Fall often means apple crafts and counting activities in preschool but what if we gave apples a playful STEAM twist?
Instead of stamping, gluing, or cutting, children can design, test, and build like real engineers.
This activity starts with a favorite fall read-aloud, Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins, and turns it into an open-ended engineering challenge that’s guaranteed to spark curiosity.
Read the Story: Start by reading Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins. Pause along the way to wonder together: “What if the farmer had to move apples in a different way?”
Introduce the Challenge
Ask the big question:
How can we move apples from the tree to the animals in a new way?
One exciting solution? Build an apple zipline.
Why a Zipline?
Ziplines are naturally exciting to children — things that zoom, drop, or fly instantly capture attention. By pairing that excitement with loose parts play, children get to explore:
- How slope and gravity affect motion.
- How to design containers that hold and carry.
- How to test and re-test ideas (just like real engineers).
And the best part? This activity doesn’t require real apples (perfect for classrooms where food play isn’t allowed).
Setting Up the Play Invitation
You don’t need a fancy setup — just a piece of string, some red “apples” (think pom-poms, LEGO, or balls), and a container to carry them. Attach one end of the string to a higher point and the other to a lower point, and you’ve created an instant apple zipline.
From there, step back and let curiosity take over. Some children may test how fast their apples can zoom, while others might experiment with building baskets that hold more apples.
What to Look For
As you observe, notice the wonder:
- Which children are experimenting with speed?
- Who is redesigning their carrier after apples fall out?
- Are they working together to build new solutions?
These small moments are where real STEAM learning lives — creativity, problem-solving, and persistence.
Extending the Play
Once children have explored, you can guide them deeper with simple questions like:
- “What makes the apples go faster?”
- “How many apples can your basket hold?”
- “What could we change to make the apples safer on their ride?”
These open-ended prompts help connect play to science, math, and engineering concepts without stopping the fun.
Bringing It Back to the Story
When you read Ten Red Apples, invite children to imagine:
- What if the farmer had built a zipline for the animals?
- How else could we move apples around the farm?
Stories become springboards for invention, not just something to listen to.
The Apple Zipline reminds us that STEAM doesn’t have to be complicated or worksheet-driven. With just a string and a question, you can turn storytime into a hands-on moment of curiosity and discovery.
Want more ready-to-go STEAM invitations like this? Our Preschool STEAM Membership gives you 12 months of playful lessons designed to spark wonder all year long.
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