Johnny Appleseed Unit Study Resources
John Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed, was a real person in the history of westward expansion of the United States. Although his legend seems larger than life, he was very much real and his life provides an interesting topic for a homeschool unit study!
Fall means it’s prime apple season and we can all enjoy things like fresh apple cider and homemade applesauce. It’s also a great time to study Johnny Appleseed in honor of his birthday. Here are some ideas to get you started on a Johnny Appleseed unit study.
I have gathered up some fun facts, a book list, and companion activities like this sew an apple craft that would perfectly complement this unit study, so keep reading for more! Be sure to add in some hands-on activities like this apple pie playdough no cook recipe for fun, too.
All About Johnny Appleseed Unit Study Resources
John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, was born on September 26th, 1774, in Massachusetts. He was a fascinating man whose reputation has grown into a part of our American folklore over hundreds of years. Johnny Appleseed Day is celebrated every September 26.
Don’t miss these fun Johnny Appleseed color by number printables!
Who was Johnny Appleseed?
John Chapman was a selfless man who believed in helping others. He was the son of a Revolutionary War soldier. His mother died when he was just a child. He completed an apprenticeship with an apple farmer, which began his lifelong love of apples. He was a pacifist, a vegetarian, and did not believe in accumulating wealth or possessions. He was usually dressed in ragged clothing and always traveled with his Bible.
What did Johnny Appleseed do?
He spent 46 years planting apple trees, covering an estimated 100,000 square miles with apple seeds across the “western” territories of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan.
Lessons and Activities
- complete a Johnny Appleseed themed unit study
- watch Disney’s classic cartoon about Johnny Appleseed
- visit an apple orchard and pick your own apples
- plant an apple tree
- draw pictures of apple blossoms for an art lesson
- make your favorite apple recipes ~ pies, cakes, applesauce, cider, etc.
- learn about (and taste) different apple varieties
- complete a fun apple life cycle lapbook
- make an apple stamp painting craft
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Apple Life Cycle Lapbook$3.00 -
Product on saleJohnny Appleseed and the Apple Unit StudyOriginal price was: $8.00.$6.00Current price is: $6.00.
Johnny Appleseed Books for Kids
You’ll want to read these fun apple-related books as part of your read-aloud or morning basket time, too!
My Little Golden Book about Johnny Appleseed
In this simple yet lively book, preschoolers will be introduced to John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. Lyrical text and bright, appealing artwork capture the essence of this important American. Little ones will enjoy engaging anecdotes about Johnny Appleseed, beginning with the young John, who liked to walk barefoot in the cool, quiet woods. They’ll gain a clear understanding of the way he helped American settlers by walking a hundred thousand miles in his lifetime, for over fifty years, to plant seeds. Fun facts at the end—such as how Johnny Appleseed looked poor in his worn-out clothes, but died owning over a thousand acres of land.
Johnny Appleseed by Reeve Lindbergh
This is our favorite Johnny Appleseed book! Rhymed text and illustrations relate the life of John Chapman, whose distribution of apple seeds and trees across the Midwest made him a legend and left a legacy still enjoyed today.
Who Was Johnny Appleseed? by Joan Holub
Children are sure to be fascinated by the eccentric and legendary Johnny Appleseed, a man who is best known for bringing apple trees to the midwest. Over John Chapman’s lifetime, he saw the country grow and start to spread westward. Traveling alone— in bare feet and sporting a pot on his head!—Johnny left his own special mark planting orchards that helped nourish new communities. His journeys and adventures are illustrated in a hundred black-and-white illustrations.
Johnny Appleseed: The Story of a Legend by Will Moses
Another favorite classic! Johnny Appleseed was a legend even in his own time-stories abounded about the kindhearted woodsman who planted thousands of apple seeds from Pennsylvania to Indiana. The real Johnny Appleseed was born John Chapman in a small village in Massachusetts. When he was a young man, he set off for the western frontier and along the way collected bags of apple seeds from cider mills. As John Chapman’s apple orchards grew in number, so did the tales of Johnny Appleseed. In this wise and witty story, Will Moses relates the life of a great American folk hero who helped open and tame the wild frontier.
Seed by Seed: The Legend and Legacy of John “Appleseed” Chapman by Esme Raji Codell
Why should we remember Johnny Appleseed today—more than two hundred years after he was born—and call him a hero? Why are the life and lessons of John Appleseed relevant to kids now? This extraordinary picture book from educator, librarian, and best-selling author Esme Raji Codell and award-winning illustrator Lynne Rae Perkins answers these questions and more—and challenges readers to follow the five footsteps John Chapman left behind:
1. Use what you have
2. Share what you have
3. Respect nature
4. Try to make peace where there is war
5. You can reach your destination by taking small steps
Apple Books for Kids
Check these out to round out your apple unit study!
Let’s Go Apple Picking! (Little Golden Book)
Apple Farmer AnnieTen Apples Up On Top!Apple Picking Day! (Step into Reading)An Apple’s Life (Watch It Grow)Apples, Apples, ApplesApples (New & Updated Edition)How Do Apples Grow?Apples, Apples Everywhere!: Learning About Apple Harvests (Autumn)Ten Red ApplesApples for Everyone (Picture the Seasons)Apple Picking Time (Dragonfly Books)Apples (Celebrate Fall)Apples and PumpkinsOur Apple TreeThe Seasons of Arnold’s Apple TreeAn Apple Tree’s Life Cycle (Explore Life Cycles)
I hope these ideas inspire you to study Johnny Appleseed and apples this fall (or anytime)!
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