Pumpkin Day

 It's almost that time again!  Halloween week!  At our school we are not allowed to dress up for Halloween, but we can do something fun and exciting in the classroom if we choose to.  This year I am thinking about doing one of the really fun looking Frankenstein craftivities I have seen floating around out there, but in the meantime, I am getting ready to do one of my favorite things.  Pumpkins!  Each year I bring in a few pumpkins for the day and from the second the kids come in, they are excited!  Last year, I brought in two large pumkins (I cut the top off at home ahead of time).  We complete a whole bunch of fun activities throughout the day and everyone is motivated to work.  By doing these structured activities, it keeps the craziness at bay (as much as it can be) and everyone is happy! 
      First we start off with pumpkin observations.  Without taking the top off, I have students break upinto a few groups and observe the pumpkin.  They use clipboards and recording sheets to work and they have to look more closely

at the pumpkin.  Students fill in their observation sheet and draw a quick sketch of their pumpkin.  Once that is complete, we move on to pumpkin writing. 

They use their observations to complete an acrostic pumpkin poem or a free style poem, being sure to include adjectives about the pumpkin.  Another writing option that I like to have students work on is "How To Carve A Jack-O-Lantern."  In this writing assignment, students have to craft a "how-to" writing piece.

    Next students work to complete an estimation activity.  First they make an estimate of how many seeds they think are inside their group's pumpkin (before we look inside).  Students then look inside and estimate again.  After that, students take turns scooping out the insides of the pumpkin and make another estimate based on the bowl of "guts."  Students are able to revise their

estimation one more time, once they see what 50 seeds looks like.  Students then count out the seeds and pile them into groups of 50.  They count until they find the total number of seeds.  

     While students are counting out the seeds, the rest of the class is working on some pumpkin related math questions.  It is a lot of fun to watch the kids be kids and revel in the pumpkin craziness!   I am truly looking forward to doing this again next week!  It is such a hit.  *As an added bonus, I get to bring home seeds for roasting and my pumpkins ready to be carved by my

family! :)
~Heather