Pumpkins

Finger Plays

This Little Pumpkin
This little pumpkin was small and round.
This little pumpkin sat on the ground.
This little pumpkin was short and fat.
This little pumpkin wore a silly hat.
This little pumpkin had a grin so keen.
This little pumpkin said, "Happy Halloween!"

Five Little Pumpkins
Five little pumpkins were sitting on the ground.
The first little pumpkin was short and round,
The second little pumpkin was happy to be
found.
The third little pumpkin had a curly vine,
The fourth little pumpkin liked sunshine.
The fifth little pumpkin grew so quick,
Now all five pumpkins are ready to be picked.

Pumpkin, Pumpkin
Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Sitting on the wall,
Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Tip and fall.
Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Rolling down the street,
Pumpkin, pumpkin,
Trick-or-treat!

Little Pumpkin
I’m a little pumpkin orange and round,
When I’m sad, my face wears a frown.
But when I am happy and all aglow,
Watch my smile just grow and grow!

Music
The Pumpkins Are Here
[Tune: "Farmer in the Dell"]
The pumpkins are here; the pumpkins are there.
The pumpkins, the pumpkins are everywhere.
The pumpkins are up; the pumpkins are down.
The pumpkins, the pumpkins are all around
The pumpkins are in; the pumpkins are out.
The pumpkins, the pumpkins are all about.
The pumpkins are low; the pumpkins are high.
The pumpkins, the pumpkins all say, “Goodbye.”

Mr. Pumpkin
[Tune: “Frere Jacques”]
Mr. Pumpkin, Mr. Pumpkin,
Eyes so round, eyes so round.
Halloween is coming,
Halloween is coming,
To my town, to my town.

Where is Mr. Pumpkin?
[Tune: "Way Down Yonder in the Paw Paw
Patch"]
Where, oh where, is Mr. Pumpkin?
Where, oh where, is Mr. Pumpkin?
Where, oh where, is Mr. Pumpkin?
Where, oh where, is Mr. Pumpkin?
Way down yonder in the Pumpkin Patch!

Language and Literacy

Pumpkin Growth Books

PA ELS: EL 1.6 Communicate ideas, experiences and feeling for a variety of purposes

PA ELS: L 1.5 Use different forms of writing such as drawing, letter-like forms, invented spelling and conventional forms

After reading a book about how a pumpkin grows, discuss with children the sequence of pumpkin growth. If possible, show children examples of seeds, vines, green pumpkins and fully-grown pumpkins. Make a small pumpkin book for each child. On the first page, child draws a picture of the pumpkin seeds, on the next page draws the vine, then the green pumpkin and on the last page draws an orange pumpkin. (Book can be made as a shape book with covers and paper cut into pumpkin shape.)

Chart Story

PA ELS: EL 1.6 Communicate ideas, experiences and feeling for a variety of purposes

PA ELS: L 1.5 Use different forms of writing such as drawing, letter-like forms, invented spelling and conventional forms

After a field trip to select a class pumpkin, discuss with children the sequence of events. Write a chart story describing the field trip. Include simple pictures in story to allow children to use independently.

Pumpkin Carving

PA ELS: EL 1.6 Communicate ideas, experiences and feeling for a variety of purposes

PA ELS: L 1.5 Use different forms of writing such as drawing, letter-like forms, invented

Carve a pumpkin with the class. Allow students to reach in to remove the seeds and pulp. Discuss how it feels. Discuss the type of face the pumpkin should have. After carving the pumpkin, have students dictate a chart story about carving the pumpkin.

Position Words

PA ELS: RL 1.6 Develop and expand listening and understanding skills

PA ELS: SS 7.3 (g) Develop an understanding of self within a community; identify location and direction

Give each child a paper pumpkin attached to a wooden craft stick. Practice position words with students.
"Hold your pumpkins high" "Put your pumpkin behind you," etc. Use the pumpkins with the song, “The Pumpkins Are Here.”

Pumpkin Word Web

PA ELS: EL 1.6 Communicate ideas, experiences and feeling for a variety of purposes

Show students several different pumpkins. Discuss how they are alike and different, the parts of the pumpkins and words to describe the pumpkins. In the middle of chart paper, draw a pumpkin and write “Pumpkin” on the chart. Draw lines out from pumpkin and ask students for words to describe pumpkins. Write the descriptive words to form a web around the pumpkin.

Suggested Books about Pumpkins

Albert’s Halloween: The Case of the Stolen Pumpkins by Leslie Tryon
Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell
Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman
Five Little Pumpkins Big Book by Shelia Somerville
Five Little Pumpkins by Iris Van Rynbach
From Seed to Pumpkin by Jan Kottke
I Like Pumpkins by Jerry Smath
If You Give A Pig a Pumpkin by Laura Joffe Numeroff
It’s Pumpkin Time by Zoe Hall
Jeb Scarecrow’s Pumpkin Patch by Jana Dillon
Lumpy Bumpy Pumpkin by Sandra Robbins
Mrs. McMurphy’s Pumpkin by Rick Walton
Patty’s Pumpkin Patch by Teri Sloat
Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden by George Levenson
Pumpkin Moonshine by Tasha Tudor
Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper
Pumpkin, Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington
Pumpkins by Cynthia Klingel
Pumpkins by Rynn Williams
Pumpkins: A Story for a Field by Mary Lyn Ray
Something Pumpkin by Scott Allen
The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Steven Kroll
The Bumpy Little Pumpkin by Margery Cuyler
The Giant Pumpkin by Joy Cowley
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid Of Anything by Linda Williams
The Little Pumpkin Book by Katy Bratun
The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons
The Pumpkin Patch by Elizabeth King
The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz
Tiny Tilda’s Pumpkin Pie by Susan Kantor
Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White

Mathematics

Too Long, Too Short, Just Right

PA ELS: LM 2.5 (a) Reason, predict and problem solve: Make predictions based on observations and information

PA ELS:LM 2.3 (c) Develop and use measurement concepts:  Use standard and non-standard measures in everyday situations

Bring a pumpkin to class. Place a strip of making tape around the largest part of the pumpkin. Discuss with children the size of the pumpkin. Place three pieces of paper cut into pumpkin shapes on the floor. Label the paper pumpkins, “Too Long, Too Short, Just Right.” Have each child estimate the circumference of the pumpkin and cut a piece of yarn that length. When everyone has cut a piece of yarn, children measure their pieces of yarn around the pumpkin and place on the correct pumpkin shape. Pieces of yarn can be counted to see how many pieces were too long, too short or just right.

Graduated Sizes

PA ELS: Lm 2.8 (b)  Understanding patterns, relations and functions: sort, categorize, classify and order objects by one attribute.

Have several pumpkins in different sizes and paper pumpkins in graduated sizes for each child. Using the pumpkins put them in order and discuss small, medium and large. Mix the pumpkins and have children place in order. After ordering the actual pumpkins, have children use the paper pumpkins and put them in order. They can glue them in order for a great portfolio artifact.

Flannel Board Pumpkins

PA ELS: LM 2.1  Learn about numbers, numerical representation, & simple numerical operations

Cut 10 pumpkin shapes out of orange flannel. Ask the class to select a number from 1-10. Put the pumpkins on the flannel board one by one. Tell the class to quietly say when the correct number of pumpkins is on the flannel board. Repeat with another number. Allow students to also place the flannel pumpkins on the board.

Pumpkin Subtraction

PA ELS: LM 2.1 ( e)  Learn about numbers, numerical representation, & simple numerical operations; develop increased abilities to combine, separate and name “how many” concrete objects

Place several pumpkin shapes on the flannel board. Count the shapes together. Have students close their eyes and remove several shapes and place in a bag or box. Students  open eyes and guess how many shapes are in the bag.

Pumpkin Seeds

PA ELS: LM 2.3 Develop and use measurement concepts

PA ELS: LM 2.1 Learn about numbers, numerical representation, & simple numerical operations

After carving the pumpkin, wash and dry seeds. The seeds can be used in the balance for measuring activities. They can be used for counting. Cut 5 pumpkin shapes from construction paper. On each shape, write a numeral and add the correct number of dots on the paper. Children count the correct number of seeds on each pumpkin.

Science

Pumpkin Float

PA ELS: SC 3.4 Acquire knowledge about the physical properties of objects

PA ELS: SC 3.2 Demonstrate understanding of the process of scientific inquiry

Use several different sizes of pumpkins. Have students predict whether the pumpkins will sink or float. Record predictions on a chart. Using a tub of water, experiment with each pumpkin. Did it sink or float? Did the size make a difference? Would a can of pumpkin float? Would it float if it were a jack-o-lantern?

Orange Drops

PA ELS: SC 3.2  Demonstrate understanding of the process of scientific inquiry

Give each child a piece of waxed paper and a flat toothpick. On the waxed paper, scatter several drops of red water. Use the toothpick to move the drops of water around the paper. The drops can be separated and joined together. After experimenting with the red drops, add several drops of yellow water. Have the students join the red and yellow drops together.

Planting Pumpkins

PA ELS: SC 3.3 Acquire knowledge about the characteristics of living things

Buy a package of pumpkin seeds. Plant in cups or a pan of soil. Observe and chart growth.

Orange Goop

PA ELS: SC 3.2 Demonstrate understanding of the process of scientific inquiry

Mix 2 parts cornstarch with 1 part water to a sticky but loose consistency. Pour on a “messy” tray for children to explore. Add a few drops of red and yellow food coloring and allow children to mix and see the change in color.

Creative Representation

Pumpkin Collages

PA ELS: CA 9.1 Use a variety of visual art forms for creative expression and representation

After participating in carving a pumpkin, give each student a pumpkin shape cut from construction paper. Have them create the inside of the pumpkin by gluing on pumpkin seeds and orange yarn.

Finger Paint

PA ELS: CA 9.1 Use a variety of visual art forms for creative expression and representation

Give each child a large sheet of finger paint paper cut into a pumpkin shape. Place a spoonful of red and yellow finger paint on the paper. Children mix the paint and make the color changes.

Pumpkin Stamps

PA ELS: CA 9.1 Use a variety of visual art forms for creative expression and representation

Cut carrots into ½ inch rounds. Dip into orange tempera paint and stamp on sheets of paper to make pumpkins.

Torn Paper Pumpkins

PA ELS: CA 9.1 Use a variety of visual art forms for creative expression and representation
PH 10.5: Develop fine motor control 

Give each child a paper plate and a sheet of orange construction paper. Have child tear paper in small pieces and glue on paper plate. Child can add face using black paper or markers.

Cooking

Pumpkin Pancakes
2 cups biscuit mix
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Mix all ingredients together. Cook on a griddle or in
frying pan. Serve with butter and syrup.

No-Bake Pumpkin Pie
1 can prepared pumpkin pie mix
1 package vanilla instant pudding
1 cup milk
1 graham cracker pie shell
Mix pie mix, pudding and milk. Pour in pie shell and
chill.

Jack-O’-Lantern
Large round cookies
White frosting
Red and yellow food coloring
Raisins
Give each child a small amount of frosting in a
small paper cup or bowl. Add a few drops of yellow
and red food coloring. Allow child to mix and see
the change in color. Use the frosting to cover the
round cookies. Make a face with the raisins.

Pumpkin Faces
English muffins
Spreadable orange cheese
Slices and pieces of vegetables such as: black
olives, celery, carrots, peppers
Spread cheese over an English muffin half. Use the
pieces of vegetables to make a silly face.