These Apple Brain breaks are a resource that has been popular on the site for many years. During the fall months, all things apple theme is the way to go, so when it comes to adding themed resources into a Fall, harvest, farm, or back-to-school theme, apple themed exercises and movement activities are the way to go!
Apple brain Breaks
Many of you have used the brain break activities that we have here on the OT Toolbox help kids focus and pay attention in the classroom environment. Movement in the classroom is helpful for learning and helping kids with movement needs such as fidgeting or attention. The brain break activities listed below can go along really nicely with an apple theme. Try adding the Apple themed brain breaks in between activities, lessons, and other classroom tasks.
Apple themed brain breaks can be a great way for kids to extend on an Apple theme activity while adding movement into the classroom.
Other brain breaks you might enjoy include:
- Farm Themed Brain Breaks– Also great for a Fall season of farms, apples, and harvest!
- After School Brain Breaks– Perfect for getting back into the school year during back-to-school time!
Apple Theme Brain Breaks
Looking for brain break videos for the classroom or home? Here are the best brain break videos on YouTube.
Related read: These visual perception apple theme shape stamps are a perfect way to work on visual perceptual skills and fine motor skills with DIY stampers.
How to Use Apple Brain Breaks
Get this list of apple theme activities as a printable sheet to use in the classroom. Print them off, glue them to cardstock or index cards and laminate for durability. Kids can complete apple brain breaks as a group or individually.
In the PDF below, you’ll find printable cards that you can cut out and use over and over again as a movement break for kids. Other ways to use these fall brain breaks?
- Incorporate into an apple tree life cycle curriculum or any apple lesson plan
- Use with talking about Johnny Appleseed during the Fall months
- Use as a Johnny Appleseed game
- Add to a harvest theme or visiting the Farm during the Fall
- Use as a transition activity between classroom activities
- Use along with our Fall sensory stations kit (another great Fall brain break!)
- Indoor recess activities during the Fall months
- Great for waiting activities or transitions in an apple themed classroom!
- Use when waiting periods during classroom breaks
- Add as sensory motor activities to promote attention, focus, re-direction, or needed heavy work input
These apple theme exercises can be added to a weekly therapy theme when planning occupational therapy lesson plans, and then individualized based on the child’s needs and interests.
Apple Exercises
The brain break cards include activities like these ones. These apple theme exercises can be adapted or modified as needed to meet specific needs.
Here are some apple think brain break activities that can be used at movement into the classroom using an Apple theme:
1.) Reach and climb- Ask students to stand up beside their desks and pretend to climb a ladder. Students can reach up high with alternating arms as they climb in place. Imagine climbing up a ladder to reach the top of an apple tree.
2.) Pick apples- Ask students to imagine reaching up to grab an apple from an apple tree’s branch, and then bend down to drop it into a basket. Ask students to repeat this motion repetitively reaching up high and then bending down low to the ground.
3.) Peel and toss apples- Ask students to imagine peeling an apple as they roll their arms over and over again at the elbows. Then ask them to toss an imaginary apple into a bucket. They can imagine the buckets are at different levels and distances as they pretend tossing apples. Continue this exercise for one minute.
4.) Apple dash – Ask students to run in place and imagine running at an apple farm. Students can pretend they are delivering bushels of apple from a tree to a barn as they run in place while carrying an imaginary bucket. Ask them to imagine hopping over logs or running faster or slower.
5.) Make a pie- Ask students to imagine picking an apple and buffing it with their sleeve. Ask them to buff an apple on their left sleeve and then their right sleeve. Doing this activity encourages crossing of the midline. They can then pretend to slice the apple, roll out dough, pour the apple slices into the pie pan, and putting the pie into an oven.
6.) Apple spell- Ask students to form the letters used to spell the word “apple” using their arms and legs. To make an “A”, the student can reach up over their head putting their hands in the middle and stretching their legs wide next. Next, make a “P” by standing with feet together and arms curved toward the side to create the bump of the letter. Complete the same movement again for the second P in the word apple. Next, form a letter L using by sitting on the floor and bending at the waist stretching legs out straight. Finally, create a letter E by sitting on the floor bent at the waist with leg s extended straight and feet together. Put one arm out at the waist and reach the other arm out overhead bent at the elbow.
7.) Spell and clap- To the tune of “BINGO”, spell the word apple. After singing a round, replace one letter with a clap of the hands. Each round adds another clap in place of a letter. Try adding other movements in place of clapping such as hopping in place or stomping a foot.
8.) I’m a Little Apple- Use the song “I’m a little teapot” only pretend you are an apple. Kids can sing “I’m a little apple small and round. Here is my stem and here is my leaf. When I get so red, I fall from the tree. Reach down low and pick me up.” Add movements to go along with the words.
Can you think of any other apple themed brain breaks?
Squirrel Themed Brain Breaks may be another fun movement idea that you are looking to pair with a book.
Free Apple Brain Break Cards
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More Apple Theme Activities for Kids:
Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.
