Johnny Appleseed 

by Reeve Lindbergh

Week 6: Historical Fiction 

Even though some consider "Johnny Appleseed" just folklore, it is also historical fiction.  Johnny Appleseed was a real person.  His name was John Chapman and he planted many apple orchards along America's Western Frontier.  Even though the children's books have altered his story to be more like a folktale,  educators can still use his books for a historical lesson. 

 

         

I chose this version of the "Johnny Appleseed" story because it is written like a poem.  Books with rhyming poems help students with phonemic awareness. This illustrations are also really fun and pretty to look at.  It goes through the story of how Johnny Appleseed planted many apple trees across the United States. 

Many school across the United States, Pre-K thru First Grade, celebrate Johnny Appleseed's birthday.  We dedicate that whole week to activities with apples.  We do crafts where students learn the different parts of an apple,  we have an apple tasting to see what color apple students like the best, we do a writing assignment about Johnny Appleseed, and we make applesauce.  It makes the whole school smell wonderful.  There are so many fun and engaging lessons that can be done during this week and we look forward to it every year.