Apple Preschool Play Bin + Speech/Language targets
It’s finally Fall! (Well, at the time I’m writing this, it’s almost Fall… wishful thinking) One of our themes for August is all things APPLES. I (Allyssa) have a two year old toddler at home. I created this apple themed play bin to keep her busy during bad weather days, long afternoons, AND those dreaded early mornings. She’s been getting up between 6 and 6:15 some mornings lately and it’s been so rough!
Scroll down to explore a variety of apple themed activities that are easy, quick, and require very little prep time. I have loved keeping them all in one bin, however, that’s not necessary. You can adapt these for speech therapy sessions, classroom center activities, or at home play.
I’ve added in some speech and language targets for each activity! The targets and suggestions are geared toward the preschool population (ages 3-5) but can be easily adapted for an older school aged student or young toddler (like my daughter) as well.
Check out our TPT store and click on the “Fall section” for all of our apple products. There are many products that would pair perfectly with these activities below. I’ll add in links as I go to help out.
Apple Color Sorting
Materials: paper towel roll (cut into thirds), apple tree pictures, glue, pom poms, and tweezers.
Speech ideas: provide a pom pom per speech target or cover dot and say worksheets with pom poms before sorting
Language ideas: target one step directions including put in, give me, show me, and pick up.
Apple Tear and Glue Craft
Materials: Blank apple picture, red paper, glue
Speech ideas: Provide a torn piece of paper after each word target. If you are targeting a speech sound in isolation, try having your student/child rip the paper as they practice their speech sound. The slower they rip the paper, the more drawn out the speech sound.
Language ideas: practice “help” (1 word: help, 2 words: help me, you help, need help, 3 words: help me tear, need help apple, help glue please), explain and retell sequencing (first tear, next glue, last add paper)
Dot and Say Crafts
Materials: Dot Markers, Dot Worksheets (All speech sounds available)
Speech targets: Any articulation sound with our dot worksheets! Click the link above.
File Folder Games
Materials: Apple Categories File Folder Game
A language SCORE. Quick prep file folder game to target categories (farm animals, fruit, vegetables, clothes, transportation and more!)
Apple Themed Books
Materials: 10 Apples Up on Top Book, 10 apples printable
Speech targets: This is a very repetitive book and allows for opportunities to repeat target words a lot throughout the activity. Use a sticky note to select words ahead of time and help student target them each time they’re mentioned in the book. For example, “top” is perfect for /t/, /p/ or final consonant deletion.
Language targets: prepositions!! I loved working on “on top”, “under” and “next to” with these apples while reading the book and playing with the manipulatives.
Apple Lacing Toy
This apple lacing toy is a fun open-ended toy to include in any apple-themed bin or lesson plan you have. It’s a great brain break toy or a toy that brings great opportunities to ask for “help”.
Play Dough Smash Mats
Materials: Any coloring sheet, smash mat, or dot and say activity, a clear coloring sleeve and playdoh
Speech targets: Any speech sound using the dot and say activities OR this is a great activity for final consonants. A word list to target FCD would include put, out, in, on, push, dot, make, open, red, green, black.
Language targets: I love pairing playdoh with a visual for describing or a core word board for any learner who uses AAC. Here’s one to try!
Apple Sensory Bin
Here’s our favorite! Best for last. Pair this apple sensory bin with our apple sensory bin printable for endless speech and language opportunities at home or at school.
Materials: CLICK HERE FOR SENSORY BIN HOW TO
Speech and language targets: Target vocabulary, matching, numbers, and more with our apple sensory bin activities download. Use the matching cards or number matching for increased opportunities for articulation practice as well.
Happy Apple-ing!
Let us know how you are using your APPLES this Fall. Share with us on instagram @redrosespeechies.
PS if you join our subscriber list, you’ll get a free product STRAIGHT to your inbox. For the month of August, it’s one of our favorite apple products! Check it out on our homepage.
