Free Apple Life Cycle Worksheet

Whenever we start our fall unit, the apple life cycle worksheet is always a favorite—simple, hands-on, and a great way to see how something as small as a seed turns into a juicy apple.

My son enjoys moving the wheel around and seeing each stage appear, and it’s a fun way for him to really understand how apples grow.

We’ve used both the color and black and white life cycle printables depending on how much time we have.

A printable apple life cycle worksheet featuring a circular wheel divided into six labeled stages: seeds, apple, flower, bud, apple tree, and back to seeds. The image shows both a black-and-white version ready for coloring and completed versions colored with green, red, and brown markers. Supplies like scissors, markers, brass fasteners, and a book titled Life Cycles are also shown, supporting a fun and educational apple-themed science activity.

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Table of Contents

Apple Tree Life Cycle Worksheet

There are two options included in this free download, a colored version and a black and white version that the kids can color in.

Cut out the two circles, and make sure on the apple tree life cycle image you cut out the blank quarter.

Four printable worksheets illustrate the apple life cycle using a circular wheel format, with two in black and white and two fully colored. Each wheel is divided into six labeled sections showing stages: seeds, apple, flower, bud, apple tree, and back to seeds. The colored versions use red apples, green leaves, and brown trees to depict the stages, while the top and bottom left wheels have the title “Apple Life Cycle” with nature-themed decorations.

Place the apple life cycle image with the quarter cut out on top of the other image and add a brass fastener to the middle.

Give the upper circle a spin to track the apple’s life cycle, starting from seeds and going to the apple tree, then the flower bud, and finally from flowers to fruit.

A DIY apple life cycle craft setup includes a black-and-white life cycle wheel showing six labeled stages—seeds, apple, flower, bud, apple tree, and back to seeds—alongside a colored version of the wheel’s top layer featuring decorated apple trees and the title "Apple Life Cycle" in red and green. Surrounding the project are coloring markers, a pair of scissors, and a box of brass fasteners, ready for assembly.

This interactive method adds an enjoyable touch for young learners to grasp and go over the apple’s life cycle.

What is the Life Cycle of an Apple?

1. Seed Stage: Everything starts with a tiny apple seed. These seeds are found in the core of the apple. They’re like magic capsules that hold the potential to grow into a big apple tree.

2. Germination: When a seed gets the right amount of water, warmth, and soil, it starts to wake up from its sleep. It sends out a tiny root into the ground and a little shoot upwards. This shoot becomes the stem of the apple tree.

3. Seedling and Growing into a Tree: As the shoot grows, leaves appear. The little plant is called a seedling. With time, it gets bigger and stronger, turning into a young apple tree. This stage can take a few years, and the tree starts to look more like a tree as it gets taller.

4. Bud Stage: When the apple tree gets a little older, it prepares for the next big step – making apples! In the early spring, little buds start to appear on the branches. These buds are like tiny sleeping packages that hold the baby apple flowers inside.

5. Pollination: Insects like bees and butterflies visit the apple flowers. While they’re collecting nectar, they accidentally carry pollen from one flower to another. This helps the flowers make seeds inside the apples.

We love to add the Life Cycles book to our studies.

6. Flower Stage: As spring continues and the weather gets warmer, the buds wake up. They start to open up and reveal beautiful flowers. These apple flowers are not only pretty but very important too. They have the parts needed for making apples: the petals, the stamen (male part), and the pistil (female part).

7. Fruit Development: After pollination, the flowers start to change into little apples. The petals fall off, and the apples begin to grow. They get bigger and juicier over time, thanks to the tree taking in sunlight and water.

8. Harvest Time: When fall arrives, the apples are ready to be picked. They’re full of flavor and nutrients by this point. People and animals enjoy eating these delicious fruits.

9. Seed Dispersal: The apples that fall to the ground release their seeds. These seeds can grow into new apple trees if they find the right spot to grow – like the soil in a field or a garden.

And that completes the life cycle of an apple! From a tiny seed to a big tree, producing flowers and turning them into yummy apples, it’s a wonderful journey in nature.

A completed “Apple Life Cycle” craft wheel sits on top of an open educational book spread titled “Spores to Seeds,” which explains how plants reproduce. The craft wheel is set to the "seeds" section and features colorful illustrations of an apple core with seeds, surrounded by apple trees, blossoms, and the bold title “Apple Life Cycle.” The background book includes vibrant photos and diagrams of plant life cycles, including flowering plants, mosses, and ferns.

Best Books about Apples for Kids

Carry on learning about apples with our favorite books about apples:

How do apples grow? This book takes young readers on an exciting journey through the stages of an apple’s life cycle, from a tiny seed to a delicious fruit. It’s a great way to learn about the science behind apple growth.
Apples for Everyone. Delve into the world of apples with this colorful book that showcases various apple varieties, their flavors, and uses. It’s a perfect introduction to the diversity of apples and how they play a role in our lives.
Apples, Apples Everywhere. Join in the apple fun with this delightful story that captures the spirit of fall. Follow the characters as they celebrate the abundance of apples, exploring their many forms and enjoying their flavors.
Tree Full of Wonder. This enchanting book invites readers to discover the magic of apple trees. It not only explores the life cycle of an apple tree but also delves into the wonders of nature that surround it.

Additional apple resources

Discover even more autumn excitement with these fun apple printables:

Let your students create a memorable keepsake with this adorable A is for apple handprint activity. It’s a hands-on way to explore both the letter “A” and the iconic apple symbol.
Engage your young learners’ creativity with charming Johnny Appleseed coloring pages. This activity not only provides artistic enjoyment but also introduces kids to the legendary figure of Johnny Appleseed and his role in spreading apple trees across the country.
Have some fun learning how to keep apples fresh with apple science.
This apple pattern worksheet is perfect for teaching kids how to recognize and create sequences.

completed apple lide cycle spinner wheel crafts next to the Life Cycles DK Book

More Free Life Cycle Worksheets

Keep the learning going with even more hands-on plant life cycle activities:

Add a creative twist to your fall lessons with our pumpkin life cycle coloring page—a fun way to explore how pumpkins grow from seeds into jack-o’-lanterns.
Want a bit more structure? The printable pumpkin life cycle walks kids through each stage step-by-step, making it great for independent learning.
Reinforce your apple unit by taking a closer look inside the fruit with our label the parts of an apple worksheet—perfect for early science skills.
For a broader look at plant growth, the life cycle of a plant worksheet covers everything from seed to flower, offering a clear visual of how plants grow and change.
And if you’re ready to switch things up, our spider life cycle worksheet introduces kids to the fascinating transformation from egg to adult spider—creepy, cool, and totally educational.

WANT ALL OUR LIFE CYCLE WORKSHEETS IN ONE PLACE?

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Get the Free Printable Apple Life Cycle Wheel Here!

If you are running short on time you can download all of our life cycle worksheets. There are 247 pages over 23 different life cycles.

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Last Updated on 13 April 2025 by Clare Brown