Here are resources for studying Johnny Appleseed. I find that we revisit this story frequently in the fall as we’re getting ready to go apple picking. The story of Johnny Appleseed and its various legends is a beloved story for my children. Afterall, who doesn’t love a good adventure story? Use this to start your own unit study, or simply as a mini lesson into the life of this exciting pioneer.
Background
Johnny Appleseed, who was born as John Chapman (September 26, 1774–March 18, 1845), was an American pioneer who became known for his generous and kind ways. He introduced the apple to large parts of Ohio, Illinois and Indiana.
Johnny Appleseed headed west in 1792. The popular image is of him randomly planting apple seeds as he went along. In reality, he planted nurseries and built fences around the nurseries to protect them from wild animals and to designate the property as ‘owned’. He left the nurseries in care of managers and came back every few years to collect monies and tend to nursery.
He sold on credit, which was a common business practice back then but when the notes became due, he never pressed for payment. He apparently was very generous, giving away much of what he earned. Despite this, he still left his sister an estate worth millions at his death. (Which means it would likely be worth billions now if it were still around.)
Books to Read
Johnny Appleseed (a picture book)
Johnny Appleseed (a beginning reading story)
How do Apples Grow? A Let’s Read and Find Out Science Book
DVDs
Useful Websites
Whenever you study a person in history, it is helpful to know what else was going on at that time. Here are a few resources to help you and your child put the piece of the puzzle together.
The History Place (a good reference site for parents on the Revolutionary War)
Pocantico Hills (a good reference site for kids)
Related Articles:
Teaching “Today in History” Lessons
Current Event Discussion Topics
Digging for Historic Truth on the History Channel