Lesson Plan for a Novel

Since I teach first grade, this is a lesson I would teach for the level of my students. When reading "Johnny Appleseed", I start with reading the book to the students, since this would be too difficult for most first graders to read independently at the beginning of the year. I bring in other books about Johnny Appleseed written by different authors. We discuss similarities and differences in the books and determine what things about Johnny were true and what things were added to the story. With a partner, students do an interactive writing. Along with a picture, they write about the thing they like most or are impressed by in the story of Johnny Appleseed. These are presented to the rest of the class the next day. We tie in art by making Johnny Appleseed puppets to be used in our puppet theatre in an informal fashion. The lesson ties in with geography as we look at the states he traveled on our carpet, which has a huge map of the United States on it. Because Johnny lived off the land with basically the shirt on his back, a pan on his head, and no shoes (according to some versions), I let the students take their shoes off and walk on the gravel playground and the grass on the schoolyard to feel how it may have felt for Johnny when he was barefoot with the bare neccessities. To go along with our Science unit on plants (which we study during this time of year) we discuss the importance of planting trees and plant apple seeds in containers to grow in our classroom. Finally, each student brings a peeled and cored apple on Johnny Appleseed Day and we make applesauce. While the students enjoy eating their applesauce, they watch another version (on video) of the infamous Johnny Appleseed.