Preschool Growing Fruits & Vegetables Theme

Explore a variety of preschool Fruit and Vegetable Gardening themed activities. This page is packed with  learning objectives, and fun, hands-on ideas for small group, whole group, and independent learning centers to support your early childhood program. Use the buttons below to quickly navigate to each section!

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Preschool Fruit and Vegetable Theme Planning  Section

Below, you'll find our Theme Map outlining key topics to explore, suggested learning objectives to guide your lessons, and a free activity plan to help you get started. Club Members can download our Fruit & Vegetable theme planning guide and all of our printable resources and instruction pages for free inside our Activity Library! Not a member? Learn More Here!

Preschool Fruit & Vegetable Topic Ideas & Learning Objectives

Here are some suggested preschool learning objectives for a Fruit & Vegetables theme:
Language & Literacy Development

• Identify and name common fruits and vegetables through books, songs, and conversations.
• Use descriptive language to talk about the colors, textures, and tastes of fruits and vegetables.
• Recognize and attempt to write letters or words related to fruits and vegetables (e.g., F for fruit, A for apple).

Cognitive & Math Skills

• Sort fruits and vegetables by color, size, shape, or type (fruit vs. vegetable).
• Count items in a fruit or vegetable basket and practice one-to-one correspondence.
• Explore patterns using fruit and veggie cutouts (e.g., apple-carrot-apple-carrot).

Science & Discovery

• Understand where fruits and vegetables come from (farm, garden, trees, underground).
• Explore the life cycle of a plant (seed to sprout to full plant).
• Engage in simple experiments like observing how seeds sprout or comparing fresh vs. dried fruits.

Fine & Gross Motor Skills

• Practice cutting soft fruits and vegetables with child-safe tools.
• Use tongs or tweezers to pick up small fruit pieces for fine motor practice.
• Participate in active games like fruit and veggie scavenger hunts or relay races.

Social-Emotional Development

• Practice taking turns and working together in cooking or pretend grocery store play.
• Express food preferences and learn to respect others' likes and dislikes.
• Discuss feelings about trying new foods and encourage healthy eating habits.

Creative Arts

• Create fruit and vegetable art using stamping, painting, or collage techniques.
• Role-play in a farmer’s market or kitchen dramatic play center.
• Sing themed songs like "Apples and Bananas" or "I Like to Eat, Eat, Eat Apples and Bananas."

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Fruit and Vegetable Garden Preschool Activity Plan

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Fruit & Vegetable Preschool Activities

Below you will find a sample of some of our favorite activities for this theme. Click on a button below to find specific activities by type, or visit our free Preschool Activity Library to find even MORE Preschool Activities for this theme!

Use the yellow arrow to return to the top!

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Suggested Fruit and Vegetable Items to add to your Art & Creativity Space this Week

Consider adding Fruit & Vegetable Magazine Clippings, and Stamps to your Art Space this week.
Fruit Markers make a fun addition as well. ​Provide heavy card stock and encourage preschoolers to cut fruit or veggie shapes out. 

Bottle Cap Grapes

Adorable and educational hands-on activity for preschool classrooms! Teach fine motor skills, counting, and colors with these fun and reusable bottle cap grapes. Perfect for engaging little learners in a creative way! View the Blog Post or
View Member Instructions

Try this!

Potato Stamping

In this process art activity, the children use potatoes to make fun stamps. View Member Instructions

Try this!

Seed Rolling

Save large seeds or pits from fruit to use with for painting. 
This is the same as painting with marbles. Place a piece of paper in a container with a flat bottom such as a cardboard lid or cake pan. Add a few drops of paints and then the seeds, encourage children to tilt the tray back and forth to make a print. View Member Instructions

Create a Strawberry

Provide white (yup, there are white strawberries, something fun to learn about) and red construction paper for children to cut the berry out of (fun fact: did you know a strawberry isn't actually a "berry" look it up with your preschoolers to see the research behind this). Children can cut out the pieces needed to form the fruit, then use a qtip to dip in paint and add seeds.
View Member Instructions

Modeling Clay Fruit and Vegetables

Use modeling clay to create your favorite fruit and vegetables. Air Dry clay is a great option for this project.
View Member Instructions

Fruit & Veggie Seed Mosaics

Supply a variety of seeds for children to create mosaics with. Picking up those tiny seeds is great for finger strength and hand-eye-coordination. Winter is a great time to get out and collect some seeds!
I love this invitation to create a Seed Mosaic from shared by Robin S. Picking up those tiny seeds is great for finger strength and hand-eye-coordination. Winter is a great time to get out and collect some seeds!

Image Shared by Robin S.

Healthy Fruit & Veggie Snack

This week is a great time to try something new to eat! Provide an assortment of fresh fruits and
vegetables for the children to try for snack this week.
View Member Instructions

Fruit Photography

Review famous art inspired by fruit! Set up a "photography studio" with digital cameras (check with families in advance they may have some to donate), along with fruit (real or faux), baskets, and child friendly fruit bowls. Encourage students to arrange the fruit, and photograph them. Print your student photographs and display them in the photography studio. This also provides a great opportunity for using positional phrases: "I see in your photo you placed the banana next to the apple, I see you put the grapes on top of the other fruit". View Member Instructions

*Create a Farmers Market

Create a Farmer's Market in your Dramatic Space this week. Add pretend Fruits & Vegetables, Baskets, Shopping Bags, a Scale, Signs and play money to your space. Reader Cheryl V. set up this adorable Farmer's Market space using our Farmer's Market Dramatic Play Pack. Take a closer look at this set here.  

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Build a Pretend Garden

Reader Erica P. created this fabulous DIY Garden. She used a large box, pool noodles, Fabric, and Border. For your space you can also add: Gardening Tools, Gloves, watering cans, laminated seeds packs

Erica's Educare Learning Center

Make a Pie Stand

Do your littles have a love of baking? Transform your Dramatic Play Space into a Pie Stand!
The Pie Stand Dramatic Play Pack has all the signs and props you need to create a pie stand.  Make your favorite fruit & Vegetable (Pumpkin) pies!
View the Blog Post or Buy Now

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Canning your Fruits & Vegetables

Canning is a way to preserve foods. Provide your students with plastic jars, tongs, and pots, oven mitts, and pretend play food to can. Felt food works great for this (they are easier to squish in side the jars).
View Member Instructions

Small World Play Vegetable Garden

Add materials to build a pretend garden in your construction space this week. Provide pretend fruits and veggies, brown felt, green felt, containers, craft stick garden beds, and small garden tools. Lincoln logs, are another great option for building miniature gardens. View Member Instructions

Build a Garden Box Outside

Plan to build a real garden box with children.
Create a plan on paper and then work together to build it. Follow up by planting veggies and fruit in it.
View Member Instructions

Pattern Block Fruit & Vegetables

Use pattern blocks to build Fruit & Vegetables. Provide plenty of inspiration such as real photos and books featuring fruits and vegetables. View Member Instructions

Fruit and Vegetable Silly Rhymes

Come up with words that rhyme with your favorite fruits and vegetables. Pear/Bear, Hairy/Berry
View Member Instructions

Fruit & Vegetable First Sounds Clip Cards*

This Fruit & Veggie Letter Matching printable activity is perfect for preschoolers! Help little ones practice letter recognition while learning about healthy foods. Simply match the letters to their corresponding fruits and veggies. A fun and educational activity for all!
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Vegetable story and Discussion

The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons is a book that describes all different types of vegetables, what type of vegetables they are and how they grow. There are many opportunities for recall and discussion after listening to this book! Watch the Read Aloud on YouTube here!
What is your favorite way to grow vegetables?
What kind of vegetables from the book do you like?
Did you learn about any new vegetables? Which ones would you like to try?
View Member Instructions

Vegetable Garden Letter Matching*

Engage your little ones with our Letters in the Garden Seek and Find file folder game! This printable preschool activity will promote letter recognition while having fun searching for hidden garden-themed letters. Perfect for homeschooling or quiet playtime. Get yours now! Buy Now

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Build Your Name with Seeds​

Provide black paper and seeds of choice for children to create their name. They can clear the seeds and create more letters or glue them down to make their own name sign.
View Member Instructions

My Garden Finger play

Watch this video on YouTube to Learn this finger play to share with your preschoolers during circle time. Easily change the words to "vegetable seeds" or leave as is. View Member Instructions

Be A Seed Rhyme

Be a seed is a fun spring rhyme for circle time.
Learn it on YouTube. View Member Instructions

Free Fruit & Vegetable Photo Cards*

Boost your child's physical development with our fun Fruit Pick Up game! This interactive activity will engage your little one's gross motor skills as they move around the room picking up fruits and vegetables cards. Keep the excitement going as they learn about different healthy foods and practice their hand-eye coordination. Download our free Fruit & Veggie Cards to create a fun and enriching preschool activity today!
View the Blog Post

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Anywhere Farm by Phyllis Root and G. Brian Karas
My Garden by Kevin Henkes
The Fruits We Eat by Gail Gibbons
The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons
Soup Day: A Board Book by Melissa Iwai
Eating the Alphabet by Lois Elhert
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss

Garden Glove and Watering Can Color Matching*

Engage your little ones with this hands-on gardening activity! Download this printable color matching activity featuring garden gloves and watering cans. Help them learn colors while having fun in the garden! Ideal for preschoolers. Buy Now

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Blueberry Pie Counting Mat 1-20

This printable preschool activity is perfect for learning counting skills! Help your little one practice numbers 1-20 with this adorable blueberry pie counting mat. They'll love counting and placing blueberries on each slice as they strengthen their math skills. It's a fun and educational activity that's sure to keep them engaged!
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Sort Strawberries by size*

This printable preschool activity is perfect for little ones learning about fruits! Help your child practice their sorting skills with this fun strawberry sorting activity. Simply cut out the strawberries and sort them by color or size. A great way to engage and educate your little one! Buy Now

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Weigh your Fruit & Vegetable

Gather some of your favorite fruit and vegetables and a kitchen scale. Practice measuring your produce! Which weighs the most and the least?
View Member Instructions

Sort your Vegetables by Size

Purchase or pick vegetables from your garden and practice sorting them by length (shortest to longest, and longest to shortest). View Member Instructions

Sorting Seeds

Cut any fruits or veggies you have on hand to observe the seeds inside. You can sort the seeds by size, texture, where the seed is located, etc. ​View Member Instructions

Carrot Counting Craft

Preschoolers can create this fun carrot counting activity using basic art supplies.
View Member Instructions

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How Does it Grow Sorting*

This How does it grow? Matching Activity is a fun and educational printable for preschoolers. Let your little ones match each plant with its corresponding picture of how it grows. A great way to teach about nature and promote cognitive skills!
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Investigating Seeds

For this activity you will need a variety of different seeds, a tray or ziploc bags and a magnifying glass invite the children to observe and investigate the various seeds. Discuss the differences between sizes, colors and what the seeds will grow into.
View Member Instructions

Watch Bean Plants Sprout

Start some Lima bean seeds in a plastic baggie with wet cotton balls. Tape the bags to a window for light and to observe growth. View Member Instructions

When the seeds sprout, remove from the bag and examine the parts of the plant. 

Transfer to a container with some soil for children to take home and plant or transfer to your preschool garden. 

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Plan and Start a Garden

Learning how to plan is an important skill for preschoolers. When preschoolers engage in activities that teach planning they are building a solid foundation for success in school and in life.  Planning a garden with your preschooler can be a fun way to introduce planning.  You can use the My Garden Plan Learn Plan and Build activity pack to plan out your garden and facilitate discussion about gardening.
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Sheena W. of Building Blocks submitted these photos of her garden. She grows zucchini each year, the children help water the garden, observe growth, and help harvest. 

Start a Garden with the Children! If you are short on yard space consider a Re-usable Grow Bag .
This fun Garden was shared by our reader Christie Iof Gananda Family Daycare.

Photo Credit: Gananda Family Daycare

Our reader Candasa C. shared this lovely image of
Scarlett runner beans she has climbing against her fence.

Photo Credit: Candasa Crumb

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Blooming Fruit Walk

Take a nature walk around the yard and look for blooms on your Fruit Trees.
These beautiful Apple blossoms belong to reader Carolyn K.
View Member Instructions

Carolyn Kropp.

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Investigate your Favorite Fruit

Preschool Investigate your Favorite Fruit Activity is a fun and engaging activity that allows preschoolers to explore different fruits. Through hands-on experiences, children will learn about the colors, shapes, and textures of various fruits. This activity promotes sensory exploration, fine motor skills, and introduces healthy eating habits.
View Member Instructions

Try this activity for free!

Lemon Science Investigation

Try out this Lemon Fizz Experiment with your preschoolers to work on the Scientific Process. View Member Instructions

Try this!

Fruit and Vegetable Washing Station

Set up a wash station with water and scrub brushes. Children can wash fruit or veggies for snack or practice with lemons, limes, and oranges. Then use these to make a yummy juice or smoothie. 
Use this activity to talk about the importance of washing produce before consuming. View Member Instructions

Fruit & Vegetable Sensory Table Ideas

In the sensory table this week place pretend or printed & laminated fruits and veggies. 

• Dry black beans (as soil)
  
• Dirt
• Water (wash fruit and veggies, supply scrub brush)
• Dry coffee grounds (you can get used coffee grounds for free from some coffee shops)
• Shredded newspaper
  
• View Member Instructions
  

Make Fruit Scented Play Dough

Create a sensory wonderland with this easy Natural Scented Play Dough Recipe for your preschoolers! Engage their senses and enhance fine motor skills with the delightful aroma of essential oils. Perfect for classroom fun and endless creativity!
View the Blog Post or View Member Instructions

Try this!

Dissect a Bean Seed

Soak beans in water for at least a few hours. Dissect a bean by first removing its outer skin, then splitting open to examine the inside. At each stage, stop and talk with the children about what they observe. ​View Member Instructions

Grow Seeds in a Jar 

Place a small amount of soil in the jar. Make a small hole in the middle of the soil and deposit the seeds in the hole. Spray with water just to moisten. Place the lid in the jar to serve as a greenhouse just until the seed has sprouted. Continue to water and keep soil moist. Once the seedling has reached the top of the jar you can lead the lid off. Continue to water and enjoy your new plant! View Member Instructions

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 Plant Seeds: Fine Motor

Gardening a great fine motor workout. Provide a variety of seeds, and individual potting containers. Preschoolers can fill each pot with soil, poke a hole, plant the seed, and cover. 
View Member Instructions

Fruit Seed Drop: Fine Motor

Set up a fine motor invitation using a plastic bottle, tweezers and larger seeds (pumpkin seeds work great). Encourage your student to practice picking up the seed using the tweezers and dropping them into the jar!  For some added math fun you can have the class guess how many seeds are in the jar, and count them.
View Member Instructions

Fruit & Vegetable Hunt*: Gross Motor

Travel around the yard, neighborhood or garden center to see what fruits and vegetables you can find! 
Bring along the I Spy Fruit and Vegetables checklist from our Growing Fruit and Vegetables Activity Pack. 

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Fruit & Veggie Pick-up: Fine Motor

Encourage preschoolers to build fine motor skills  while learning about fruits and veggies. Pair a grabber tool , our free set of these Fruit & Vegetable photo cards and pretend fruits and veggies for this activity.

Try this!

Dig in the Soil: Gross Motor

Digging around in mud or wet soil is a serious workout for little arms! Provide a space in the garden or fill up the sensory bin. View Member Instructions

Harvesting Fruit and Vegetables: Gross Motor Game

For this activity you can use inexpensive pretend fruits and veggies,  or our free printable Fruit & Vegetable cards.  This activity is perfect for outdoor play. Place your vegetables in the soil or sandbox. Choose places that encourage children to stretch, crawl, dig, squat...get those little bodies moving! Place a basket in a central location for children to place their produce in.
View Member Instructions

Sing and Move to your Favorite Fruit or Vegetable Inspired Songs on YouTube

Preschoolers will love joining in the fun of the "One Potato Two Potatoes" sing-along video activity! They will learn counting by singing along and following the catchy tune. This interactive and engaging activity promotes early math skills, memory development, and joyful learning. Get ready to sing and dance along with Watch on YouTube

Harvesting a Mini Garden

Provide kinetic sand along with mini vegetables for children to plant and harvest on repeat creating a fun opportunity for working on those fine motor skills. This would also be an excellent opportunity for patterning practice. View Member Instructions

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Social and Emotional Development

The activities in this section are suggested to help preschoolers gain a better understanding about Feelings, Emotions, Themselves, and Others  (Family, Friends, People in their Community, and People from other cultures/around the world).

Gardening Requires Planning and Patience

In this preschool activity, children will learn the importance of planning and patience through the lens of gardening. The children will discuss times that patience is needed and ways to practice patience.
View Member Instructions

Feelings about Patience

Be ready to support children during this discussion. Perhaps display a poster about feelings and bring classroom resources you have available for managing emotions such as a Calm Down binder or items from your Calm Down Space. View Member Instructions

Make a Class Book About Patience

Make a class book about patience. Read the following sentences (or create your own), ask children for responses. Record their responses then create a book for the classroom. View Member Instructions

Play a Fruit & Vegetable Game together*
-Learning to take turns

Looking for a fun and educational activity for your preschooler? Check out this Roll a Garden Game Printable! Let your little one roll the dice and create their very own garden while learning about different plants and colors. Perfect for indoor play and ideal for developing fine motor skills and creativity. Download and print today! Buy Now

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Fruits & Vegetables Around the World

Many fruits and vegetables grow best in a particular environment. This theme is an excellent time to talk about climates around the world and where much of the fruit and vegetables children eat come from.
This is a great time to taste a new fruit that you may have never tried before! View Member Instructions

From Field to Fork

Watch a fascinating video on YouTube about how potatoes go from growing on a farm to being ready for eating. 

Meet the produce manager at your local grocery store

Call ahead to your local grocery store to arrange a trip to meet your local produce manager! Have them share fun information about their job, and Fruits & Vegetables. View Member Instructions

Where Does it Grow?* Group Sharing Activity

This Where does it grow? sorting mat is a fun and educational activity for preschoolers! Help them learn about different plants and where they grow by sorting the pictures onto the correct mats. Perfect for homeschooling or classroom use. Buy Now

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Apple Orchard Virtual Field Trip 

Take a virtual field trip to the apple orchard to see all of the different kinds of apples there are. Have an apple-tasting party to see what different apples taste like. Discuss as a group which ones were your favorites and least favorites.

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The activities in this section are suggested to help educator's with classroom management,
improve parent participation, and communication.

Parent Participation

Ask parents if they have extra gardening supplies to donate (Pots, used trowels, small gloves, etc.)
View Member Instructions

Community Garden

Ask families to help contribute to the creation of a community garden in your preschool. You can build a large garden box or use large pots. Parents can contribute by donating their time or materials. 
View Member Instructions

Stone Soup

Ask each family to bring in a vegetable to contribute to making lunch one day. Work together to create stone soup. Read the book Stone Soup before this activity for added enrichment. View Member Instructions

As a follow-up be sure to add plenty of pretend fruits and veggies to the housekeeping area as well as some bigger pots for pretend play. 

Transition Idea

Dismiss students from circle time by using fruit or vegetable colors. For example, "If you are wearing red like a strawberry you may get up."  View Member Instructions

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Pre-K Printables Club Members

Pre-K Printables Club members can download all of our printable products, including the Apple Theme Guide, for FREE through the member links in our shop listings and activity library. Not a member yet? Join here!

Fruit and Vegetables Activity Pack

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Farmers Market Dramatic Play Pack

$5.00

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Free Preschool Fruit and Vegetable 3-Part Cards

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Garden Planning and Building STEM Activity

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Pie Stand Dramatic Play Set

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Banana Science Activities

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