Come and Learn About the Wonderful World of Apples with…

Johnny Appleseed!

 

This topic page was created by Lindsey Hensley and Rebekah Shaver

for 3rd grade to use during the study of tall tales.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.  What, you don’t know about Johnny Appleseed?  Click here to read a story about Johnny and his life.

 

 

 

2.  Do you know the history of the apples?  You may be surprised.

 

 

3.  There are so many different kinds of apples!  Visit this website to learn about all the different varieties of apples.

 

 

4.  So many good things to eat are made with apples.  Here you can find apple recipes just for kids.

 

 

5. Time to have fun!  Play find the hidden pictures with Johnny Appleseed.

 

 

 

6.  Do you like to do crossword puzzles?  Here’s a crossword puzzle you can do about Johnny Appleseed.

 

 

 

 

7.  Let’s see what the student’s in this 2nd grade classroom learned about the legendary character in American history, Johnny Appleseed.

 

 

 

 

8.  Go to the arcade and help the Juice Moose catch the falling apples in the orchard.

 

 

 

9.  See if you can make it through the apple maze.

 

 

 

10.  Okay, it’s time to see how much that you know about apples now.  Go ahead and test your knowledge with Apple Trivia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Activities

 

Activity 1: Where did Johnny Appleseed Go?

1.  Grade Level

 

 

 

This activity is recommended for 3rd grade along with the study of tall tales.

2.  Approximate Time of Activity

 

45-60 minutes

3.  Integrating Subject Areas

 

 

Students will integrate Social Studies and Math Skills in this activity.  Using critical mathematical skills such as sequencing and order.  Students will also need some prior knowledge of map skills.

4. Rationale for this Activity

This activity is valuable because it requires students to activate prior knowledge from a variety of subject areas.

5.  NC Standard Course of Study Objectives

Competency Goal 9:  The learner will apply geographic themes to communities.

9.1: Know absolute and/or relative locations of the local and other communities.

9.4: Apply concepts of movement that link the local and other communities.

9.5: Distinguish the local region from other regions of which it is part.

6.  Activity Sequence

     1. After listening to the story of Johnny Appleseed, the teacher will display a United States Map.

    

     2. Students will then be asked to identify the states in which Johnny Appleseed planted seeds, in order from 1st to last. A numbered sticker should mark each visit.  Students will have their own print out of the United States map.

 

     3.  Students may work individually or in cooperative learning groups.

  

     4.  Students will develop a plan to plant apple orchards in every state that Johnny did not visit.

 

7.  Assessment Criteria

Students must display correct sequence of events and have a well-developed plan that the teacher will hear by way of author’s chair.

 

 

 

Activity 2:  Planting Our Apple Seeds

1. Grade Level

This activity is designed for 3rd grade students.

2. Approximate Time of Activity

1 hour

3. Integrating Subject Areas

Students will integrate Science and Mathematical Skills.

4. Rationale for this activity

This activity gives students an understanding of plants and seeds while exploring apples.  Students will also activate their prior knowledge of graphs.

5.  NC Standard Course of Study Objectives

Math:

Competency Goal 4: The learner will demonstrate an understanding of data collection, display, and interpretation.

4.01: Gather and organize data from classroom experiment.

4.02: Display data on charts and graphs: picture, bar and line plots.

4.04: Read and interpret graphs and charts as sources of information; identify main idea, draw conclusions and make predictions.

 

Science:

Competency Goal 1: The learner will build an understanding of plant growth and adaptations.

1.01: Determine that the quantities and qualities of nutrients, light, and water in the environment affect plant growth.

1.05: Determine that the number of seeds a plant can produce depends on variables such as light, water, nutrients and degree of pollination.

6.  Activity Sequence

1. Prior to activity students will have been asked to bring in a variety of apples ;( Granny Smith, Red Delicious, and Macintosh, etc.)

2. On charts labeled with the different apples students will use their 5 senses to identify similarities and differences.

3. Develop a class bar graph of each student’s favorite type of apple.

4.  Students will plant their seeds and throughout time record the changes they see in the plant growth.

7. Assessment Criteria

Students display their knowledge of graphing skills, compare and contrast, and record keeping.  Teacher observation is one way to assess student understanding as well as grading student work by use of teacher-developed rubric.

 

 

 

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