Pumpkins

October Weeks 3-4

Here's what we did the last few weeks of October!

Halloween Math

We measured and graphed our heights with jack-o-lanterns.

I found a jack-o-lantern on Google Images (similar here) and put it in a Word document to make this height chart. This was awesome counting practice, as we counted the pumpkins for every child. So we counted into the teens about 20 times.

Before we measured, each child guessed what their height would be. Then we recorded their actual heights. We also talked about most and fewest.

We covered these standards:
K.MD.2 Compare 2 Objects (Taller and Shorter)
K.MD.1 Describe Attributes (Height)

Pumpkin Shapes

We made jack-o-lanterns. Each child received a pumpkin template and a sheet of black paper with squares, rectangles, circles, and triangles. They chose which shapes to use, and could also draw and cut any other shape they chose.

When we were finished, we graphed the shapes we chose. There were more triangles used than expected so they didn't quite fit!

Here's the template I use for this.

Pumpkin Widths

We drew and cut paper pumpkins (no template here!) and measured the width with unifix cubes. Then of course we graphed those measurements!

What's the Beginning Sound?

To throw in some phonics practice, we made a class book called, "Pumpkin, Pumpkin, what a Pumpkin!" using the first sound in each child's name. This book doesn't seem too interesting or exciting, but it becomes a well-worn favorite!

Making a Jack-O-Lantern

The local store donated a pumpkin to each Elementary class this year. Pumpkins cost about $30 here, so we are very thankful!

First, we took turns sawing off the top and removing the seeds.

We estimated the number of seeds in the pumpkin after we removed them.

Next, we glued the seeds to ten-frames, let them dry, and added them up.

We had 340 seeds! This was great practice for counting by 10's, and for seeing the situations in which being able to count by 10's might be useful!

Choosing our Pumpkin Face

Using the book Pumpkin Heads, the children formed teams of 3, chose the design they wished to make (or made up their own), and drew it onto a pumpkin template. We then numbered the designs and voted for our favorite.