A guide for using our resources

Children will identify pumpkin parts and sequence the steps of carving a pumpkin.

Vocabulary: carve, pulp, rot

Science Focus: plant parts

  1. Watch a Video:

    Investigate Pumpkins!

     

  2. Read the Issue:

    Can You Make a Spooky Face?

     

  3. Review Vocabulary Words:

    carve, pulp, rot

     

  4. Play a Game:

    Build Your Own Pumpkin

    Skill: vocabulary

     

  5. Complete Skill Sheets

    Show What You Know

    Skill: comprehension
     

    How to Make a Jack-o’-Lantern

    Skill: sequencing

     

    P Is for Pumpkin

    Skill: alphabet knowledge

     

  6. Lesson Boosters

  • Paired Text:
    The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano

     

  • Make Predictions:

    How Many Seeds

     

  • Scavenger Hunt: 

    p

     

  • Hands-on Activity:

    Sink-or-Float Pumpkin Boats

     

  • More Extension Ideas From Our Archives: See the digital issue page to get your packet!

     

CCSS (and states that have similar standards): RI.K.1 key details, RI.K.4 vocabulary, RI.K.3 sequencing, RF.K.3.A letters and sounds, RL.K.1 key details (literature)

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

Paired Text: The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano

  • Spookley doesn’t like being the only square pumpkin in the patch . . .  until a storm comes and his shape helps him save the day!

Make Predictions: How Many Seeds?

  • Do a mini prediction activity in conjunction with the Sink-or-Float Pumpkin Boats activity below. Before scooping out the mini pumpkins, predict how many seeds will be inside. Then count them.
  • Then predict how many seeds will be in the full-sized pumpkin. After doing the sink-or-float test, open it up and find out!

Scavenger Hunt: p

  • P is for pumpkin! Work together to find and circle all the p’s in the mini book.

Hands-on Activity: Sink-or-Float Pumpkin Boats

Skill: making predictions, investigating

Materials: miniature pumpkins, toothpicks, construction paper, full-sized pumpkin

  • Try this twist on a sink-or-float pumpkin activity. In advance, cut off the tops of a few miniature pumpkins and scoop out the insides.
  • Now let kids cut sails from construction paper. Help children make boats by attaching the sail to a toothpick and then sticking it in the bottom of the pumpkin. Do kids think their pumpkin boats will float? Put the boats in a tub of water and find out!
  • Next, hold up a full-sized pumpkin and pass it around so kids can feel its weight. Do they think the pumpkin will float even though it is much heavier and does not have a sail? Let kids make predictions before you place the whole pumpkin in the water.
  • Surprise! It still floats! Explain that there is a lot of air inside pumpkins. It helps them float, just like the air in floaties helps kids float in the pool!