Johnny Appleseed Day — March 11

I’ve always loved Johhny Appleseed and his story. I’m excited to share this new #Holiday celebrating Johnny Appleseed Day — March 11 #JohnnyAppleseedDay. What do you think of Johnny Appleseed? Why?

Holiday Facts & Fun Tips

• Did you know Johnny Appleseed’s real name was John Chapman, and he was born in 1774?
• Johnny Appleseed traveled barefoot across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois planting apple nurseries.
• Johnny Appleseed was known for kindness, generosity, and living simply.
• Johnny Appleseed apples were mostly used for cider, not snacking. This is a #fact kids love.
• Celebrate by planting seeds, cooking with apples, or doing a nature walk.

Homeschool Lesson Plan (K–6)

Theme: Kindness, Nature, and American Folklore

Subjects Covered: Reading, History, Science, Math, Art

1. Warm‑Up Discussion (10 minutes)

• Who was Johnny Appleseed?
• Why do people plant trees?
• How can one person make a big difference?

2. Reading & Literacy

Younger Kids (K–2):

• Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg
• Johnny Appleseed by Reeve Lindbergh

Older Kids (3–6):

• Seed by Seed: The Legend and Legacy of John “Appleseed” Chapman by Esme Raji Codell
• Compare folklore vs. real history.

Activity: Write a “Kindness Seed”—one sentence about something kind they can do today.

3. Science: Apple Life Cycle

• Parts of an apple
• How seeds germinate
• Why orchards matter

Hands‑On Activity: Cut open an apple, count seeds, draw the life cycle.

4. Math Tie‑In

• Count apple seeds
• Sort apples by color
• Graph favorite apple varieties
• Simple fractions using apple slices

5. Art & Craft

• Make a tin‑pot hat craft
• Fingerprint apple trees
• Create a mini “orchard” diorama with paper tubes

6. Movies & Videos

• Disney’s American Legends: Johnny Appleseed (short)
• Tall Tales & Legends: Johnny Appleseed
• Kid‑friendly orchard tours on YouTube

7. Field Trip Ideas

• Visit a local orchard
• Take a nature walk and identify trees
• Visit a nursery or garden center
• Plant a small apple seed in a cup to take home

Kid‑Friendly Recipes

1. Mini Apple Pies (No‑Fail for Kids)

Ingredients:

• Refrigerated pie crust
• Apple pie filling
• Cinnamon sugar

Steps:

1. Cut circles from pie crust.
2. Spoon filling in the center.
3. Fold, crimp edges, sprinkle cinnamon sugar.
4. Bake at 375°F for 12–15 minutes.

2. Crockpot Applesauce

Ingredients:

• 6 apples, peeled & chopped
• ½ cup water
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp brown sugar (optional)

Steps:

1. Add all ingredients to crockpot.
2. Cook on LOW 4 hours.
3. Mash with a fork.

3. Apple Nachos (Super Easy)

• Slice apples
• Drizzle peanut butter or caramel
• Add granola, raisins, chocolate chips

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates