20 Hands-on Preschool Activities for Johnny Appleseed Day

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Johnny Appleseed Day is celebrated on either March 11 or September 26. These hands-on activities will help you and your preschoolers join in the fun!

Some prefer to celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day in March due it being the time we actually plant seeds. Others prefer the September date, because that’s Johnny Appleseed’s birthday.

These activities also work perfectly with your apple preschool theme!

Johnny Appleseed Day is celebrated on either March 11 or September 26. These hands-on activities will help you and your preschoolers join in the fun!

Whether you celebrate in March or September, your kids will love celebrating with these hands-on Johnny Appleseed activities that celebrate Johnny Appleseed himself, apple seeds, apples, and apple trees.

Activities for Johnny Appleseed Day

This collection of activities features crafts, pretend play activities, finger plays, and much more. Try one, or try them all. Your preschoolers will love them all!

Repurpose an old loofah by turning it into a stamp. Kids will love using it to make loofah-stamped apples. Artsy Momma

This traced hand fingerprint apple tree combines handprint and fingerprint crafts into one creative idea. Fun Handprint Blog

Gather your kids in the kitchen to whip up a batch of red velvet apple cupcakes! Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas

Your preschoolers will love pretending to visit the apple orchard. Or, you can set up this apple orchard dramatic play area so kids can recreate a recent visit. Pre-K Pages

As you and your preschoolers munch on apples, save the seeds. Then use them to make an “A is for Apple” seed craft. I Can Teach My Child

Share this fun apple science experiment with your preschoolers to teach them what keeps apples from turning brown. Teach Beside Me

Using twigs gathered on a nature walk and apple-shaped post it notes or cutouts, little ones can enjoy a little indoor apple picking. Inner Child Fun

Slice some apples and have your little ones make homemade bird feeders with them. Then, hang them in a nearby tree to see what birds come visit. Natural Beach Living

Using free printable templates, you can create a felt apple life cycle for your kids to use as they explore seeds, apples, and apple trees. Mama’s Happy Hive

You won’t believe how easy it is to make a Johnny Appleseed felt apple pie to add to your pretend play area. Surviving a Teacher’s Salary

Kids can decorate these DIY apple-printed lunch bags. Then, they can take home all of their Johnny Appleseed crafts and activities in style. Inner Child Fun

Scroll about halfway down this page to see how easy it is to create a fun Johnny Appleseed costume. 2304 Miles

Turn a cardboard tube into a stamp, and your kids can make some paper roll apple stamp art. The OT Toolbox

This free template will help your preschoolers make a fun paper plate Johnny Appleseed craft. Lesson Plan Diva

A handprint trunk and a paper plate top come together to make this fun apple tree kids craft. A Night Owl Blog

I love this cute popsicle stick apple core kid craft. It’s super simple to make, and it’ll make a great addition to your apple-themed lessons. Glued to My Crafts

Preschoolers will surely remember how apples grow when they make and wear this fun apple life cycle hat. The Stem Laboratory

Print out the free pattern, and your kids will be all set to make a Johnny Appleseed craft! Hensons First Grade

This step by step tutorial makes it easy to draw Johnny Appleseed on a colorful background. Teacher Bits and Bobs

Books About Johnny Appleseed

Fill your book basket with a great collection of books about Johnny Appleseed. Most of these books can be found at your local library or used bookstore.

If you have a hard time finding them, you can order them through my Amazon affiliate links by clicking the images below.

Seed by Seed: The Legend and Legacy of John “Appleseed” Chapman – With one small seed every day, what good will you plant in the world? Johnny Appleseed—an American folk hero—changed our nation seed by seed, deed by deed.

Johnny Appleseed – This beautifully illustrated retelling shows how Johnny Appleseed bloomed from a young boy who loved the outdoors into the legendary man who spread apple trees all across the United States. Showing small acts of generosity and the love of nature can make a big difference, this book is sure to inspire the budding little Johnny Appleseed in every reader.

My Little Golden Book About Johnny Appleseed – In this simple yet lively book, preschoolers will be introduced to John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. Lyrical text and bright, appealing artwork capture the essence of this important American.