A guide for using our resources

Children will sequence the steps of growing a giant pumpkin for a pumpkin boat.

Vocabulary: shade, shell

Science Focus: plants

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

• In this classic, two mice accidentally team up to grow a giant pumpkin. Kids will spot some real pumpkingrowing information from the issue within the story.

• Practice labeling skills with our bonus Pumpkin Diagram skill sheet! Kids can use the word bank to label different parts of the pumpkin.

• Together, find and circle all the words in the issue that begin with p.

Skill: simple experiments

Materials: miniature pumpkins, toothpicks, construction paper, tub of water

• 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.
• Put the boats in a tub of water and have a mini pumpkin regatta! Kids can experiment with different ways of moving the boats across the water. Kids can try blowing on them, pushing them, and gently splashing the water.