Letter of the Week A: Easy Apple Pie!

Looking for a fresh take on homeschool kindergarten apple activities?

Maybe some different ideas for your apple theme unit?

A new idea for Letter of the Week?

You are in the right place!

This past week in our homeschool kindergarten, we have been focusing on all things “A” and apple for our letter of the week – and I think it’s been the best week yet!

We have been reading books about apples, counting apples, sorting apples, making apple graphs, taste testing apples, playing catch with apples, and making apple crafts.

My kids always get especially excited when it’s time to teach “A” for letter of the week because they know it means… making an apple pie!

Best Letter of the Week “A” Activity: Easy Apple Pie! No Rolling Pin Needed 🙂

The idea first came to me when my oldest daughter was in pre-K. We had been to an apple orchard and had a blast picking tons of apples.

When we got home, she asked if we could make an apple pie. I think I shocked her and myself by saying – Yes!

Growing up, my mom had often made us a “Swedish Apple Pie” and in that moment I realized it is perfect for kids to make.

My daughter would be able to do everything, but slice the apples!

The ingredients are also pretty basic ones that most people have around the house anyways, so I didn’t even have to go to the store after spontaneously promising this pie.

The best parts – It’s less than 30 minutes of prep and no rolling pin or lattice work required!

Don’t be Fooled

You may be thinking, “If I a kid could make it, it’s just for fun. It’s not something an adult would want to eat.”

I have to tell you, my own husband freaks out about apple week and letter of the week now because he knows this apple pie activity is coming!

Now that we are a family of five, that apple die never lasts long.

Trust me, it is delicious and adults would definitely enjoy it.

We have made this recipe many times and I would highly recommend it for:

• Letter of the Week – “A”

• Apple Theme Units

• After a fun day at an apple orchard with your family

• Holiday dinners (yes, my kids have made this for holiday dinners and they’re always so proud to have contributed!)

• Just because it’s fun to bake with kindergarteners!

Apple Pie So Easy a Kindergartener Could Make It

Ingredients:

6-8 Granny Smith Apples (I have used all varieties of apples, and it still comes out great!)

1 TB Cinnamon

2 TB Sugar

3/4 cup melted butter

3/4 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 cup of flour

pinch of salt

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1.Peel and chop apples. Place in a bowl.

This is the part you will have to do for your kindergartner. It can take awhile to do this task, and kids tend to get impatient.

It would be completely fine to chop the apples ahead of time, so your kid doesn’t have to stand around and wait.

The apples might look a little brown, but once they are tossed with cinnamon sugar and baked, no one will notice.

Another option for distraction is a simple apple craft while you slice away.

I cut a couple apples in half and gave them to my kids for apple stamping. If you have some paint paper and washable paint on hand, it’s a quick craft that kids love!

2. Mix together cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl. Pour mixture over apples and stir to combine.

3. Dump cinnamon sugar apples into greased pie plate.

4. Mix melted butter and sugar in a bowl until blended. Then add egg, flour, salt, and lastly chopped nuts.

This seems to be the best part for my kids! They love adding things in, taking turns to stir, and feeling like little bakers.

In order to capitalize on the fun of this, I am careful to have the kids add one ingredient at a time and then stir (unlike what I normally do with a recipe, which is race through the ingredient list dumping everything in at the same time and throwing it in the oven).

Regardless, there is not much you can do to mess up this step – the result is always delicious!

In fact, this crunchy topping is the part of the finished pie my husband and I are always picking at when the kids aren’t looking!

This is what it should all look like mixed together:

5. Place dollops of sugar mixture on pie and spread so that apples are covered.

This is the only other part of the pie that my kids find tricky. It does not need to be perfect though, so fight the urge to take the spoon from them to “fix” their work.

This is what your kindergartener’s pie should look like before it goes in the oven (It is not a big deal if a couple apples are poking through. You cannot ruin this pie!):

***Always put a pie pan on a cookie sheet in case it bubbles over a little.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Finished pie made by a kindergartner!

You can serve this warm or room temperature. We like it much better warm out of the oven or heated up in the microwave for about 10-20 seconds.

Amazingly, the pie still holds together well, even without the crust on the bottom. Vanilla ice cream, of course, really takes it to the next level.

Apple Pie Books to Read to your Kindergartener For Letter of the Week

These are such fun books to read to your child during “Letter of the Week”, before you make your pie, while the pie is baking, or even while you’re eating the pie!

ABC Apple Pie

A super silly book about a dog who is bound and determined to get a bite of a freshly baked apple pie.

How to See the World and Make an Apple Pie

A whimsical book about a girl who travels the globe to collect the best ingredients for her apple pie.

Apple Pie for Dinner

Sweet book about an old women and all the people she meets while searching for apples for an apple pie.

Amelia Bedelia’s First Apple Pie

Young Amelia Bedelia will have your kids laughing with her very literal take on making an apple pie.

Recap Letter of the Week “A” is for Apple Pie Activity

There is something so special about reading to your kids about something, and then actually doing it. For my kids, it seems to bring books to life in a completely new way.

I hope you dive into that book list and it makes baking your apple pie together even more magical for your kindergartener!

Remember: Don’t be intimidated by this apple pie – it is a simple activity that your kindergartener can absolutely do!

They will be so proud of what they made and love serving a slice to the whole family.

Comment down below with any of your favorite apple crafts, activities, and ideas you’ve done with your kids! I would love to read it!

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