How was the work of Johnny Appleseed an example of philanthropy and what can we do for the common good?

The Service Learning Experience is a group celebration party to which they invite another class. The students share what they have learned in a performance and share some homemade applesauce. Concepts to present include what it means to give their time, talents and their treasures, a recitation about Johnny Appleseed and a reading of the poem, "The Word for Me Is Philanthropy," by Janet Wakefield.

Day One:

• Tell the students that they are going to decorate  invitations for the celebration using apples as printing tools.
• Demonstrate how to make an apple print with paint. The painting station should have plastic trays of paint, newspapers and stationery paper. Choose a cut apple (half or quarter) and blot the excess moisture on the newspaper. Press the side gently in the paint. Press the apple on the stationery to make a print. Allow the paint to dry.

• Brainstorm with the students what should be written in the invitation to another class (what, where, when, who and why).
• Write a single message on the board for all students to copy on their individual invitations. Tell them to use their neatest handwriting. Younger students may glue a teacher-written invitation on their stationery.
• Deliver the invitations to the other class.

• Write the recipe for applesauce on the board. Divide up the responsibilities for counting apples, cleaning apples, measuring sugar, measuring water and adding lemon juice and cinnamon. Other responsibilities may include mashing the cooked apples and serving the applesauce to guests.
• Have the students clean the apples with cold water (no soap necessary).
• Cut the apples into small pieces and put them in the electric frying pans. (Remove the core, but leave the peelings on.)
•  Have students add water, sugar and lemon juice according to the recipe.
• Simmer until the apples are completely soft. Allow apples to cool.
• While the apples cook, practice the following performance pieces for the celebration party: "The Word for Me Is Philanthropy" poem and "Johnny Appleseed Grace." Ask one student or a small group of students to practice reciting the definition of philanthropy: "Philanthropy is the giving or sharing of time, talent or treasure for the common good."
•  Have students mash cooked apples with a wooden spoon and add a dash of cinnamon.
• Let the students taste the applesauce using clean spoons. Discuss the taste-testing with the following questions: Is it sweet enough? Too sweet? Why did we add lemon juice? Why did the apples become mushy? Is this applesauce better than purchased applesauce?
• Put the applesauce in the refrigerator for the celebration party.

• Review the book Johnny Appleseed tht was read to the class in Lesson One.
• With the students, develop several brief sentences that summarize the story in the book to create a Johnny Appleseed Recitation.
• Assign one or two students to read or recite each sentence. Practice with the students who are assigned the sentences. After each sentence is read or recited from memory, have the entire class exclaim "Johnny Appleseed!".
• Practice several times so the students know their sentences well, and the class responds with the exclamation in unison with enthusiasm at the appropriate time.
• Practice the other performance pieces for the celebration party: "The Word for Me Is Philanthropy" poem, "Johnny Appleseed Grace" and reciting the definition of philanthropy.
• Tell the students that they will have guest students sharing their desks with them. Tell them that they will be hosts. Review good manners; how to act while we have "guests" in our room.
• Instruct the students to pass out the applesauce in an orderly and sanitary way.
• Review how to show and tell about their philanthropy pictures (from Lesson One: Johnny Be Good) to their guests.

• Welcome the student guests to the room. Tell the students that they will learn about Johnny Appleseed and philanthropy.
• Have the host students perform the Johnny Appleseed Recitation to familiarize the guests with the life and work of Johnny Appleseed.
• Have the selected students recite the definition of philanthropy.
• Pair up each student "host" with one student "guest." Ask the students to share their drawings of philanthropy with their guests, talk about what it means and give personal examples of philanthropy.
• Have several host students pass out applesauce. Before they eat, the class sings Johnny Appleseed Grace.
• Have the students recite "The Word for Me Is Philanthropy" poem.
• After the guests leave, discuss the student reactions to the celebration/performance. Tell the students to draw and/or write their ideas about how it felt to share time, talent and treasure with the student visitors.

Interactive Parent / Student Homework:

Students take home a copy of the poem, The Word for Me Is Philanthropy (Lesson One: Johnny Be Good, Attachment One). Students recite the poem to their families and discuss what philanthropy means. Encourage students to talk with their families about ways they practice philanthropy.