Exploring Pumpkins

Carve pumpkins and explore the inside and outside of the pumpkin pointing out the different parts (stem, seeds, pulp, skin, meat, ribs, etc).

Pumpkin History

Read a book or talk about the history and uses of the pumpkin. Discuss how people compete to grow big pumpkins. The largest pumpkin ever grown was from seeds of the Dill's Atlantic Giant variety. It was 1,458 lbs. and grown by Bruce Whittier from Henniker, NH.

Roasting Pumpkin Seeds

Salt seeds, spread on a cookie sheet and bake 45 min. at 300°.

Five Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate, (hold hands up)

The first one said "oh my its getting late," (hands on cheeks)
The second one said "there's a chill in the air," (hug self)
The third one said "but we don't care," (shrug)
The fourth one said "we're ready for some fun," (jump)
The fifth one said "lets run, run, run," (run in place)
So woo went the wind, and out went the lights, (wave hands and clap)
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight (sit down).

Pumpkin Patch Trip

Visit a Pumpkin Patch and let the children observe how pumpkins grow and the many shapes and sizes of pumpkins there are. If possible, let each child pick out and purchase a pumpkin.

Pumpkin Muffins

1 package yellow cake mix
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves.

Mix ingredients together and scoop into a greased muffin tin. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 350°.

Pumpkin Face

Take a paper plate and color a face on it with crayons. Paint over it with orange paint. Once it's dry, hang it with green yarn.

Pumpkin Puzzle

Clean out a real pumpkin and then cut various shapes out of the pumpkin to make a real pumpkin puzzle. Let the children explore taking the pumpkin apart and putting it back together again.

Pumpkin Toss

Take a few pumpkins, varying in size, and line them up. Give the kids some sort of ring that will fit over each pumpkin; such as a hula hoop, an embroidery hoop, or metal rings. Have the children take turns trying to toss the hoops over the pumpkins.

Pumpkins Sensory

Place in the sensory table: pumpkin seeds & measuring cups, insides of the pumpkin or straw and small rakes.

Pumpkins Journal Page

Read a book about pumpkins then hand out a journal sheet with this question on it: "If you had a pumpkin, what would you do with it?" Record the children's responses and let them draw a picture to go along with their response.

Click on the image to view and/or print.

Pretending Pumpkins

Create a pumpkin patch in your dramatic play area. Set out pumpkins (real or artificial), hay, wagons, etc. You can also create a store area where children can pretend to by the pumpkins they picked out from the pumpkin patch play area.

Pumpkin Seed Count

Make paper or plastic pumpkins with different numbers on them. Have the kids count pumpkin seeds and place them on the pumpkin with the correct number on it.

Pumpkins Lesson Plan

Click on the image to view and/or print.