Johnny Appleseed Season
Teacher’s Packet
State Standards Included!
Contact Us
Stephanie Dilk, Education Manager
765-287-3528
[email protected]
Minnetrista Cultural Center
1200 North Minnetrista Parkway
Muncie, Indiana 47303-2925
Reservation Line: (765) 213-3549
Fax (765) 741-5110
Visit our website at:
www.minnetrista.net
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Johnny Appleseed Season
Table of Contents
Cover Page................................................Page 1
Contact Us.................................................Page 2
Table of Contents.......................................Page 3
About Minnetrista......................................Page 4
What to Expect on Your Tour...................Page 5
State Standards..........................................Page 6
Background Information...........................Page 7
Pre-visit Activities..............................Pages 8-10
Post-visit Activities...........................Pages 11-13
Bibliography & Teacher Resources…....Page 14
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About Minnetrista
Minnetrista is located along the banks of the White River on a campus of
more than 40 acres. The Ball family purchased most of the land along the
north bank of the White River between Wheeling and Granville pikes in
1893. The name chosen by the family for the property was taken from a
Sioux word, “mna” (pronounced mini) which means “water,” and combined
with the English word, “tryst,” to form “Minnetrista,” or, “a gathering place
by the water.” Eventually the Ball brothers children decided to turn the site
of the Minnetrista home into a center to preserve the culture of the area.
Ground was broken March 14, 1987 and Minnetrista Cultural Center opened
December 10, 1988. George and Frances Ball’s home, Oakhurst, was opened
to the public in 1995 to provide additional educational opportunities.
Minnetrista’s campus now includes eight major buildings, a historic home,
Nature Area, numerous gardens and sculptures and a portion of White River
Greenway.
Mission Statement
Minnetrista creates awareness, understanding and appreciation of the natural
heritage and cultural heritage of East Central Indiana.
Minnetrista is a non-profit, charitable organization governed by a board of
community leaders from seven counties across East Central Indiana.
Our Educational Values
We believe in learning through having fun.
We adapt programs based on the audience needs.
We use teacher responses and feedback to improve our programs.
We encourage active participation.
We strive to deliver accurate, researched information in our programs.
We strive to inspire imagination.
We encourage appreciation for learning.
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What to Expect on the Johnny Appleseed Season Tour
It was said that he traveled the land, often shoeless, wearing a pot on
his head. On this tour, Johnny Appleseed will help students explore the
unique qualities of his favorite fruit tree. Find out how apples are important
from the time the seed is planted to mulching with apple leftovers to help
new trees grow.
The cider is NOT pasteurized so please let us know in advance if
your students will not be able to taste it.
We will rotate your students through several stations. Each station is detailed
in the following description. Students will walk outside to get to each
station. Please make sure your students are dressed for the weather.
MCC Lobby
Introduction
15 minutes
Students will get the opportunity to meet Johnny Appleseed and learn how
important seeds are.
New/Antique Orchard Explore the Orchard
15 minutes
Students will explore their five senses using Minnetrista’s new and antique
orchard. Students will learn how every apple has a different size, shape,
smell, and use.
Orchard Shop
Cider Machines/Video
15 minutes
Students will visit the orchard shop to see the machines Minnetrista staff still
use to press cider. Student will view a video of how this process works.
Orchard Courtyard
Cider Pressing
15 minutes
Students will use a small cider press to make cider which they will taste.
Students will learn the importance of washing produce before consuming.
Wishing Well Lawn
Build a Tree
15 minutes
Students will learn how apple trees grow. Students will explore seeds from
different apples. Students will create a human tree.
MCC Lobby
Conclusion
5 minutes
Students will sum up their learning experience with Johnny Appleseed.
*Please dress appropriately as portions of this tour must be outside.
*Please arrive on time. Those who arrive late may receive a shortened program.
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Johnny Appleseed Season
Tour Standards
Kindergarten
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
K.4.8, K.7.1, K.7.5
K.1.1, K.4.2, K.6.1
K.1.1, K.1.3, K.1.4
1st Grade
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
1.7.1, 1.7.2, 1.7.5, 1.7.10
1.1.1, 1.4.2, 1.4.3, 1.4.4, 1.5.3, 1.6.2
1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.4
2nd Grade
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
2.7.1, 2.7.2, 2.7.7, 2.7.14
2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.6, 2.3.1, 2.3.4, 2.4.1, 2.4.3, 2.4.4,
2.1.1, 2.4.2, 2.4.4
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Background Information
Johnny Appleseed was a man—and a myth. Johnny Appleseed, the myth wore a
pan on his head, gave away trees, and was very poor.
Johnny Appleseed, the man, was born John Chapman on September 26, 1774.
His father fought during the American Revolution. His mother died in childbirth when
he was six—leaving John and a sister. His father remarried and had 10 more children.
John had a strong religious belief and often carried a bible to ask the pioneers,
“Will you have some fresh news right from Heaven?” John Chapman planted apple trees
and sold the seedlings to pioneer families. He envisioned a place covered with trees
where there was no hunger.
Although it is recorded that he often wore odd hats for the time, there is no record
of him ever wearing a pot on his head. He offered his trees to people with no money but
charged 5 cents per sapling to others. When he died of pneumonia in Fort Wayne on
March 18, 1845, he owned or leased at least 22 tracts of land in Ohio and Indiana totaling
about 1200 acres. He owned 2 city lots in Mt. Vernon, Ohio and 3 in Mt. Blanchard,
Ohio. Although John Chapman was in Indiana during the pioneer period, there are no
records indicating that he was in the Muncie area.
In 1917, Rowland Webb—an immigrant from England—became manager and
developer of Minnetrista Orchards. Along with his crew, Webb pressed apples into cider
and sold cider and apples from the sales barn. The sales barn has been converted into our
Orchard Shop. School children who toured the orchard nicknamed Mr. Webb, “The
Johnny Appleseed of Muncie.”
Today, a small plot of the once vast orchard remains on the property behind the
shop. We no longer sell the apples from the orchard. To avoid worms in the apples, it
takes a great deal of pesticide sprays. The trees are also so old they do not produce
enough apples for cider. All our apples are purchased from other orchards. We still
maintain the tradition of pressing apples into cider. The cider is NOT pasteurized.
Please let us know in advance if your students cannot sample this cider.
In spring of 2008 a new apple orchard was planted for purposes of education,
volunteer opportunity, and as a historic-site, which had been used in the past for
monitoring diseases and pest insects. This new orchard consists of several apple varieties
such as Freedom, Enterprise, Goldrush, Liberty, Sansa, Crimsoncrisp, Pixie Crunch,
Pristine, Honey Crisp, Golden Russett, Sheepnose, Sops of Wine, and Snow. These trees
were planted in both dwarf and semi-dwarf size to demonstrate the difference between
trees usually planted in an orchard and those planted in a home landscape.
One important tip on visiting any orchard is that it is not safe to pick fruit from
the ground to eat. This fruit may be contaminated by animal wastes and could contain ecoli bacteria.
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Pre-Visit Activities
Making Applesauce
In a Crockpot, put 8-10 large apples that have been peeled, cored, and sliced.
Add ½ cup water, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1/2c-1c sugar to taste. Cover and
cook on high 3-4 hours. Applesauce can be served either warm or cold.
Enjoy!!
State Standards
Kindergarten
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
K.7.1
K.3.1
K.1.1, K.2.3, K.2.5
1st Grade
Mathematics
Science
1.1.1, 1.1.8
1.2.1
2nd Grade
Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
2.2.8, 2.7.4
2.1.9, 2.1.10
2.5.1
*Some standards listed depend on the details asked for when assigning this project
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Johnny Appleseed Fact or Fiction
Read Johnny Appleseed by Will Moses and The True Tale of Johnny
Appleseed by Margaret Hodges. Compare the two books. Discuss truths
and myths around the books. Discuss “tales” and how they grow and spread.
Compare Johnny Appleseed to the character in The Man who Planted
Trees by Jean Giono. This is the story of a man who planted acorns after
WW1 in France. Discuss the reasons for both of their actions. Write a story
about a person who has done something for other people—include his or her
reasons for doing the good deeds.
State Standards
Kindergarten
Language Arts
Social Studies
1st Grade
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
2nd Grade
Language Arts
Social Studies
K.1.3, K.2.2, K.3.1
K.1.1, K.1.3
1.1.3, 1.5.1, 1.2.3, 1.2.7, 1.3.1, 1.3.4, 1.5.4, 1.6.1, 1.6.2,
1.6.3, 1.6.4, 1.6.5, 1.6.6, 1.6.7, 1.6.8
1.2.7, 1.4.1
1.1.2, 1.1.4, 1.1.10
2.1.6, 2.2.11, 2.2.2, 2.3.1, 2.3.5, 2.3.6, 2.4.1, 2.4.6, 2.4.7,
2.4.8, 2.5.1, 2.5.2, 2.5.5, 2.6.1, 2.6.2, 2.6.4, 2.6.6, 2.6.7,
2.6.8, 2.6.9
2.4.2
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Maps
Use outline maps of the United States to trace Johnny Appleseed’s
journeys from Massachusetts to Indiana.
Use relief maps to help students locate natural barriers to Johnny
Appleseed’s travels west. Talk about ways they would’ve gotten through
those barriers if they were Johnny Appleseed.
State Standards
Kindergarten
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
K.1.21, K.7.3
K.5.1
K.3.1, K.3.2 , K.4.2
1st Grade
Mathematics
Social Studies
1.4.5,
1.3.1, 1.3.2
2nd Grade
Social Studies
2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.3.3
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Post-Visit Teaching Activities
Orchard Maps
Discuss and show different needs for different kinds of maps—maps
of gardens, directional maps, etc. Look over the map of the Minnetrista
Orchard. Discuss the legend and the compass rose as being parts of all
maps. Also notice the scale on the drawing. Graph the different number of
trees grown in the orchard to see which type was most popular here. If
possible, keep information from the tours apple tasting station and graph the
students’ favorite apples. Then, get the most popular apple in the orchard
and the class favorite and do another taste testing and graphing session.
If you have an outdoor lab, create your own map of the garden or lab.
This type of map helps to identify plants later. You could also make a map
of the school yard or the classroom.
State Standards
Kindergarten
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
K.1.21, K.7.3
K.5.1
K.3.1, K.3.2
1st Grade
Social Studies
1.3.7
2nd Grade
History
Language Arts
2.3.1, 2.3.2, 2.3.4, 2.3.5
2.2.7
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Apple Seeds
Place some seeds in a refrigerator and others store at room
temperature for about 2 months. Plant them in small containers in the
classroom. Discuss the scientific method and make a hypothesis of which
seeds will germinate the fastest and with the largest number. (The
refrigerated seeds should germinate first. The cooling for 2 months forces
them into activity.) Graph or journal the results. Keep track of them on a
weekly or daily basis for growth.
Re-iterate that all plants need water, sun, and air to grow. Make a
plan to plant the saplings in the school yard, or donate them to someone.
Explore the interdependence of nature with the apple trees—people and
animals depend on them for food, shelter, and oxygen, and plants on people
for carbon dioxide.
State Standards
Kindergarten
Language Arts
Science
Mathematics
Social Studies
K.7.1
K.1.1, K.1.2
K.1.9,
K.3.5, K.3.7
1st Grade
Science
Social Studies
1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.1.4, 1.2.1, 1.4.4, 1.6.2
1.3.6
2nd Grade
Language Arts
Science
2.2.7
2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.5, 2.1.6, 2.3.1, 2.3.4, 2.3.6, 2.4.1, 2.4.2,
2.4.3, 2.4.4, 2.4.5, 2.5.5, 2.5.6
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Folk Dances
Help students learn folksongs about Johnny Appleseed or other folk
heroes. Teach students folk dances or have them make up their own. To
find folk songs you can use pdmusic.org/folk.html or
tadpole.mytunebook.de/songs/songs.htm.
State Standards
Kindergarten
Language Arts
1st Grade
Science
Language Arts
Social Studies
2nd Grade
Language Arts
K.3.2
1.4.1
1.1.3
2.1.6, 2.2.11
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Bibliography & Teacher Resources
Johnny Appleseed: Man & Myth by Robert Price. Urbana University,
Ohio, 2001. Reprint.
Johnny Appleseed, Orchardist Public Library of Ft. Wayne, Indiana
and Allen County.
Applejuice.org
www.applejuice.org
This site offers information, games, and activities about apple
juice.
Johnny Appleseed and Apples
http://webtech.kennesaw.edu/jcheek3/appleseed.htm
This site is a clearinghouse for awesome Johnny Appleseed and
apple-related web sites.
Steve McPhail, storyteller & high school history teacher
[email protected].
http://www.johnnyappleseed1774.com/index.htm
Steve earned a grant to research Johnny Appleseed. He now
does first person interpretation of Johnny Appleseed for a
variety of groups
KinderArt Teachers Toolkits
http://www.kinderart.com/teachers/johnnyappleseed.shtml
This site has many activity ideas you can use in your classroom.
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