Tell me the first word that comes to mind when you think of Fall. Is it a STEM apple balance challenge? It should be. Okay, I know. Chances are that you are thinking of either an apple or pumpkin-spiced latte. Being a tea drinker, I tend to fall (unintended pun!) into the apple category. They are crisp, delicious, and everywhere. My three-year-old gobbles apples up, so I knew he would be instantly hooked. Let’s immediately add this to the 30 fall activities for kids list!
RELATED: We know that balancing our bodies can help improve reading skills. So, let’s look at how balancing objects can also benefit learning.
Supplies
Now, if you are worried about having the supplies (aka paper rolls) have no fear! Collect the rolls from one week and you will be good to go. It is a surprisingly fast collection to build. And you know you are in the right place when I also have 40 more toilet paper roll craft ideas for kids.
You will need:
- Apples
- Paper rolls
Sorry, Amazon. This time, we have everything we need.
Craving a calmer morning?
Breakfast Invitations are simple learning games that begin the day with play.
How I set up this Fall STEAM balance activity:
- Place about seven apples on the table.
- Add a couple of different paper rolls and paper cups to test out.
- Invite your child to begin testing and balancing apples.
Grasping these apples also strengthens my preschooler’s hands for pencil grip when he is ready to write! (pretty cool, right?!)
Conversation tip: I prompted his thinking by asking if these apples would balance on the tubes? And that was all it needed! He was off to test it out.
Simple observations
You know how mom the mom game goes. You set something up and 5 minutes later a toddler is pulling on your shorts. So, moms, do what you can! It is still worth something.
As my three-year-old began balancing the apples, some fell! And that made this activity even better.
Now, not only did he have to balance the apples, but he had to practice impulse control and hold his hand nice and steady to rest them on the post.
Holding your hand steady is a great way to build muscles and arm strength. This is similar to to working on a verticle surface.
RELATED: Love Science? Here are 17 science activities for preschool.
What your child is learning
What’s the big idea behind why things fall?
Gravity, of course! This STEM apple balance activity is a fun way for your preschooler to predict what causes movement and why things change direction, stop, speed up, or slow down.
Of course, you want to save the apples for eating, so I was careful about them rolling onto the floor. (I also have this sneaky way of washing apples with apple scoop and sorting.)
For the next three days, my three-year-old continued to say, “Can we play that apple game?”. Do you see it? It stuck. He loved it. Your kids will love it as well.
RELATED: Use these STEM and Math toys for kids to inspire even more learning!
FAQ
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. These toys enhance learning and allow children to learn by doing. STEM toys encourage problem-solving, critical thinking, manipulating pieces, planning, testing ideas, and working through a problem. When choosing a STEM toy, remember that good STEM toys may not include technology but encourage hands-on learning. Here are my favorite STEM toys for kids.
Baking soda and vinegar is a simple, yet crazy cool, chemical reaction that can be done in many different ways. Any activity involving your preschooler in measuring, mixing, comparing, and observing is science-based.
Play the apple balance game on a plush carpet or softer surface to avoid bruising. Many of our apples remained intact.
