Making apple hats was just one of the fun aspects of the kindergartners’ Apple Feast at Heritage Elementary School. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Classroom lessons recently took a delicious, seasonal turn for kindergartners at Heritage Elementary School.

“This week, we learned about Johnny Appleseed and how he introduced apples through the planting of trees,” kindergarten teacher Tracee Matice said. Matice led her fellow kindergarten teachers in their annual Apple Feast for kindergartners’ families.

Kindergarten classes compiled a list of nutritional foods, either apples or items containing apples, that follow Madison City Schools’ nutritional guidelines.

“Each parent was asked to send in individually-wrapped items to share with the entire kindergarten and their families,” Matice said. “A permission slip was required for the students to participate in the feast.”

On Sept. 25, the kindergarten students, teachers and families finalized the unit on apples by dressing up like Johnny Appleseed and celebrating their Apple Feast. They played ‘apple games,’ sang songs about apples, make apple art projects, and, of course, gobbled down their apple snacks.

“We tried to create a fun, positive experience with fellowship for students, parents and teachers to enjoy,” Matice said. “Bringing people together has always been an important strategy in learning about others and learning how to be social.”

Heritage’s kindergarten teachers also hope their students learned and incorporated the values that Johnny Appleseed demonstrated. “Johnny Appleseed proved to be kind, generous and helpful,” Matice said.

In Matice’s class, kindergartner Grace Hill said, “I’m going to tell my mom about the Apple Feast. ‘It’s going to be fun.'” Maggie Kelley in Elizabeth Cook’s class said, “I think we’re going to eat apple sauce and apples, and it’s going to be fun.”

Caleb Handley, a student in Amanda Welch’s class, said, “I think we’re going to eat a lot of apples”.

“I’m going to tell my mom it’s great,” Kaleigh Soto in Erica Steele class said. Sara Kate Browder, Amber Clemons’ student, said, “It’s perfect.”