"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