Johnny Appleseed - Big Questions to Guide 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: 

By the way, I'm just getting started!

What is an apple?

Why is New York City called the Big Apple?

Who was Johnny Appleseed, and why is he important today?

 

 

 

1.      What is an apple?

a.       Pollination process

b.      Bees

c.       Seeds

d.      Chemical composition

 

Where does our food come from?  This is equally applicable to secondary as well as elementary students.  Most just think grocery store. But where did it originate, and how did it get there?

a.   Horticulture and Botany

b.      Orchards and Organic Orcharding

c.       Pomology (The science of fruits; a treatise on fruits; the cultivation of fruits and fruit trees.)

d.      Processing and packing

e.       Transportation

f.        Supermarkets

g.       Marketing (media literacy)

h.       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? 

a.       This can include prehistoric archeological findings, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, ancient Egypt, ancient China, early American history, Civil War era, immigration, 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.

a.       Climate and weather

b.      Global warming

c.       Carbon-footprinting

d.       

 

5.      What are the connections between apples and health/nutrition (this can 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?

a.       Greek, Roman, Egyptian mythology

b.      Celebrations – blossom festivals, harvest festivals, Johnny Appleseed festivals

c.       Halloween - 

 

7.      What service-learning projects can be developed in this Johnny Appleseed unit?

a.       Take political/community action to establish a park, save a tree, preserve an historical site change or create a law.

b.      Plant trees

c.       Oral History Project (multimedia)

 

8.      How do apples contribute to the economy in the United States and elsewhere?

 a.       Economics

b.      Marketing and Advertising

c.       Stock market

d.      Careers

e.       Statistics, Weights and Measurements,

f.        Consumer Protection

g.       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.

a.       Pesticides

b.      Pest and Disease Life Cycles

c.       Carbon Footprinting

d.      Biodiversity

e.       Genomics

f.        Biotechnology

g.       Evolution

h.       Laws and research organizations related to foods, agriculture and the environment. (from local to global)

                                                   i.      EPA – Environmental Protection Agency

                                                 ii.      FDA – Food and Drug Administration

                                                iii.      USDA  - United States Department of Agriculture

                                               iv.      HistoricTrees.org

                                                 v.      USDA Forest Service

                                               vi.      Orchards – in the U.S. and around the world

                                              vii.      Fruit growers associations

                                            viii.      NEDI – National Environmental Data Index

i.         Alternative Fuels

j.         More to come . . .

 

10.  Examine current social issues related to hunger, poverty, and the environment.  Remember Johnny Appleseed’s dream was to plant enough apple trees to ensure that no one would ever go hungry.  Some possible idea-starters and resources are:

 

a.       FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – Statistics Division – Food Security Statistics  

b.      Global Johnny Appleseed Project -  what if every school in the nation, or in the world, planted at least two trees?

c.       Plant a Tree, or Plant an Orchard

d.      Plant a garden, cook and eat the vegetables, or donate to a local shelter

e.       Hold a festival to learn, have fun and raise money

                                                   i.      Johnny Appleseed Festival

                                                 ii.      Harvest Festival

                                                iii.      Halloween Festival

 

More to come . . . .