"It is remarkable how closely the history of the apple tree is connected with that of man." 

From Wild Apples by Henry David Thoreau. 

Download the eBook free at Project Guttenberg.  http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/4066

 

 

This unit is not just about the real-life, and folk, hero Johnny Appleseed.  We started brainstorming the theme of Johnny Appleseed and made connections throughout the disciplines.  It includes a wide range of topics. For additional resources, please see our page on Big Questions.

More resources to be added.

Global Johnny Appleseed Project -  What if every school in the United States - or in the world - planted at least two trees?

Apple, by Anna Fraser has many wonderful links on apples.  Her categories include:  Meet the Tree, Cultivating Apples, The Fruit, Traditional Apple Medicine, Apple Facts and Fun (from Adam’s Apple to Newton’s physics and more),  Traditions & Lore, Children’s Activities and of course, a page of recipes  http://www.the-tree.org.uk/BritishTrees/Apple/apple.htm#Contents

Note:  The following links are temporarily unavailable.  Their web site was vandalized and they have posted a notice that it may take some time to get everything back online.  See http://www.the-tree.org.uk/. 

In the meantime, you can use the following titles or research topics.

 Traditions and Tree Lore Associated with the Apple  -

• The symbolism of the Apple
• Apples as the food of the Gods
• Avalon, the magic apple-land 
• The Irish Land of Youth 
• Hercules and the Apples of immortality 
• The tree of paradise and the serpent 
• The lesson of the Apple tree 
• Eve and Adam eat the fruit of life 
• Mrs. Wholesome and the Apple orchard – a fairy tale 
• The golden Apple which caused the Trojan war
• Snow-white and the poisoned Apple 
• Snow-white as metaphor for the Apple blossom 
• The sacred fruit of the Goddess 
• Halloween, the Apple festival 
• The mystery of the Mistletoe 
• Wassailing 
• The Story of Johnny Appleseed 

 http://www.the-tree.org.uk/BritishTrees/Apple/apple10.htm#The%20symbolism%20of%20the%20Apple

Apple Activities for Children (and grownups!)-  making an apple doll, carving apple stamps, making an apple puzzle, growing apple pips, apple games, apple bobbing, apples-on-a-string, passing the apple, making an orchard mural. 

Note:  If you plan to have your class plant apple seeds when school begins:

If your apple seed has not been through a cold period, the pips may not germinate. You can remedy this by putting the seeds in the fridge for 6-8 weeks to simulate winter. The best way to do this is by putting the seeds in some damp sand or peat-moss (not too wet or the seeds may rot) in a plastic bag. Often the Apples you get have been in cold storage and that might be sufficient to make the seeds think they've been through the winter.  http://www.the-tree.org.uk/BritishTrees/Apple/apple9.htm