1.
What is an apple?
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Pollination process
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Bees
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Seeds
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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?
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Horticulture and Botany
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Orchards and organic orcharding
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Pomology (the science of fruits; a treatise on
fruit; the cultivation of fruits and fruit trees.)
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Processing and packing
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Transportation
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Supermarkets
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Marketing (media literacy, economics, communications)
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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, archeological 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.
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Climate and weather
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Global warming
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Carbon footprinting
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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?
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Greek, Roman, Egyptian mythology
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Celebrations - blossom festivals, harvest festivals,
Johnny Appleseed festivals
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Halloween
7.
What service learning projects can be developed in this
Johnny Appleseed unit?
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Take political/community action to establish a park,
save a tree, preserve an historical site, change or
create a law.
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Plant trees
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Oral history project
8.
How do apples contribute to the economy in the United States
and elsewhere?
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Economics
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marketing and advertising
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Stock market
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Careers
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Statistics, Weights and Measurements
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Consumer protection
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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.
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Pesticides
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Pest and disease life cycles
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Carbon footprinting
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Biodiversity
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Genomics
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Biotechnology
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Evolution
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Laws and research organizations related to foods,
agriculture and the environment (local to global)
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EPA - Environment Protection Agency
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FDA - Food and Drug Administration
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USDA - United States Department of Agriculture
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HistoricTrees.org
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USDA Forest Service
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Orchards - in the US and around the world
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Fruit growers associations
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NEDI - National Environmental Data Index
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Alternative fuels
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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:
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FAO - Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United
Nations - Statistics Division - Food Security Statistics
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Plant a tree or plant an orchard
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Plant a garden, cook and eat the vegetables, or donate
to a local shelter
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Hold a festival to learn, have fun and raise money