JOHNNY APPLESEED AND WESTWARD EXPANSION
KATE O'NEILL
Grade Level: 1-3
Time: 45 minutes - 1 hour
Theme
Location, Migration
Purpose
In our work on westward expansion we study why and how people moved across the country in the pioneer days. This is an extension of that idea using the story of Johnny Appleseed.
Objectives
- Students will locate natural barriers to westward expansion, and find the best route and the route taken by Johnny Appleseed.
- Students will identify things they would need to make the trip and compare it with Johnny Appleseed's baggage.
Materials
- Johnny Appleseed, by Stephen Kellogg
- relief map of the United States without states or cities on it
- individual blank maps
- markers
- crayons
Procedures
- Read book "Johnny Appleseed."
- Discuss why the people wanted to move west; i.e., they needed more room, they wanted more land, adventure, etc.
- On a relief map have students locate the natural barriers and try and figure out how to get past them.
- In groups plot Johnny Appleseed's trip and also the easiest way to get from Massachusetts to Ohio.
- With different color markers have each group plot their route on the wall map and tell why they went that way.
- Fold a piece of paper in half; on one half draw the things Johnny took with him and on the other half draw what a family would need to make the same trip.
Evaluation
Students will be able to show they understand what the trip would entail by showing in pictures what they would bring. They also will be able to explain how Johnny Appleseed was able to get along with so little.