Free Printable Apple Letter Matching Game for Preschool
Planning an apple theme for your classroom? This free printable apple letter matching game is an easy fall center for preschool or kindergarten. With uppercase and lowercase letters in several printing options, you can use it for a variety of alphabet activities.
When I taught preschool, I liked having seasonal centers that practiced skills we were already learning. A new theme gave us a fresh way to work on the alphabet without needing to learn a completely different game.
Apples are a natural fit for the beginning of the school year and fall lessons. I created these apple alphabet cards with that in mind. They are simple to prepare, and you can choose which letters and matching options to use with your students.
This is also an easy printable activity to use at home with your little ones if you are practicing letters together.
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What is Included in this Free Apple Letter Matching Game?
This printable includes the entire alphabet in both uppercase and lowercase letters. Each set comes in three versions:
- Red apples
- Green apples
- Black-and-white apples
There are also blank apple cards in each version so you can add your own letters or create another activity.
The cards are arranged six to a page for easy printing and cutting.
The complete PDF includes 34 pages. You only need to print the pages you want to use!
If you don’t have access to a color printer, use the black-and-white apples. You can leave them as they are, color them before laminating, or print them on colored paper.
How to Prepare your Apple Letter Matching Game
You only need a little preparation before these apple cards are ready to use.
- Select the letter sets and apple colors you want.
- Print on regular paper or cardstock.
- Cut the cards apart along the lines.
- Laminate for durability, if desired.
If several children will be using this classroom center, I always recommend laminating the cards. This is the personal laminator I bought as a new teacher and it is worth every penny. Laminating and preparing them once means you can pull them out again the next time you teach your apple theme.
Keep each set in a small bag or container so the pieces are easy to find when you need them.
How to Use this Apple Letter Matching Game
One thing I appreciated as a teacher was being able to use the same printable with children at different skill levels. These apple cards give you several ways to practice letter matching.
Match uppercase letters. Have children pair an uppercase letter on a red apple with the same uppercase letter on a green apple.
Match lowercase letters. Use the lowercase sets to find pairs such as a and a or b and b.
Match uppercase and lowercase letters. When children are ready, have them find the lowercase partner for each uppercase letter, such as A and a.
You can use the same apple color for both sets or mix red and green apples. The black-and-white cards work for any of these options too.
For children who are just beginning to recognize letters, put out a handful of pairs instead of all 26. You might choose familiar letters or the letters in a child’s name. Add more as they become comfortable with the activity.
As children find a pair, ask them to name the letter. You can also practice letter sounds if that is something you are working on.
You can turn the cards into a letter memory game too! Choose a small group of matching pairs, shuffle them, and place them face down. Children take turns flipping over two cards to look for a match. Use cardstock or paper that keeps the letters from showing through the back.
These apple alphabet cards work well in a fall preschool center, a kindergarten literacy center, or a small group lesson. You can also use them at home for a little extra letter practice.
If you would like another themed alphabet activity, try my free printable crayon letter matching game. It is another easy way to practice matching letters with preschoolers and kindergarteners.
Download your Free Printable Apple Letter Matching Game
Choose your pages, print your cards, and you have an apple alphabet activity ready to go!
I know how much time teachers spend finding and preparing classroom activities. I hope sharing this printable makes planning your next apple theme a little easier—and gives your children a fun way to practice their letters.
