Ten Apples on Top! Tot Bag

My newest tot bag is based on Ten Apples On Top! by Dr. Seuss. It is our book of the week and it was only natural to create a tot bag to go along with our reading. The idea behind my tot bags is to include my son while we do school. I am in no way saying that tots need schooling. These are just activities to give your tot while you work with your older children. I try to include some fine/gross motor activities and just plain fun stuff.

We own both the complete hardcover book as well as the board book (in 'Merica) for this title. If you have the board book, it is not as long and as detailed as the hardcover version. But it is still good for short attention spans. Here are some of the activities I have planned.

I printed and laminated a size/color sort that I found at Homeschool Share. This can easily be adapted for the magnetic board or as a fine motor activity by adding color worms to tong on matching apples. Right now, we will be focusing on colors. I made some mini apples from bottle caps. These can be used a variety of ways - as fine motor by dropping into a milk bottle or spooning into a bowl, as counters, or as playing pieces for an apple game. I made ten apple foam blocks that Kaleb will try to balance on top of each other. You can make these larger by adding apples to wood blocks. I made mine small so they would fit into the storage bag.

I printed the three characters from the book and added foam apples. This activity will be used with water and a glass door. The apples will stick to the glass door, Kaleb will try to put the apples on the characters' heads. I had to make something magnetic. Kaleb loves magnets. I found an apple page with apples numbered from one to ten. I added magnets and a picture of himself so he can place apples on his head. These are good for number recognition but for now, he will just place them on the board.

Lastly, I made some apple beans bags from left over fleece that I had. These can be used for tossing games or balancing on heads. I found some plastic apples and a scoop. I think I will put the apples in water and have Kaleb fish them out with a scoop or net. Give him a bowl of water and some scoops and he will be entertained for an hour!

This was a simple tot bag to create. All of the materials I had on hand and did not buy anything. I am a firm believer in trying to use recyclables and such to create my tot bags. This helps to keep costs down as well as helps the environment. I hope this tot bag will encourage you to create your own. I would love to hear any ideas or suggestions that you have.

Links

Making Learning Fun has tons of ideas for this book. There is a felt board pattern to recreate the story, printable mini books, and such.

Homeschool Share has links to other printables and projects for apples. I love this site.

The apple bean bags were just circles sewn together with a felt leaf and stem. The characters that I printed came from a website but I don't have the link, sorry.