Johnny Appleseed Ideas
Johnny Appleseed, an American legend born in 1774, is taught to children at a young age, from rhymes to the general association with the fruit. By creating activities for kids based upon the young man who roamed all over America spreading apple seeds, not only can you teach an important part of American history, you can engage kids' interest, allowing them to learn a variety of subjects.
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Life Writings
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Give a short summary, chronologically, of Johnny Appleseed's life to the students. Assign a certain portion of his life and the activities he did in each to individual students. Have them write a one- to two- page paper exploring what he did during that period and what he must have felt. This is a useful activity not only to develop writing skills in children but also allows them to freely use their imagination.
Storytime
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Telling stories with illustrations is one of the best means of keeping young children's attention. Teach young kids about Johnny Appleseed and the interesting things he did through a book. There are several illustrated Johnny Appleseed storybooks available, and they range in comprehension levels. Ensure you choose one that is at the educational level of the children you are reading to.
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Apple Birthday
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To celebrate the birthday of Johnny Appleseed, on Sept. 24, hold a small apple festival in his honor. Tell the students why there are apples scattered all over the country, what kinds there are, and what role Johnny Appleseed played in the spread of the fruit. Do crafts afterward that celebrate the man, from drawings to small sculptures of apples. Place them around the room for several days before allowing the students to take them home, in honor of the man.
Apple Games
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After giving a short summary of Johnny Appleseed's life and the deeds his did, play apple games with the kids. One of the most popular and well-known apple games is bobbing for apples, in which kids have to use their mouths to retrieve apples bobbing in water in a large pail. A relay of filling a bucket full of apples from another one is another game that get the whole group of children involved. Let them eat the apples if they want afterward.
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