Apple Press and Pour | Invitation to Play
Press. Squeeze. Pour. Explore. Enjoy.
Bring the wonderful sights, smells and textures of autumn into your early years provision with Apple Press and Pour, a beautifully illustrated, hands on sensory play invitation designed to encourage curiosity, exploration and meaningful learning.
Inspired by harvest time and the journey from orchard to table, this simple yet engaging activity invites children to investigate apples through pressing, squeezing, pouring, mixing and transferring.
Using real apples, everyday kitchen utensils and simple containers, children can discover what happens when apples are pressed, explore the textures of the fruit and pulp, and experiment with collecting and pouring the juice.
From mashing apple pieces and filling little jugs to noticing changes in texture and exploring new smells, every action offers an opportunity for discovery.
There is no perfect outcome or complicated equipment required. A simple potato ricer, hand press or sieve can create wonderful opportunities for children to investigate, experiment and follow their curiosity.
What's included?
A beautifully illustrated Apple Press and Pour play invitation
Suggested resources, including affordable everyday kitchen utensils and seasonal materials
Simple, practical setup guidance
Key vocabulary to support communication and language
Observation prompts to help practitioners recognise children's interests
Ideas for extending the experience through child led exploration
Inspiration for sensory investigation, pressing, pouring and transferring
Learning through play
This invitation supports children's fine motor development and hand strength as they squeeze, press, scoop and manipulate different materials.
It also encourages communication and language, early scientific thinking, independence and mathematical understanding through exploring capacity, quantity and comparison.
Children can investigate cause and effect as they discover how apples change when pressed, develop their sensory awareness through touch and smell, and build confidence using familiar everyday tools.
With opportunities to explore words such as press, squeeze, juice, pulp, full, empty, more and less, this experience creates meaningful connections between language and real life learning.
Practitioners are encouraged to set less, notice more and follow the child's lead, allowing learning to emerge naturally through exploration, repetition and discovery.
Perfect for: Childminders, nurseries, preschools, EYFS settings and home learning.
A wonderful addition to autumn provision, harvest celebrations, sensory kitchens, food exploration, outdoor learning and seasonal invitations to play.
Digital Download: Two page printable PDF resource. No physical resources are included.
The Early Years Edit | The Play Library
Little hands. Big discoveries.