Teaching Heart's Pumpkin Unit/ Theme!!!

Learning About Pumpkins!

Learning about pumpkins is a great way to start October. Here you will find many ideas for a unit on pumpkins. This page is updated often in September and October! Stop by to see what is new.

Updated September 14, 2007

What to do with ALL those pumpkins?

Have the students estimate the pumpkins weight, then actually weigh the pumpkin. To make it more difficult - use a bathroom scale. First the students weigh themselves and then they get on the scale with the pumpkin. Have the students subtract the first weight from the second to get the weight of the pumpkin!

Estimate the circumfrence of the pumpkin by having the students cut a piece of yarn that they think will fit around the pumpkin. Sort pieces by too short, too long and just right

Carve a Pumpkin On-Line Farmer Ken let's you carve your own pumpkin on-line.

Use the five senses to describe the pumpkin...It looks like________.  It feels like_______.  It smells like_____________. etc.

Compare pumpkins to apples. Use a Venn Diagram to do this!

Pass out cards with numbers on them, have students glue seeds to the given number.

Use pumpkin seeds to make a picture.

make a KWL chart of pumpkin facts.

Making Words:

Give each student the letters
p, u, m, k, i, n

Now ask them to make the following words!

1 ink 2 kin 3 nip 4 pin 5 pip
6 pun 7 pup 8. punk 9. pink 10. mink 11. pump 12. pumpkin

Watch The Pumpkin Grow

When doing a unit on pumpkins it is fun to discuss
how they grow. In the pocket chart you see sentence strips with
the order that a pumpkin will grow. Watch the pumpkin grow.
Plant the seeds. A vine begins to grow. Green leaves form on the vine.
Pumpkin flowers grow on the vine. A little pumpkin starts to grow.
Time to pick the pumpkin. Now I can make a jack-o-latern.

You could mix these up and have students sequence them as a center activity.

You could print a set of these sentence for the students and have them illustrate each sentence
and/or put the sentence in order on a long piece of contruction paper.

You could make your own like seen to the left or you could order the October through November CD and print and use the one seen. To learn more about this CD go to:
http://www.teachingheart.net/cdindexseptdec.html

Pumpkin Facts!

Most pumpkins are various shade of orange, but did you know that some varieties are yellow, white, or even other colors?

Most pumpkins weigh about 15 - 30 pounds. Still, some weigh as much as 800 pounds.

Pumpkin Poems, Songs, and Fingerplays

Song: "Five Little Pumpkins"

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate,

The first one said, Oh, my it’s getting late!

The second one said, There are owls in the air!

The third one said, But we don’t care!

The fourth one said, Let’s run and run and run!

The fifth one said, I’m ready for some fun!

Then Woooo went the wind

And out (clap) went the lights

And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!

Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater

Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater

Had a wife and couldn't keep her.

He put her in a pumpkin shell

And there he kept her very well.

  Mr. Pumpkin  
(tune:  Where is thumpkin)
Mr. Pumpkin, Mr. Pumpkin,
Eyes so round, eyes so round
Halloween is coming, Halloween is coming
To my town, to my town.

I'm Dreaming Of The Great Pumpkin
(Sung to: I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas)

I'm dreaming of the Great Pumpkin
Just like I do this time each year
When he brings nice toys to good girls and boys
Who wait for him to appear.

I'm dreaming of the Great Pumpkin
With every pumpkin card I write.
May your jack-o-lanterns burn bright
When the Great Pumpkin visits you tonight.
~Source unknown~

TEACHING HEART’S FALL & HALLOWEEN PACKET 1

1.) Dem Bones Sorting Sheet - Use with Dem Bones Candy to Sort the Candy. Includes questions for students to answer when they finish sorting. You can read the questions to them (K-1) or have them read the questions and answer them on their own (!-3). 3.) Dem Bones Book (1-3) – A book for your student to complete after working with the Dem Bones Candy.  They may bring the finished book home to share with their family.   (NOT FOUND ON CDROMS)

2.) Dem Bones Graph (FREE TO PRINT) - Use with Dem Bones Candy (MADE BY BRACHS) after you do the sorting activity. Students color the graph to match the candy in their bag. Students switch graphs with a partner and answer the questions about their partner’s graph. (This activity is found on CDROM # 2 - It has been updated and the sheet looks a little different than the one found on CDROM # 2)

3.) Dem Bones Mini Book – Have you students complete this book after they have done the Dem Bones Graph and Sorting Sheet.  This is a great way to end your sorting and graphing lessons.  You can complete the book as a group (K-1) or have the students complete the book independently (2-3).  (NOT FOUND ON CDROMS)

4.) Roll and Eat Dem Bones Game – Print on cardstock, laminate, and cut game boards.  Now that we have finished using our snack pieces, let’s play a game.  Your teacher will break you up into groups and give your group dice.  Sit in a circle and take turns rolling the dice & following the directions.  Use the chart below to decode what each roll means.  If you roll something that you can’t do, pass the dice on and do not do anything.  The game is over when one player has no pieces left after their turn!  If you wish not to eat the candy, throw it away instead. (1-3) (NOT FOUND ON CDROMS)

5.) Picture Poem Activities - This is a five page document of printables and cut-outs for you to use. The first page is a Halloween Poem. Students read the words and the pictures (1-2) or the teacher reads the poem as the student reads along (k-1). The second page includes large graphics of the nouns in the poem. The teacher can print, laminate, and cut these to use with the poem. The last page is an independent activity sheet for your student to complete after you have done some activities with the poem.  The sheet asks the student to answer questions by drawing an answer (k-2).   (NOT FOUND ON CDROMS)

6.) Roll A Pumpkin Game (1-3) – Print on cardstock, laminate, and cut game boards.  This is a dice adding game that your students play in teams of 2-4 players.  Students work on adding and following directions while they play this fun game.  (NOT FOUND ON CDROMS)

7.) Witches Making Words Activities (1-3) – Includes the letters in the word Witches.  Your student must use the letters to complete various activities.  This can be done independently or as a group. (THIS IS FOUND ON OUR CDROM # 4)

8.) Shopping For Fall Words (1-2) – This is a math activity that involves adding more than two digits.  Students are given a word.  Each letter in the word represents a dollar amount.  Students add up all the letters in the word to get a total cost of the given word. (NOT FOUND ON CDROMS)

9.) Pumpkin Poop Bag Topper – A cute gift for your staff.  Just print these labels out a stick them to a ziplock baggie.  Place candy corn in the baggie.  Slip a bag in a favorite friend’s mailbox on Halloween Day.  Sure to be a hit with your teacher friends. They print on 3 1/3" x 4"mailing labels/ AVERY 8164  (NOT FOUND ON CDROMS)

10.) Candy Corn Rhyme Center - :  Here is an easy center to make.  Print, Laminate, and Cut the pieces given.  Then have the students organize the pieces on a pocket chart.  All the words that rhyme are placed next to each other in the pocket chart.  When the students have completed the center, you may choose to have them complete the center sheet found on page 3 of this document.
NOTE:  You may choose to make Ziploc centers.  Place all the materials in a Ziploc and have the student find the rhyming words at their seat.
(NOT FOUND ON CDROMS)

11.) On a Fall Day Mini Book (k-2) - Have your students color page two of this document.  Then have them cut out the pictures and glue them into the book on page 3 – 4.  When they are finished have them cut the book and staple together.  They can finish the sentence and illustrate the last page.  This book is a simple counting/following directions book. (NOT FOUND ON CDROMS)

12.) Graphing For Fall (1-3) - . Print pages 1 -2 on separate sheets of paper.  Cut out a few of the fall pictures and show your students how to place them on the graph.  Then, allow them to complete the rest.  When they are finished, instruct them to complete the graph questions. (NOT FOUND ON CDROMS)

13.) Fall Mini Book – 13 page file - Includes Pocket Chart Vocab. Cards.  A Big Book For the Teacher.  A Mini Book for each student.  An independent Sheet to complete.  (k-2) (NOT FOUND ON CDROMS)

These are Word files that will be sent to you in Zip Format via email. They are sent in less than 24 hours after payment through Paypal! Please make sure your email is correct when you order!!!! Thanks!

Total Price = $10.50 US (this includes tax)


Great Books To Make Your Pumpkin Unit Perfect!

Pumpkin Things to print

Recipe:
Many teachers look for this recipe. It has been a hit in my classroom. I found it was easier to use the paper cups.

Pumpkin Pudding Cones:
1/3 can of pumpkin pie filling with spices
8 oz. prepared whipped topping
2 packages of instant vanilla pudding
milk
ice cream cones

Let the children help mix the pudding with the milk according to instant pudding directions. 
Add the pumpkin pie filling and stir well (or use electric mixer).  The children then spoon the mixture into ice cream cones.  
"Frost" the tops with whipped topping. This works weel with small paper cups rather than
the icecream cones!

 


Even More Pumpkin Books
Click on a book to learn more ar Amazon.com

The Stubborn Pumpkin

The Pumpkin Patch (Picture Puffins)

Early Themes: Apples, Pumpkins, and Harvest (Grades K-1)

A good resource for teachers!

Pumpkin Eye

Another fun idea is to introduce pumpkin vocabulary
on pumpkin cut-outs! As you show the students a word, discuss the word.

You may also wish to display these words on a pumpkin word bank.
During the October Month your students are sure to want to write
about pumpkins. A word bank will come in handy.

You could make your own as seen to the left or you could order the October through November CD and print and use the ones seen. To learn more about this CD go to:
http://www.teachingheart.net/cdindexseptdec.html

PUMPKIN MATH IDEAS

PUMPKIN MATH WITH SEEDS: Do not throw away those seeds, you can do many math activities with them. Try one of these great activities!
Estimate how many seeds are in the class pumpkin, graph the estimate. Count the seeds to see who was the closest. Guess how many cups your seeds will fill. Measure with unifix cubes how long your seeds will line up on the floor.

(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 student 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 now see.)

  • Once the top has been removed, students will enjoy the messy fun of feeling the pulp and seeds as they help to clean out the pumpkin. Direct students to separate the seeds from the pulp.

  • Provide each group with portion cups and some seeds. Students should count by groups of ten and place each group in a portion cup. (The excitement in each group as they realize how close they are to reaching 100 or more is fantastic!)

  • Place a large sheet of butcher paper on a table. Divide into three sections and label: hundreds, tens, ones.

  • Have each group place their portion cups in the tens’ column and any leftover seeds in the ones column.

  • Regroup the ones’ column first, if possible.

  • Counting by tens, regroup the portion cups into a larger container (called the hundreds cup) and place in the hundreds’ column.

  • Record the number of seeds on the paper. (Our last year’s pumpkin yielded over 300 seeds!)

  • Compare the actual number of seeds with their predictions.

Make a pumpkin counting book to "10 Little Pumpkins" use the small chart stickers. Pumpkin shaped chart stickers can be bought in bulk at Staples or your local teacher store. You could give each student 10 white squares. On page one they would write one little pumpkin and stick a pumpkin sticker. On the next page they would write, two little pumpkins and stick two pumpkin stickers on the page...

To make the above activity more difficult. You could have the students write math problems and then illustrate them with crayons and the pumpkin stickers.

Pumpkin Seed Math
Place some seeds from a pumpkin in a ziplock bag. Give each student a bag and a sheet of paper. Have them write a math problem using their seeds.

BULLETIN BOARDS THAT WOULD MATCH THIS UNIT!

Cut an orange pumpkin shape from construction paper for each child in the class.  Make it as big as a 8-1/2 X 11 piece of paper and cut a "door near the bottom big enough to display a picture of a child.  Let the child help you write three or four self describing clues on the front of the pumpkin followed by the question "Who am I?".  Tape a snapshot of the child near the bottom of her pumpkin then cover the snapshot with the "door" you cut.   Have the words "look Who's Hiding in the Pumpkin Patch!" written above all the pumpkins.

Click Here to See a Pumpkin Bboard!

A Board Shared With Teaching Heart From Sky Seery

The pumpkin bulletin board was really easy. Sometimes my students need a gentle reminder of how important it is to be quiet in the library. I used black fabric and had a boarder that have pumpkins on it. Then found some pumpkin cut outs that have faces on them. I used different book jackets. That would interest students in all grades, K-5.

Some of my favorite Sites
filled with pumpkin ideas!

  Kinder Themes
this site has some great ideas that
you will not find at other sites. Check out the idea for the small pumpkin candy holders!

Pumpkin Story Books & Ideas

KinderKorner
Victoria does it again with a great unit on pumpkins!

Try a Web Quest
The Great Pumpkin Detectictives

Do Pumpkins Float?

Display a large graph with the above question. Make a column for yes (yes, pumpkins float) and one for no (no they don't float). Give each student a cut-out of a pumpkin and have them place their pumpkin on the class graph. Discuss how many students think the pumpkins will float and how many think they won't. Give each group of students a sand pail filled with water and a small pumpkin. Allow them to see if the pumpkin floats. Have them discuss their findings with their group.

Pumpkin Glyphs

Click here for one

Here is another one
Pumpkin Glyph

  • Start with the outline of a pumpkin.

  • Rule 1 Which kind of candy do you like best? If it is chocolate, make circle eyes on your pumpkin. If it is candy corn, make triangles for eyes. If it is licorice, make rectangles for eyes.

  • Rule 2 What kind of Halloween stories do you like best? If you like scary stories make a square nose. If you like gross stories make an upside down triangle. If you like funny stories make round nose.

  • Rule 3 How many books have you read this week about halloween? Make a mouth with one tooth for each book that you have read.

  • When the glyph pumpkins are completed the students can trade and try to decode what the pumpkins represent. The possiblities are endless.

Another Pumpkin Glyph Lesson

Objectives: Each student will create a jack-o-lantern glyph that accurately represents his or her answers to a series of questions. The        completed jack-o-lanterns will then be displayed in the classroom and the data will be interpreted by the class.

       Procedures:
       1-Review what a glyph is with the class. Explain that a glyph is a way to represent data pictorially.
       2-Pass out the blank pumpkins. Discuss that each student will be creating a jack-o-lantern face on the pumpkin by answering a series of questions about Halloween activites and favorite treats.
       3-Begin asking the questions listed below allowing enough time for each student to complete his or her answer before asking the next.
       Q1: Have you ever eaten pumpkin seeds? (The stem color needs to be colored brown if the answer isyes and green if it is no.)
       Q2: Do you like pumpkin pie? (Draw a smile if yes, a frown if no, and a sqiggly mouth if you do not know.)
       Q3: Do you like scary or happy jack-o-lanterns? (Draw a square nose if you like scary ones or a triangle nose if you like happy
       jack-o-lanterns.
       Q4: What is your favorite fall treat? (The eyes need to be triangles for carmel apples, circles for popcorn balls, upside down triangles for candy corn, and square if the answer is other.
       4-Allow students to color their jack-o-lanterns.
      5-The next part of the lesson requires each student or the class as a whole to interpret the data. Older students should do it on their own, while a whole class discuss would be more beneficial for younger students.
       6-Ask questions during the interpretation such as: which students like pumpkin pie/how do you know, how many students have eaten pumpkin seeds, which fall treat is liked the most or least/what is an easy way to keep track of the count (tally marks for example),etc.

       Extending the Lesson: This lesson can be made larger by including questions that require students to color the face different colors or the pumpkin yellow or orange and more.

       Closure/Assessment: If the students interpreted the glyphs individually assess their ability to accurately interpret them. You can also assess the students glyph. I suggest doing a glyph each month. It can either relate to a holiday or event during the month or relate to the student        (especially good at the beginning of the year as a getting to know you activity).

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