Exploring Pumpkins

Life Science - Plants and Animals

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Pumpkin science activities for preschool

Core Learning Experience

+ Supplies and Equipment

Possible/Expected Discoveries

Extended Learning and Other Curriculum Areas

A large pumpkin or squash with a hole in the top, with some metal spoons and a bowl for the innards.
OR a cut-up chunk of pumpkin or squash for each child, with the strings, seeds etc attached.
It would be super to have part of the vine, and some vine leaves to explore, and associate with whatever was growing on it.

Pumpkins are the fruit of the pumpkin vine.
Do you think this pumpkin is heavier than a chair? Heavier than a child?
Predict weather a piece of yarn will go all the way around the circumference of the pumpkin, predict whether the pumpkin will sink or float, describe how the pumpkin looks, smells and feels, scoop out the insides and examine them. Predict how many seeds will be inside, or in a certain part.
Vocabulary: squishy, slimy, mushy, stem, skin, meat, pulp, seeds, ribs
Cut up some pumpkin pieces and cook with a little water. What will happen? Why?

· Plant some seeds in plastic or paper cups.

· Count seeds. Create simple sets and compare: more, less; equal, not equal.

· Stuff paper lunch bags with newspaper; tie the stem with yarn, and paint orange and green. Create a “pumpkin patch” on the wall or a table. Add vines and leaves. Write dictated “stories”, and read them together.

Draw some sequences for children to order: e.g. seed to pumpkin; making a pie.

Packs and Printables :

Books:

Mousekin's Golden House, by Edna Miller

Growing Pumpkins Macmillan Early Science Books
Pumpkin, Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington
Hello, Mr. Scarecrow by Rob Lewis
The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Steven Kroll

Websites:

http://www.pumpkinnook.com/cookbook.htm

http://www.creativekidsathome.com/activities/activity_41.shtml

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/pumpkins/

Theme activities and printables for preschool and kindergarten

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