Curriculum Possibilities for Johnny Appleseed Theme . . .
Curriculum Ideas for an Interdisciplinary, Project-Based Unit on Johnny Appleseed
When we think of Fall, we often think of apples. Investigating the connections in curriculum, you will find that you can take your students into a meaningful, real-life, interdisciplinary, project-based unit that meets many state, national and Common Core State Standards. This is also an excellent theme for learning the Next generation Science Standards. This unit may be adapted for any grade level, and crosses multiple disciplines.
The United States Apple Association states that National Apple Month was originally National Apple Week, established in 1904. Today it has expanded to include three months, September through November. Starting the school year with such a project ready to launch would be very appropriate, as you can tie in not only to the season for harvesting apples, but to Halloween as well.
You will see some examples below of the disciplinary connections below, and we have also begun a list of excellent online resources. In addition we offer suggestions for various projects, including the Global Johnny Appleseed Project PPT.
How do you create an integrated, thematic unit that draws on multiple disciplines? Make connections by asking Big Questions. such as the samples below. In order to investigate and answer these questions, students find a need to explore, and a need for the information each discipline has to offer.
Have fun learning, making connections, exploring the disciplines, engaging your students and increasing your standardized test scores!
Disciplinary Connections - You will find connections to every discipline when you develop a unit beginning with the theme of Johnny Appleseed. You may use the link below to access the details of the National Standards in every subject area and every grade level. Some of the disciplinary connections are listed below - just a starter list.. Also see the Big Questions in the link above for more ideas on how to teach the disciplines/standards within the theme. Can be adapted easily PreK through PhD. National Standards for all subjects
Here is just a hint of the disciplinary connections to this theme. Get a team of teachers together from various disciplines, and at the end of your unit celebrate the learning with a Johnny Appleseed Festival for your community!
When we think of Fall, we often think of apples. Investigating the connections in curriculum, you will find that you can take your students into a meaningful, real-life, interdisciplinary, project-based unit that meets many state, national and Common Core State Standards. This is also an excellent theme for learning the Next generation Science Standards. This unit may be adapted for any grade level, and crosses multiple disciplines.
The United States Apple Association states that National Apple Month was originally National Apple Week, established in 1904. Today it has expanded to include three months, September through November. Starting the school year with such a project ready to launch would be very appropriate, as you can tie in not only to the season for harvesting apples, but to Halloween as well.
You will see some examples below of the disciplinary connections below, and we have also begun a list of excellent online resources. In addition we offer suggestions for various projects, including the Global Johnny Appleseed Project PPT.
How do you create an integrated, thematic unit that draws on multiple disciplines? Make connections by asking Big Questions. such as the samples below. In order to investigate and answer these questions, students find a need to explore, and a need for the information each discipline has to offer.
Have fun learning, making connections, exploring the disciplines, engaging your students and increasing your standardized test scores!
Disciplinary Connections - You will find connections to every discipline when you develop a unit beginning with the theme of Johnny Appleseed. You may use the link below to access the details of the National Standards in every subject area and every grade level. Some of the disciplinary connections are listed below - just a starter list.. Also see the Big Questions in the link above for more ideas on how to teach the disciplines/standards within the theme. Can be adapted easily PreK through PhD. National Standards for all subjects
Here is just a hint of the disciplinary connections to this theme. Get a team of teachers together from various disciplines, and at the end of your unit celebrate the learning with a Johnny Appleseed Festival for your community!
The Arts Civics Literature - from Shakespeare to Henry David Thoreau and more Mythology - many cultures History - ancient World History, American History Physical Education Geography Careers |
Biology Chemistry Physics Botany Health Mathematics Economics Multimedia - theater, film-making, video production . . . |
Online Resources
"It is remarkable how closely the history of the apple tree is connected with that of man."
From Wild Apples by Henry David Thoreau.
Download the ebook free at Project Guttenberg.
Big Questions to Guide Student Exploration
Here are some examples of Big Questions to guide student research in a unit based upon Johnny Appleseed. These range from the seemingly simple to the complex:
1. What is an apple?
2. Where does our food come from? This is equally applicable to secondary as well as elementary students. Most just think "the grocery store". But where did it originate, and how did it get there?
3. What is the history of the apple tree? This may include prehistoric, archaeological findings, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, ancient Egypt, ancient China, early American history, Civil War era, immigration and geography.
4. What is the relationship of the apple tree to humans through history, including a look at the impact on the environment when trees are planted.
5. What are the connections between apples and health/nutrition (this may be viewed from ancient history through modern medical research.) For example, cancer research, heart research, brain research, weight control, nutrition, cooking . . .
6. What are traditions, myths, legends and folklore related to apples?
7. What service learning projects can be developed in this Johnny Appleseed unit?
8. How do apples contribute to the economy in the United States and elsewhere?
9. Analyze the relationship between apple trees and current environmental issues and scientific developments.
10. Examine current social issues related to hunger, poverty and the environment. Remember Johnny Appleseed's dream - to plant enough apple trees to ensure that no one would ever go hungry. Some possible idea-starters and resources are:
11. Where did all the apples go? One hundred years ago people were eating things that most of us will never taste. Every teacher and student should read this article.
More to come . . . .
From Wild Apples by Henry David Thoreau.
Download the ebook free at Project Guttenberg.
Big Questions to Guide Student Exploration
Here are some examples of Big Questions to guide student research in a unit based upon Johnny Appleseed. These range from the seemingly simple to the complex:
1. What is an apple?
- Pollination process
- Bees
- Seeds
- Chemical composition
2. Where does our food come from? This is equally applicable to secondary as well as elementary students. Most just think "the grocery store". But where did it originate, and how did it get there?
- Horticulture and Botany
- Orchards and organic orcharding
- Pomology (the science of fruits; a treatise on fruit; the cultivation of fruits and fruit trees.)
- Processing and packing
- Transportation
- Supermarkets
- Marketing (media literacy, economics, communications)
- Physics - machines for apple products, from ancient to modern, including machines, the Industrial Revolution, printing labels, packaging, etc.
3. What is the history of the apple tree? This may include prehistoric, archaeological findings, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, ancient Egypt, ancient China, early American history, Civil War era, immigration and geography.
4. What is the relationship of the apple tree to humans through history, including a look at the impact on the environment when trees are planted.
- Climate and weather
- Global warming
- Carbon footprinting
- much more to add here!
5. What are the connections between apples and health/nutrition (this may be viewed from ancient history through modern medical research.) For example, cancer research, heart research, brain research, weight control, nutrition, cooking . . .
6. What are traditions, myths, legends and folklore related to apples?
- Greek, Roman, Egyptian mythology
- Celebrations - blossom festivals, harvest festivals, Johnny Appleseed festivals
- Halloween
7. What service learning projects can be developed in this Johnny Appleseed unit?
- Take political/community action to establish a park, save a tree, preserve an historical site, change or create a law.
- Plant trees
- Oral history project
8. How do apples contribute to the economy in the United States and elsewhere?
- Economics
- marketing and advertising
- Stock market
- Careers
- Statistics, Weights and Measurements
- Consumer protection
- Global issues related to agriculture, water, sustainable management and genetic development, etc. (see http://www.fao.org/ag/)
9. Analyze the relationship between apple trees and current environmental issues and scientific developments.
- Pesticides
- Pest and disease life cycles
- Carbon footprinting
- Biodiversity
- Genomics
- Biotechnology
- Evolution
- Laws and research organizations related to foods, agriculture and the environment (local to global)
- EPA - Environment Protection Agency
- FDA - Food and Drug Administration
- USDA - United States Department of Agriculture
- HistoricTrees.org
- USDA Forest Service
- Orchards - in the US and around the world
- Fruit growers associations
- NEDI - National Environmental Data Index
- Alternative fuels
- More to come . . .
10. Examine current social issues related to hunger, poverty and the environment. Remember Johnny Appleseed's dream - to plant enough apple trees to ensure that no one would ever go hungry. Some possible idea-starters and resources are:
- FAO - Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations - Statistics Division - Food Security Statistics
- Plant a tree or plant an orchard
- Plant a garden, cook and eat the vegetables, or donate to a local shelter
- Hold a festival to learn, have fun and raise money
11. Where did all the apples go? One hundred years ago people were eating things that most of us will never taste. Every teacher and student should read this article.
More to come . . . .
The Apple in Literature
"It is remarkable how closely the history of the apple tree is connected with that of man."
From Wild Apples by Henry David Thoreau. Download the eBook free at Project Guttenberg.
Apple by Anna Fraser has many wonderful links on apples. Her categories include: Meet the Tree, Cultivating Apples, The Fruit, Traditional Apple Medicine, Apple Facts and Fun (from Adam’s Apple to Newton’s physics and more), Traditions & Lore, Children’s Activities and of course, a page of recipes
Traditions and Tree Lore Associated with the Apple -
Here is a good place to begin when learning about symbolism of the apple.
From Wild Apples by Henry David Thoreau. Download the eBook free at Project Guttenberg.
Apple by Anna Fraser has many wonderful links on apples. Her categories include: Meet the Tree, Cultivating Apples, The Fruit, Traditional Apple Medicine, Apple Facts and Fun (from Adam’s Apple to Newton’s physics and more), Traditions & Lore, Children’s Activities and of course, a page of recipes
Traditions and Tree Lore Associated with the Apple -
- The symbolism of the Apple
- Apples as the food of the Gods
- Avalon, the magic apple-land
- The Irish Land of Youth
- Hercules and the Apples of immortality
- The tree of paradise and the serpent
- The lesson of the Apple tree
- Eve and Adam eat the fruit of life
- Mrs. Wholesome and the Apple orchard – a fairy tale
- The golden Apple which caused the Trojan war
- Snow-white and the poisoned Apple
- Snow-white as metaphor for the Apple blossom
- The sacred fruit of the Goddess
- Halloween, the Apple festival
- The mystery of the Mistletoe
- Wassailing
- The Story of Johnny Appleseed
Here is a good place to begin when learning about symbolism of the apple.
Apple Activities for Children (and grownups!)
Making an apple doll, carving apple stamps, making an apple puzzle, growing apple pips, apple games, apple bobbing, apples-on-a-string, passing the apple, making an orchard mural.
Note: If you plan to have your class plant apple seeds when school begins:
If your apple seed has not been through a cold period, the pips may not germinate. You can remedy this by putting the seeds in the fridge for 6-8 weeks to simulate winter. The best way to do this is by putting the seeds in some damp sand or peat-moss (not too wet or the seeds may rot) in a plastic bag. Often the Apples you get have been in cold storage and that might be sufficient to make the seeds think they've been through the winter.
How to Grow an Apple Tree from a Seed
Note: If you plan to have your class plant apple seeds when school begins:
If your apple seed has not been through a cold period, the pips may not germinate. You can remedy this by putting the seeds in the fridge for 6-8 weeks to simulate winter. The best way to do this is by putting the seeds in some damp sand or peat-moss (not too wet or the seeds may rot) in a plastic bag. Often the Apples you get have been in cold storage and that might be sufficient to make the seeds think they've been through the winter.
How to Grow an Apple Tree from a Seed
More Apple Resources
Global Johnny Appleseed Project PPT
global_johnny_appleseed_project.ppt | |
File Size: | 3473 kb |
File Type: | ppt |