece of contact paper as well. Finally, place a small basket of the tissue paper squares within reach of each child.
Once the materials are arranged on each child’s desk, the fun can begin! Children simply add one piece of tissue paper at a time to fill in the center of the apple.
Encourage the students to try and cover the entire inside space and to overlap pieces of tissue paper.
You’ll also want to remind the children to use only one piece at a time so they don’t end up with big clumps of tissue paper on their window decorations.
One student decided she wanted to have an ALL RED apple. Precious!
This child is carefully adding the finishing touches to his apple craft.
Once the apple is completely filled with tissue paper pieces, I take a second sheet of tissue paper and stick it on top of the tissue paper. This helps to “seal” all of the pieces in place. As a final touch each child trims the excess contact paper from the edges of their apples.
The newly trimmed apple is ready to hang in the window. Here you can see the back of the apple with all of the overlapping tissue paper squares. I always turn this side of the apple so it faces outward. This allows us to admire the clean edge of the apple frame from within the classroom.
I just LOVE how cute these fall decorations look in my classroom. They are a great seasonal decoration that I can keep up until Thanksgiving!
If you want to make this adorable apple craft with your own students, I have made it easy for you with a free apple template! Print the template, trace it onto cardstock or cardboard, and use it to trace perfect apple frames for your classroom! You can print the stem and leaves included in the template directly onto construction paper or cardstock for the project as well. Enter your email address below to get your free Apple Craft Template!
Enhance your apple-themed lesson plans for kindergarten with our sight word books! Designed to reinforce sight word recognition, these books engage your students and deepen their understanding of apples while students unscramble letters to correctly spell the featured sight word on each page of the book.
Click a cover below to check out each book in the Kinder Craze shop.
I’m a former kindergarten teacher turned work-from-home mom. I still love sharing ideas and resources to make teaching easier, so you can focus on what really matters in the classroom. When I’m not working on the blog, you’ll find me chasing kids around the house with a cold cup of coffee in my hand (some things never change even once you’re out of the classroom!)
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55 Responses
Hey, I just found you through a Pintrest board. I’m a teacher as well, and just received my first every Stitch Fix box this past weekend!! SOOOOOOO excited and I kept all 5 items. I’m your newest follower.
Meredith
Teaching with a Twist
Hi Meredith and welcome!
You are going to LOVE your monthly shipments from Stitch Fix!
Adorable activity for my preschoolers to do. Many thanks!
Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait for next week
When you say “Once the apple is completely filled with tissue paper pieces, I take a second sheet of tissue paper and stick it on top of the tissue paper. This helps to “seal” all of the pieces in place. As a final touch each child trims the excess contact paper from the edges of their apples.” Do you mean put a second sheet of contact paper?
Hi Morgen! Yes that is exactly what I mean 🙂
Thank you for the free apple template download!
i’m having trouble downloading? It says I need a Jason viewer?
Hmmm… I’m not sure what that is. Maybe try using a different browser.
That was it! Thanks. 🙂
I have a question regarding your instructions…”Once the apple is completely filled with tissue paper pieces, I take a second sheet of tissue paper and stick it on top of the tissue paper. This helps to “seal” all of the pieces in place. As a final touch each child trims the excess contact paper from the edges of their apples.”
Did you mean to say second sheet of contact paper? Thank you
Oops! Yes, that’s exactly what I meant to say!
HI there! For the contact paper link that you attached, how many apples will that cover? Thank you!
Apple projects