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

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

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

• 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!

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

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!