A September to remember: Johnny Appleseed

On September 25, 2025, Fredonia El­ementary School cel­ebrated Johnny Ap­pleseed Day, bringing together students from Kindergarten through Second Grade for a day of creative learn­ing that honored the legacy of the American folk hero known for planting apple seeds and spreading kindness.

Fredonia Kindergarteners work on their pin prick apple craft after learning about Johnny Appleseed. Photo courtesy of Fredonia-Moccasin USD.

The day began with Mrs. Crookston, the kindergarten teacher, who read a story about Johnny Appleseed. The read aloud introduced students to his simple and meaningful life, setting the stage for a day filled with hands on, purposeful activi­ties centered around apples.

While Mrs. Crookston worked with the kindergar­ten students on two art-based tasks - a pin prick apple craft and a colorful apple sun catcher - Mrs. Ihong, the first and second grade teacher, guided her students through a different activity. They colored, cut and assembled the parts of an apple, strengthening their fine motor skills while learning about the structure of apples. Students then described their apples and wrote complete sentences using writ­ing lines to practice grammar and compo­sition.

After the first round of activities, the teach­ers switched groups. Kindergarten students joined Mrs. Ihong to complete the apple parts and sentence tracing task, while the first and second graders visited Mrs. Crookston to create their pin prick apples and sun catchers. This rotation allowed every student to enjoy the full range of apple-themed lessons.

Through this thoughtful collabora­tion, students prac­ticed fine motor coor­dination, early writing skills and descriptive language - all within the joyful context of a thematic celebra­tion. The activities were both fun and educational, support­ing developmentally appropriate learning in every classroom.

Fredonia Elemen­tary School is proud to offer events that blend tradition, cre­ativity and academic growth. Johnny Ap­pleseed Day reminded students that learning can be meaningful and memorable when we combine storytell­ing, exploration and a spirit of community.