From Seed to Pumpkin

We see pumpkins all over at this time of year. Have you ever wondered where a pumpkin comes from? Listen to this song and story about pumpkins and how they grow! 

Listen to this song about pumpkins!

Listen to this story book about how pumpkins grow from spring to fall.

Literacy:

Let's draw the pumpkin life cycle. Ask an adult to fold your paper so that it makes 6 squares and label them 1-6. Next draw each stage of the life cycle. You can try adding some letter sounds that you hear for each word too. Watch the video or look at the picture at the beginning of this post to see an example.

Numeracy:

Time to practice counting pumpkin seeds! Fold a piece of paper into 4 squares and cut the squares out. Next, draw a big pumpkin on each square. Then, you'll need a die and some cereal (for your seeds).

How to play:

1. Roll the die a say the number out loud.

2. Place the number of seeds (cereal) on your first pumpkin.

3. Play three more times until all your pumpkins have seeds in them.

4. Which pumpkin has the most seeds? Which pumpkin has the least? Can you order your pumpkins from greatest to least? How about from least to greatest?

*If rolling 1 die is too easy, try getting two dice and adding the numbers together. Then, put the sum of both dice on your pumpkin.

Sensory Play:

Make your own Pumpkin Cloud Dough! If you dive into this activity you will need:

• 6 Cups of flour
• 1 Cup of oil
• 1/3 cup or so of pumpkin (canned)
• Bin or container
• Mini pumpkins/ mini letters/ anything you want to add to play with your dough
• Spoons and small containers

Mix the top three ingredients together- you may need to use your hands. Mix it well! Use bowel, scoops, letters, objects in your house and your hands to play with your dough! Let your imagination take over!

Are you carving a pumpkin this year?:

If you are going to carve a pumpkin at home, save the seeds inside your pumpkin. Count how many seeds were in your pumpkin. I bet the answer will surprise you! Maybe you want to try planting your pumpkin seed outside and see if it grows? Can you sort your seeds into big and small seeds?