Apple Stacks Preschool Game

By Charlene Haukom

Addition, subtraction and…apples? Apple Stacks is an Educational Preschool Game that teaches addition and subtraction in a way that is fun for preschoolers. Math doesn’t have to be hard. Teaching your child preschool math is as easy as counting apples. And the best part of this educational game? The healthy snack at the end!

What You Will Need

A plate 
Apples

How to Play

1. Have your preschooler put one apple on the plate. Emphasize that it is ONE apple.

2. Your preschooler then takes another apple from the pile. Preschoolers will have more fun with this step if they can get the apples in an unconventional way. They can use their feet, reach backwards, or use their elbows.

3. Stack the new apple on top of the first apple. As your preschooler is stacking the second apple, explain what is happening. “You had ONE apple on the plate. Now you’re adding ONE more apple. You have TWO apples.”

4. Continue adding to the apple stack – the goal is to stack as many apples as you can. Stress the preschool addition factor (You have TWO apples. Add ONE more. Now you have THREE apples!, etc.)

5. Eventually, the apple stack will fall. This is where preschool subtraction comes into play. “You had THREE apples. ONE apple fell. Now you only have TWO apples.”

6. When the apple stack falls, it’s time to start stacking again. Make several stacks so that you have different subtraction results. For example, the first time you had THREE apples and ONE fell. Perhaps the second time you will have FIVE apples and THREE will fall. How many apples are left? Let your preschooler do the math! Make your preschooler count the apples each time to reinforce the addition and subtraction.

7. When you’re tired of stacking apples, it’s time to cut one up for a healthy snack!

Make it an Active Preschool Game

Turn this Educational Preschool Game into an Active Preschool Game. Once you have a stack of apples, it’s time to run with it! Have your preschooler pick up the plate with the stack of apples. Then try to cross the room as quickly as possible without the apples falling. When the apples fall, it’s time to make another stack. Preschoolers may have a hard time with this at first, but keep at it. Eventually they’ll figure out how to balance the apples.

Make it a Seasonal Preschool Game

Turn Apple Stacks into a Seasonal Preschool Game by having your preschooler bob for apples!

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