The Best Johnny Appleseed Activities and Lesson Plans for Kids
John Chapman, more commonly known as Johnny Appleseed, is an American legend. A historical figure who has become the hero of many tall tales here in the United States. Add these Johnny Appleseed Activities to your fall learning.
Johnny Appleseed Activities and Lesson Plans
Learning about Johnny Appleseed this Fall will give your children the opportunity to explore tall tales, legends, and begin to distinguish fact from fiction.
Autumn is the perfect time to start introducing your children to Johnny Appleseed because apples are everywhere! As you discuss how apples grow and change, you can teach your little ones about how stories can take on a life of their own … growing and changing, just like Apples in the Fall.
Johnny Appleseed Lesson Plans
If you’re not sure how to start Johnny Appleseed lesson plans or a unit study, you’ll definitely want to keep reading. I’ve had so much fun putting together these Johnny Appleseed activities and printables perfect for young learners exploring apples and American tall tales too.
Reading & Writing with Johnny Appleseed
Reading aloud to children is an excellent way to encourage your children to love books and foster an early desire to read in young learners. Reading stories together helps children develop language skills, phonemic awareness, and build imagination. Tall tales make excellent read-aloud stories!
The story of Johnny Appleseed has many versions you can enjoy with your kids. Here are just a few of our favorites:
- Johnny Appleseed: The Story of a Legend by Will Moses
- Little Naturalists Johnny Appleseed by Kate Coombs
- Johnny Appleseed by Stephen Benet
After reading the legend of Johnny Appleseed with your children, encourage them to write their own tall tales! Kids can continue the story of Johnny Appleseed by sharing what they think happened next or invent a new tall tale. Perhaps a story about Ava Avacado? I’d love to read about the tall tales your little ones create in the comments!
Apple Books for Kids
Early Math Activities with Apples
Johnny Appleseed lesson plans wouldn’t be complete without math activities! Very young children might enjoy counting apples, sorting different colored apples (red, yellow, green), or cutting one open to count the seeds.
For older kids, try creating apple word problems to solve together. Don’t forget to include Johnny Appleseed in your word problems!
Check out these apple-themed playdough mats for practicing counting and one to one correspondence with your preschool learners. They’re great for building fine motor skills while manipulating the dough too.
Johnny Appleseed Printable Activities and Craft
Johnny Appleseed Science Experiments
Johnny Appleseed helped things grow all over the nation, so this unit study wouldn’t be complete without studying some biology. First, cut an apple open to see the seeds. Talk about the different parts of an apple and help your little ones learn their names.
Here are some great Montessori style Johnny Appleseed printables to help your kids discover apples through exploration. They’ll have fun labeling leaves, stems, and seeds as they explore the apple parts in a hands on way.
Science experiments are always a big hit around here! So why not discover chemical reactions by creating some apple slime or playdough?
Check out these apple slime and playdough recipes:
Keep reading to discover more exciting apple-themed arts and crafts for your Johnny Appleseed lesson plans this Fall.
Apple Art Activities for Johnny Appleseed Day
Arts and crafts are a vital part of any preschool lesson. These types of activities help children build confidence by giving them a sense of achievement as they show off their finished product. Plus, it’s a great way to explore new skills like cutting, pasting, coloring, and painting.
Crafts can even help your child develop patience as they learn how to wait for the paint to dry before completing the next step in an art project.
Johnny Appleseed is the perfect theme for incorporating lots of fun arts and crafts! In fact, I’ve put together a list of more than 50 easy adorable apple crafts to explore with your preschoolers this Fall.
Apple Crafts for Kids
Here are just a few fun art activities you can do while learning more about Johnny Appleseed with your little ones:
- Apple Stamping Art
- Apple Bird Feeders
- Apple Lacing with Paper Plates
- Wrapped Yarn Apples
- Apple Fingerprint Art
- Paper Plate Apple Tree
- Apple Pencil Holder
Which apple crafts will you do first with your little ones? I can’t wait to read about your plans and ideas in the comment section, so don’t forget to share.
16 Apple Tree Crafts for Kids
Field Trip Ideas for a Johnny Appleseed Unit Study
Visit a local apple orchard to learn more about how apples grow. If you choose the right time of year, you can learn about how the farmers harvest their apples and maybe even do some apple picking of your own. Then, be sure to taste some delicious apple treats at the farm or create your own at home.
Here are some ideas:
- Applesauce
- Apple Cider
- Baked Apples
- Apple Bites
- Apple Fritters
- Apple Muffins
- Apple Donuts
- Apple Cookies
If you’re up for a Johnny Appleseed road trip, you can visit Savannah (in Ohio). This tiny Ohio town boasts the last living apple tree planted by the real Johnny Appleseed! The tree has produced apples for more than 150 years. The locals still tell stories about how Johnny Appleseed planted the tree and many other orchards in the area so long ago.
Another exciting road trip stop is the Johnny Appleseed Educational Center and Museum in Bigler, Pennsylvania. Also known as the National Apple Museum, they are committed to teaching others about Johnny Appleseed and promoting his values. You’ll need to make an appointment to visit, but it would be the perfect way to end a unit study all about this American legend.
Johnny Appleseed Printables
Whatever you decide to include in your studies about the legend of Johnny Appleseed this Fall, I’m confident it will be an exciting study filled with important lessons about apples and tall tales.
Have fun exploring Johnny Appleseed, the man and the legend, and his beloved apple trees with your little ones this season.
The Best Ways to Celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day
Don’t forget to share your stories and learning adventures in the comments. I love reading about your learning journey!
100+ Apple Activities for Kids
