The Mom I Want to Be

Johnny Appleseed Day honors one of America’s great legends. Johnny Appleseed was a real person. John Chapman was among the American settlers who were captivated by the movement west across the continent. As Johnny Appleseed travelled west, he planted apple trees along the way, and sold trees to settlers. With every apple tree that was planted, the legend grew.

 

John Chapman (aka Johnny Appleseed) was born on September 26, 1774.

He was a nurseryman who started out planting trees in western New York and Pennsylvania.

During the life of John Chapman, the “West” was places like Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois.

John Chapman was a deeply religious person He was known to preach during his travels.

According to legend, Johnny Appleseed led a simple life and wanted little. He rarely accepted money and often donated any money he received.

It is believed that he died on March 11, 1845, from what was referred to as the “winter plague”. The actual date of his death has been disputed.

There is a lot of “legend” in stories written about Johnny Appleseed. By it’s definition, over the years, legends grow bigger than life. It also appears that there is some link between Johnny Appleseed and very early Arbor Day celebrations.

 

Celebrate today with an apple rich menu. Include fresh apples for snacks, and some applesauce (make your own!) or apple pie for dessert. And, make plans to plant an apple tree.

 

Draw a picture of Johnny Appleseed.

Make red collages.

Use apple halves to stamp paint apple prints.

Make birthday cards for Johnny Appleseed and hang them around the room.

Learn more about who Johnny Appleseed was.

Take a field trip to an apple orchard.

Learn about the color red.

Check out different varieties of apples. Taste the apples and tell which ones you like best.

Learn about different products made from apples.

Make Home-Made Applesauce

Make an apple shaped suncatcher, or another apple craft.

 

Apple Paperweight

 

Recycled 20oz soda bottle

Red tissue paper – 1 sheet

Small amount green tissue paper

Mod Podge (I used gloss finish)

1″ sponge applicator

Sand

Plastic sandwich baggie

1 1/2″ x 3″ craft paper

Scotch tape

Glue stick

Craft knife

Using a craft knife, cut the bottom 2 1/2″ off of an empty clean 20oz soda bottle.  This part is an adults job.  Once cut, dry the inside of this bottom section completely.  You will not need the top portion for this project. If you are using a Ziploc bag, cut the Ziploc portion off and discard it.  Place the sandwich bag into the soda bottle then fill the bag with sand until the sand is even with the top of the bottle. Rub the glue stick across one of the 1 1/2″ ends of the craft paper and roll the other end toward and right on top of the end with the glue on it forming a small tube.  This will be your stem. Cut a leaf shape approximately 2″ long out of green tissue paper. Apply Mod Podge to both sides of the tissue paper leaf and using the Mod Podge as glue, attach the leaf to the stem only at the bottom 1/2″ of both the stem and leaf.  While still wet, bend the leaf backwards a bit into a more natural leaf position. Stick the bottom of the stem/leaf into the sand. Fold down the rest of the plastic bag to cover the sand going around the stem and tape in place with a piece of Scotch tape.  If necessary, cut off any excess plastic baggie. Cut some strips 1 1/2″ x 5″ from red tissue paper. Apply Mod Podge to one side of a tissue strip using the foam applicator then lay the strip on your bottle bottom filled with sand.  Continue applying tissue strips in this manner until you have completely covered the bottle going right over the top (where the baggie filled with sand is) and being careful to go around the stem and leaf.  Apply two layers of red tissue to your apple. Finally, completely cover the apple with a coat of Mod Podge using the foam applicator.