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It’s the time of year when the leaves start to turn yellow, the days get shorter, and the weather starts to cool down. That means one thing: apple season is here!
Apples are a delicious fruit that can be eaten fresh or cooked in all sorts of recipes. But have you ever wondered how apples grow?
Let’s explore the life cycle of an apple. We will learn how an apple tree grows from a seed, explore the changes in the apple as it grows, and then taste the apple once it is fully ripe.

The life cycle of an apple is the process that an apple goes through to grow. You can learn about how an apple tree grows from a seed and the changes in the apple as it grows, and then taste the apple once it is fully ripe.
The Life Cycle of an Apple
An apple tree grows from a tiny little seed to a large, towering tree. It takes many years for the apple tree to grow big enough to produce apples.
Once the apple tree is big enough, it starts to produce flowers. These flowers turn into apples, and the apple starts to grow. As the apple grows, it changes color and flavor.
When the apple is fully ripe, it is ready to eat. Apples can be eaten fresh or cooked in all sorts of recipes.
Apple season is a great time to enjoy this delicious fruit!

Life Cycle of an Apple Books for Kids
When teaching the life cycle of an apple, picture books are a great tool to use in the classroom. They help students learn about the different stages of the apple’s life cycle in a fun and engaging way.
Some great picture books to use when teaching about the life cycle of an apple include:
• Apples by Gail Gibbons – Discover the well-loved tradition of growing and picking apples – a fruit that has been in existence for about two million years. Explore the history of the apple but also the way that families and farmers grow and care for apple trees today, from planting to selling, to turning them into delicious treats and using them for classic games like “bobbing for apples” on Halloween.
• Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington – Apple cider, applesauce, apple muffins, cakes, and pies! Annie is a very busy apple farmer. She bakes yummy treats with the apples she picks and saves her best apples to sell at the market. Follow Annie through her apple-filled day of picking, counting, sorting, baking, and selling, and then try making some of her simple apple recipes.
• How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro – Have you ever eaten part of a flower? You have if you have eaten an apple! Find out how an apple grows from bud to flower to fruit–ready for you to pick!
All of these books are excellent resources for teaching students about the life cycle of an apple. They cover everything from the seedling stage to the harvest stage, and they are all packed with beautiful illustrations that bring the story to life.
The Life Cycle of an Apple Worksheet
Our worksheet is the perfect resource to have on hand when teaching your students about the life cycle of an apple.
It’s perfect for reviewing the sequence of the life cycle and is a great way to assess your child’s comprehension of the subject.
What You’ll Need
- Life Cycle worksheet (below)
- pencil
- crayons (optional)
What You’ll Do
Start the lesson by reading a book about the life cycle of an apple. Be sure to show pictures as you read so children can see what happens at each stage of growth.
Once your child has a good grasp of how apples grow, provide our worksheet. Have children write the basics of each stage of growth in the boxes on the page.
Assessing Your Child’s Knowledge
This lesson will assess students on their knowledge of the different stages of the apple’s life cycle. Students will be asked to identify the different stages of the apple’s life cycle, describe the changes that occur during each stage, and explain why the apple changes during each stage.
Differentiated Instruction
Some students may need more help than others when it comes to learning about the life cycle of an apple. You can provide a worksheet to help students learn more about the different stages of the apple’s life cycle. Try this cut and paste worksheet that has students sequence the life cycle of an apple tree.
You can also do activities with the class that are geared toward a younger audience. For example, you can show a video about how apples grow or have students make their own apple tree out of paper.
Whatever you choose, make sure that all students have the opportunity to learn about the life cycle of an apple.

APPLE RESOURCES I LOVE!
Add an apple girl peg doll to your imaginative play area this fall. She’s great for storytelling and makes a wonderful addition to a doll house.
With a printable pattern, you can make an apple counting basket set for your felt board. It includes an apple tree, apples, baskets, and numbers.
Fall is the perfect time of year to study apples! This apple life cycle printable features 17 activities designed to teach the five stages of an apple’s life and the vocabulary that goes with it.
Apple Life Cycle Activities
- Apple Life Cycle Printable
- Apple Life Cycle Printable Book
- Apple Life Cycle Worksheets
- Apple Life Cycle Worksheets from Living Life and Learning