Here are 28 apple songs for preschoolers with full lyrics and the tune each one is sung to, so you can lead them without learning a new melody. Most borrow tunes your class already knows: “Twinkle Twinkle”, “Bingo”, “The Mulberry Bush” and “Are You Sleeping?”. Six songs come with a video so you can hear the rhythm before you try it, or play it on the screen while children follow along.
The songs are grouped by how you will actually use them: counting songs for math time, fingerplays that need no materials, songs about trees and picking, songs about eating and cooking apples, and longer songs for circle time. Every song has a one-line teaching note on the age it suits or the motion to pair with it. Before the songs there is a section on building them into a full apple theme, and a short FAQ at the end. Use the links below to jump to what you need.
- How to use apple songs in your apple theme
- Counting apple songs
- Apple fingerplays and action songs
- Songs about apple trees and picking apples
- Songs about eating and cooking apples
- Apple songs for circle time
- FAQ
How to use apple songs in your apple theme
Start with the counting songs. “Five Red Apples”, “Apple Fingerplay” and both versions of “Ten Red Apples” are counting lessons in disguise. Hold up five fingers, fold one down each verse, and stop to ask “how many now?” before you sing on. That pause is where subitizing happens: children learn to see four fingers as four without counting each one. For one-to-one correspondence, give every child five paper apples on a felt tree and have them remove one apple per verse. The song sets the pace. If you want more of this, the 17 Number Songs for Preschool page carries on from here.
Pair a song with something real. Sing “Applesauce” while a pot of apples actually simmers, or “Have You Ever Had An Apple?” right before a tasting of red, yellow and green slices. Children vote on a favorite and you graph the result. “Eat An Apple” makes sense of the core and seeds after apple printing with cut halves. The song gives the activity its vocabulary, and the activity gives the song a reason to exist.
Keep the fingerplays for the gaps. “Here Is An Apple”, “Two Red Apples” and “Eat An Apple” need nothing but hands. Use them while you wait for the last child to wash up, in the hallway line, or when a story runs short. Learn two well enough to lead without a card.
Use the food songs as your snack transition. “Apple Rhyme” ends on “WE WANT MORE!”, which is a natural cue to move to the table. “Look at the Apple” works the same way: “half for me and half for you” leads straight into cutting and sharing. Sing the same one every day and by Wednesday children will start moving to snack on the first line without being told.
Stretch the theme across a week. Monday is seeds and trees (“A Little Apple Seed”, “Apples”). Tuesday is picking (“Picking Apples!”, “Apple up High”). Wednesday is counting. Thursday is tasting and cooking. Friday is the spelling songs (“Apple”, “Apple Was Its Name-O”) plus a repeat of whatever they loved most. Two new songs a day is plenty. Repetition is what makes the words stick. Fill the rest of the week from our 14 Circle Time Songs and Preschool Fall Songs with Lyrics.
For the child who won’t sing, don’t push. Hand them the counting props instead. They can knock one apple off the felt tree on cue, hold up the number card, or be the wind in “Five Red Apples”. They are still processing the count and the rhythm. Most join in by the second week once the words are familiar.
Counting apple songs
Seven songs that count up or down. Use fingers the first time, then move to paper apples on a felt tree or real apples in a basket so each child handles one object per number.
Five Red Apples (Hanging in a Tree)
Original Author: Unknown
Five red apples hanging in a tree (Hold up five fingers)
The juiciest apples you ever did see.
The wind came by and gave an angry frown (Fingers flutter downward)
And one little apple came tumbling down (One finger falls)
Four red apples, hanging in a tree, etc.
Ages 3 and up; let one child be the wind and “blow” a finger down each verse.
Five Little Apples
Original Author: Unknown
Five little apples hung on a tree
The farmer didn’t care
So guess who came to eat?
A CATERPILLAR…….MUNCH, MUNCH
Four little apples hung on a tree
The farmer didn’t care
So guess who came to eat?
A BIRD………MUNCH, MUNCH
Three little apples hung on a tree
The farmer didn’t care
So guess who came to eat?
A PIG……….MUNCH,MUNCH
Two little apples hung on a tree
The farmer didn’t care
So guess who came to eat?
A HORSE…….MUNCH,MUNCH
One little apple hung on a tree
The farmer didn’t care
So guess who came to eat?
A SCARECROW……MUNCH,MUNCH
Now the tree is bare
There are no more apples there
But when next fall comes around
Guess who’ll be there?
THE CATERPILLAR
THE BIRD
THE PIG
THE HORSE
and the SCARECROW
YUM!YUM
Best for 4s and 5s; give each animal to a child and let them do the MUNCH, then carry the farm idea on with our 36 Best Farm Songs for Kids.
Apple Fingerplay
Original Author: Unknown
Five little apples lying on the floor.
I’ll roll one away, and that leaves four.
(make rolling motion with arms)
Four little apples hanging on a tree.
I’ll pick one off, and that leaves three.
(pick an imaginary apple)
Three little apples, I know what to do!
I’ll put one in my pocket, and that leaves two.
(pretend to put apple in pocket)
Two little apples sitting in the sun.
I’ll pick one up, and that leaves one.
(pretend to pick apple up off the floor)
One little apple waiting in my lunch.
I’ll eat it up with a crunch, crunch, crunch!
(pretend to take a big bite!)
Works from age 3; every verse has a different motion, which keeps the wigglers with you.
Five Red Apples (In a Grocery Store)
Original Author: Unknown
Five red apples in a grocery store
Bobby bought one & then there were 4
Four red apples on an apple tree
Susie ate one & then there were 3
Three red apples. What did Alice do?
Why she ate one & then there were 2
Two red apples ripening in the sun
Tommy ate one, & now there was one
One red apple & now we are done
I ate the last one & now there are none!
Swap in your own children’s names for Bobby, Susie, Alice and Tommy.
Ten Red Apples (Grow on a Tree)
Original Author: Unknown
(Both hands high) Ten red apples grow on a tree
(Dangle one hand and then the other) Five for you and five for me.
(Shake body) Let us shake the tree just so
(Hands fall) And ten red apples will fall below
(Count ea. finger) 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.
Good for 4 and 5 year olds counting to ten; the shake is the part they remember.
Ten Red Apples (Five and Five Make Ten)
Original Author: Unknown
Here I have five apples. (hold up five fingers on right hand)
And here are five again. (hold up both hands)
How many apples altogether?
Why, five and five make ten!
A four-line introduction to five plus five; pair it with two hands of paper apples.
Here Is An Apple
Original Author: Unknown
(make circle with thumb and pointer) Here is an apple
(make circle with other thumb and pointer) and here is an apple
(Make circle with arms) and a great big apple I see
Now let’s count the apples we’ve made
(repeat above actions) 1 – 2 – 3 !
The easiest counting fingerplay on the page, fine from age 2.
Apple fingerplays and action songs
Nothing to prepare and nothing to hand out. These are the ones to keep in your head for line-ups, waiting time and the five minutes before pick-up.
Climbing Up The Apple Tree
Original Author: Unknown
Climbing up the apple tree, (climb in place)
Swinging on a limb! (Raise arms above head, away left and right)
If I hear a robin, I may (cup hand near ear)
Sing along with him! (sing tra la la)
‘And Robin, if you fly away, (Put hands over eyes)
Here’s what I think I’ll do: (Point with index finger)
I’ll wish a pair of sparrow wings (gently flap arms at side and move around)
And fly away with you!
The most physical song here; give it floor space and use it to burn off energy before quiet time.
Two Red Apples
Sung to: “This Old Man”
Original Author: Unknown
Way up high, in a tree (raise hands over head)
Two red apples smiled at me (smile)
So I shook that tree as har-r-d as I could (Pretend to shake tree)
Down came the apples, Ummm, they were good!!!! (Rub tummy)
Short enough for 3 year olds to learn in one sitting.
Eat An Apple
Original Author: Unknown
Eat an apple; (Bring right hand to mouth)
Save the core. (Close right hand in fist)
Plant the seeds. (Bend down touch hand to ground)
And grow some more. (Extend both arms out)
Sing it right after apple printing, while the core and seeds are fresh in their minds.
Red Apple
Original Author: Unknown
A little red apple
Hung high in a tree
I looked up at it
And it looked down at me
“Come down, please” I called
And what do you suppose
That little red apple
Dropped right on my nose!
Have everyone tap their own nose on the last line; it gets a laugh every time.
Apples Are Falling
Sung to: “Are You Sleeping?”
Original Author: Unknown
Apples are falling, apples are falling
From the tree, from the tree.
Pick up all the apples, pick up all the apples,
One. two, three; one, two,. three.
(Use appropriate motions for actions)
Put three real apples on the floor and have a child pick them up on the count.
Songs about apple trees and picking apples
Seed to tree to basket. These fit the start of the week, and they pair with a felt-board tree or a trip to an orchard. If your class has a planting bed, the Garden Songs for Preschoolers collection picks up the same seed-and-sun idea.
A Little Apple Seed
Sung to: “Itsy, Bitsy Spider”
Original Author: Unknown
Once a little apple seed was planted in the ground
Down came the raindrops, falling all around.
Out came the big sun, bright as bright could be
And that little apple seed grew to be an apple tree!
Use the spider motions children already know: wiggling fingers for rain, arms in a circle for the sun.
Apples
Sung to: “twinkle twinkle”
Original Author: Unknown
Apple, apple tree so tall,
I can hardly wait till fall!
When your apples I can pick,
Fill my basket, eat them quick.
Apple, apple tree so tall,
I can hardly wait till fall!
Apple ,apple tree so fair,
What do I see growing there!
Green and round and plump and sweet,
Soon they will be good to eat.
Apple, apple tree so fair,
What do I see growing there!
A calm two-verse song for the end of circle time.
Apple up High
Sung to: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”
Original Author: Unknown
Apple, apple, way up high,
I can reach you if I try.
Climb a ladder,
Hold on tight.
Pick you quickly
Take a bite.
Add a full stretch on “way up high” and a big pretend bite on the last line.
Picking Apples!
Sung to: “Frere Jacque”
Original Author: Unknown
Picking apples
Picking apples
One by one
One by one
Only four lines, so the youngest children can sing it while they “pick” from a felt tree.
All Around The Apple Tree
Sung to: “Mulberry Bush”
Original Author: Unknown
Here we go round the apple tree, the apple tree, the apple tree
Here we go around the apple tree
On a frosty morning.
This is the way we climb the ladder
-pick the apples
-wash the apples
-peel the apples
-cook the apples
Act out each verb in order and you have taught the tree-to-applesauce sequence without a worksheet.
Have You Ever Seen An Apple?
Sung to: “Have You Ever Seen A Lassie?”
Original Author: Unknown
Have you ever seen an apple, an apple, an apple,
Have you ever seen an apple, that grows on a tree?
A red one, a yellow one, a red one, a yellow one.
Have you ever seen an apple, that grows on a tree?
Hold up a real red apple and a yellow one on the color line.
Songs about eating and cooking apples
These are your snack-time and cooking-day songs. Sing them with real apples on the table and the words start to mean something.
Apple Rhyme
Original Author: Unknown
Apples, apples, good to eat.
Apples, apples, juicy and sweet.
Pick them off a tree, buy them at a store,
Apples, apples, WE WANT MORE!
Your snack cue; children move to the table on “WE WANT MORE!”
Have You Ever Had An Apple?
Sung to: “Have You Ever Seen A Lassie”
Original Author: Unknown
Have you ever had an apple, an apple, an apple?
Have you ever had an apple and heard it go ‘crunch’?
Have you ever had an orange, an orange, an orange? Have you ever had an
orange and heard it go ‘slurp’?
Have you ever had a banana, a banana, a banana? Have you ever had a
banana and heard it go ‘mush’
Best sung right before a tasting so they can make each sound for real.
Applesauce
Sung to: “Yankee Doodle”
Original Author: Unknown
Peel an apple,
cut it up,
cook it in a pot.
When you taste it
you will find
it’s applesauce you’ve got!
Sing it while the slow cooker is on, then once more when you serve.
Look at the Apple
Sung to: “the mulberry bush”
Original Author: Unknown
Look at the apple I have found,
so fat and rosy on the ground.
Mother will wash it and
cut it in two
half for me and half for you.
Cut a real apple in two on the last line and share it; it doubles as a first look at halves.
Apple On A Stick
Original Author: Unknown
Apple on a stick, apple on a stick
I can lick it all day and not get sick.
Apple in a cup, apple in a cup
I can drink it all day and not fill up.
Apple in a crunch, apple in a crunch
I can eat it all day, it is so good to munch
Apple in a cake, apple in a cake
I can eat it all day with no tummy ache
Apple in a pie, apple in a pie
I can eat it all day and never cry.
Apple in a dish, apple in a dish
I can eat it all day, it’s so delish!
Six verses on one pattern; ask 4s and 5s what else an apple could go in and add their verse.
Apple songs for circle time
A short opener, two spelling songs and two longer songs with verses to build on. These are the ones that hold a whole group’s attention for more than a minute.
Apple Poem
Original Author: Unknown
Apples big,
Apples small.
Guess what?
I like them all.
Four lines to open circle time; stretch arms wide on “big” and pinch fingers on “small”.
Do you know the Apple Man?
Sung to: “the muffin man”
Original Author: Unknown
Oh, do you know the apple man,
the apple man,
the apple man?
Oh, do you know the apple man
who likes to play with me?
Oh, he has a great big smile,
a great big smile,
a great big smile,
Oh, he has a great big smile
and likes to play with me.
Continue with other verses that the children make up about the apple man.
Let 4s and 5s invent the verses; a hat, red boots and a great big laugh all scan.
A Wiggly Worm
Sung to: “Boom! Boom! Ain’t It Great to Be Crazy?”
Original Author: Unknown
Chorus:
Yum! Yum! Don’t you know I love apples?
Yum! Yum! Don’t you know I love apples?
Red and green and yellow, too…
Yum! Yum! Don’t you know I love apples?
Verse 1
Way up high in an apple tree, I saw two eyes look at me.
I reached for an apple; it started to squirm…oops! I found a wiggly worm!
Chorus
Verse 2
That wiggly worm is a friend of mine. We eat apples all the time.
I let him crawl back to that tree… hey! I see that worm looking at me!
Chorus
For 4 and 5 year olds who can hold a chorus and two verses; a sock-puppet worm does the rest.
Apple
Sung to: “Bingo”
Original Author: Unknown
I know a fruit that grows on trees,
An apple is its name, oh!
(Chorus)
A. P. P. L. E.
A. P. P. L. E.
A. P. P. L. E.
An apple is its name, oh!
In summer and in early fall
It’s time to pick an apple!
Chorus
It may be sweet or may be tart,
It’s red, or green, or yellow!
Chorus
A McIntosh or Granny Smith,
A Winesap or Delicious!
Chorus
Make applesauce or apple juice
Or apple pie with apples!
Chorus
The spelling chorus suits pre-K children who are starting to recognize letters; point to each one on a card as you sing.
Apple Was Its Name-O
Sung to: “Bingo”
Original Author: Unknown
I know a fruit that’s good to eat and apple was it’s name O!
A-P-P-L-E! A-P-P-L-E! A-P-P-L-E! And apple was it’s name-O!
I know a fruit that’s good to eat and apple was it’s name O!
Crunch-P-P-L-E! Crunch-P-P-L-E! Crunch-P-P-L-E And apple was it’s name-O! (etc, etc, etc.)
Replace one more letter with “crunch” each round, exactly like Bingo, until it is all crunches.
FAQ
What age are apple songs best for?
Most of the songs on this page work from age 3 up. The four-line rhymes and simple fingerplays like “Here Is An Apple” and “Picking Apples!” suit 2 and 3 year olds. The countdown songs and the spelling songs are better for 4 and 5 year olds who can hold a sequence in their heads. Older preschoolers get the most out of songs with open verses like “Do you know the Apple Man?”.
How do I turn an apple song into a counting lesson?
Slow it down and add objects. Give each child five counters or paper apples, sing a verse, and have them take one apple away before you move on. Stop and ask “how many are left?” and wait for the answer before the next verse. Once they are confident, sing without props and have them show the number on their fingers instead.
What activities pair with apple songs?
Apple tasting is the obvious one: red, yellow and green slices, then a class graph of favorites. Apple printing with cut halves shows the star of seeds inside and pairs with “Eat An Apple”. Making applesauce in a slow cooker goes with the “Applesauce” song. A felt-board apple tree turns any of the counting songs into a hands-on activity.
When should I run an apple theme?
Late September through October is the natural window in most of North America, when apples are in season and orchard trips are possible. Many teachers start it in the second or third week of September, once back to school routines have settled and before pumpkins take over. It also sits comfortably inside a wider fall unit alongside leaves and harvest.
What is a fingerplay?
A fingerplay is a short rhyme or song with hand motions that match the words. “Here Is An Apple” and “Apple Fingerplay” are classic examples. They build fine motor control and listening skills, and they need no materials, which makes them useful for transitions and waiting time.
More songs for fall
Apples are usually the first stop in a longer fall program. When your class is ready to move on, our 10 Vegetable Songs keep the healthy-eating thread going, and by November the 60 Thanksgiving Songs collection picks up where the apple theme leaves off.
When you hold a rosy apple, just pretend that you can see
Through its walls so round and shiny, to a sleeping family.
Mother dear and her brown babies cuddled up so cosily
Each one dreaming that some day, they would be an apple tree.