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Did you know there was a Johnny Appleseed Day? Johnny Appleseed is the nickname given to John Chapman, a man who spread apple trees across the U.S. The day is celebrated on September 26th (John Chapman’s birthday) and also on March 11th. People celebrate in March to kick off apple planting season. Whether you celebrate apples in the fall or spring, this Johnny Appleseed Craft is a great activity to pair with stories and lessons!
John Chapman became a legend during his own lifetime and was widely known for his conservation efforts, specifically when it came to apple trees. He was a missionary and is considered by many to be one of the first American conservationists. He helped spread apple tree growth across the U.S., mainly in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
I celebrate with my kids to share how important it is to grow more plants in our communities. This stretches beyond apples of course, but it makes for a fun story that the kids really enjoy. We like to read Johnny Appleseed by Lori Haskins Houran. HERE is a video you can play of it online.
We also talk about why the craft has a tin pan on its head. The legend of Johnny Appleseed states that he wore a tin pan on his head and walked around in thread-bare clothing and bare feet. All of this is true, except that the tin pan was actually a tin hat that he also used for cooking his food. Pretty interesting!
You can use the Johnny Appleseed Craft all year long. I prefer to use it in the fall when we learn about the life cycle of apples. It makes for a great study on the letter a (for apple) or j (for Johnny). Once all of the crafts are complete, the bulletin board always looks so festive and colorful. Just in time for fall.
The craft comes with a photo of the completed craft, step by step instructions to complete the craft and easy to use templates. One version of the template allows you to print right onto colored cardstock or construction paper. You can xerox the other template onto white cardstock. An adult can cut them out and students can trace their own pieces.
If you use Johnny Appleseed on your bulletin board, you can make it say “Pickin’ Apples with Johnny Appleseed”. Then, display the crafts with a butcher paper apple tree or my Apple Tree Craft.
You can also pair the craft with a writing piece. Students can research Johnny Appleseed or apples and write about them. Students can write their opinion about Johnny or about apples. Lined paper is the only thing you will need!
Grab the craft HERE. Hoping to find some other apple crafts to do with your kiddos this fall? This Apple Crafts Bundle is a great pack to grab to keep everyone entertained and engaged this year. The pack features:
Enjoy your fall!!
Former preschool teacher turned business owner that now creates educational resources for teachers in the classroom, homeschool, and daycare setting.
Hi, I’m Laura and I am the creator of Crafty Bee Creations. I am a former preschool teacher turned business owner that now creates educational resources for teachers in the classroom, homeschool, and daycare setting. I have a passion for designing craft resources that are not only fun and engaging but work children’s fine motor skills too!
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