Flannel Friday - Apples, Apples, and More APPLES!

In a Flannel Friday BONUS for my Flannel Friday Peeps, I have not one,  but THREE Apple Flannel Board Posts for you.  I am going to have a very busy Apple Story Time next week, but I couldn't resist making a song/finger play, a story, and an activity.

First up, my own take on the song Peanut Butter and Jelly (you know, "Peanut, Peanut Butter, Jelly").  A chant I saw on this site gave me the idea for the chant, but I decided to set it to music and change it up for simplicity.  The felt pieces below coordinate with the song's verses, and the hand motions I do match as well (fairly self explanatory).  For the Chorus, clap out the rhythm and rub your tummy on the word Yum.:

Making Applesauce (by Miss Sue)

Making some applesauce, YUM! 
Making some applesauce, YUM!

First you take an apple and you peel it, you peel it.
First you take an apple and you peel it, you peel it.
(Chorus)
Then you take the apples an you chop 'em, you chop 'em.
Then you take the apples an you chop 'em, you chop 'em.
(Chorus)
Next you add some sugar and you cook 'em, you cook 'em.
Next you add some sugar and you cook 'em, you cook 'em.
(Chorus)
Then you take a masher and you smash 'em, you smash 'em.
Then you take a masher and you smash 'em, you smash 'em.
(Chorus)
Coooool it down! yeah....Coooool it down!
Then you take a spoon and you eat it, you eat it.
Then you take a spoon and you eat it, you eat it.
(Chorus)

The picture isn't great at showing the 'chopped apples' on the upper right or the apple being peeled on the upper left.  The cream colored felt appears lighter in the photo than is in person.  The artwork is all my own for this flannel board. Feel free to use this for your story times but please credit this blog.

Next up is a flannel board based on Katya Arnold's retelling of the Russian Folk tale, That Apple is Mine!

 

Another book where I love the story, but the illustrations won't translate well to story time, in my opinion.  This will be shared strictly off book as a flannel board story.

 

If you do not know they story, a rabbit spots an apple up high in the tree. Try as he may, he can't reach it, so he asks Crow to knock it down for him.  Crow decides instead to pluck the apple from the tree for himself, but accidentally drops it onto hedgehog.  Hedgehog thinks 'what luck' and runs away with the apple. All three creatures declare the apple is theirs!  A large argument ensues.  "But that apple is MINE!"

Their bickering wakes bear, who tries to sort out the disagreement.  He suggests cutting the apple and sharing it.  But there is one piece left!  Hedgehog declares the last piece should be for bear, be cause he solved the problem.

 At the end, worm wriggles out from behind the stem to declare, "Hey, that apple was mine!"

The animals in my flannel board are original artwork by my daughter, Sarah.  The apple was made by making two apples with white centers, cut facing each other.  If you notice, two halves have 2 seeds and two have 3 seeds.  This is so I can match which sides go together, so the apple can fit back together like a puzzle.  As the story unfolds, a piece of apple can be 'cut' away and given to an animal, leaving the stem behind.  The worm can be placed quickly when the last piece is moved.

Last up is a bonus activity, Counting and Matching Apples. 

I have seen this activity on many websites but not quite in this form.  I used this image idea from StoryTime Katie combined with these images from Desert Blossom Learning to make this activity:

The plan is to use these apples as a matching game in the group along with counting.We will also make numbers in the air with our fingers as many children will not have experience writing numbers yet.  After story time, these apples will remain on the board for free exploration.  I usually stay by the flannel board after story time and interact with the children one-on-one while mom is chatting or siblings are crafting.  Some children prefer to have some quiet time with me while the craft tables are so busy and noisy.

Stay tuned for the story time next week, and the craft that goes along perfectly with this last felt activity!

Please feel free to comment or contact me with more information on any of these.  I had a little burst of energy when making my flannel board stories last month and can't wait to use them! 

Thanks to Bridget over at What is Bridget Reading? for hosting Flannel Friday this week!  Check out her awesome blog at: http://whatisbridgetreading.blogspot.com/