Pumpkin, Pumpkin
By Kristina (Tina) Edlund
A perfect way to introduce these pumpkin activities is by reading Jeanne Titherington's book Pumpkin, Pumpkin. This book leads into many science and math activities as students enjoy hands-on experiences with a class pumpkin. How many ridges does the pumpkin have? How much does it weigh? How long did it take to grow? Will the sees inside grow another pumpkin?
Pumpkin Belts: (estimation, seriation, measuring)
- Have each student estimate the circumference of the class pumpkin by cutting a piece of string or yarn the length of his/her estimate.
- Each student checks his/her belt with the pumpkin's circumference and places it on a graph with the following labels: "too short", "just right", or "too long".
- Ask students to seriate the belts in each of the graph's sections from the shortest to the longest.
- If desired, students can use a measuring tool or non-standard measuring manipulative to determine the difference between the longest and shortest "belt" in each group.
- Measure and record the actual circumference in both standard and non-standard measurements.
- A group interpretation of the data or summary of the activity could be written and displayed for student and visitor re-reading.
How Many Seeds Are There? (place value counting)
- As you are cutting into the pumpkin discuss the possible number of seeds it may contain. Record predictions and determine the "range" of students predictions. (Take this opportunity to review the life cycle of the pumpkin and point out the relationship between the flower and the pumpkin fruit they see now)