Johnny Appleseed
Did you know Johnny Appleseed was a real person? His name was John Chapman and he was instrumental in planting apple trees everywhere he traveled with out country first began. He is also know for being generous and a good citizen to his neighbors. Fall is a great time to to read some books about Johnny Appleseed. Learning about Johnny Appleseed is also a great topic for introducing main idea and supporting details.
The main idea is what the text is mainly about. Think, what is it the author is trying to tell me in this book. Good readers determine the main idea by looking for details in the text. After deciding on the main idea, think about what the supporting details are. Supporting detail are sentences or illustrations in the text that support or tell more about the main idea.
After reading books about Johnny Appleseed, create this craft activity of the pioneer himself. Johnny Appleseed traveled around planting apple seeds. These grew into seedling, or small trees. As settlers traveled west across America, they were required to plant fruit trees. So, Johnny Appleseed was able to take the seedlings he planted and sell them to settlers. As a part of his good nature, he helped those out who did not have enough money to purchase a seedling. He often walked around with a pot on his head, planting and selling his seedlings.
Begin by printing out the template. You can print on the correct color papers or print and trace on construction paper.
Trace or print the pot on gray paper, you can also have your child color it also
I traced the apples by tracing the pattern on the 3 colors of apple paper. I stapled the red, yellow and green sheet of papers together and then traced the apple. After, I was able to cut all three out at once. This may be a difficult task for your child, but try to see if they are successful. I always say work smarter, not harder.
Make work easier by tracing and cutting all three apples out at the same time.
Use a scrap piece of brown paper to cut strips of hair. Glue them to the pot and then flip and glue this onto the circle face.
Create hair by cutting strips of paper under the pot.
Use a black marker to draw eyes and a mouth onto the face.
Last, glue the three apples onto the pot. Then have your child write the main idea and supporting details on each apple.
Write main idea and supporting details on the apples.
