Two Pumpkin Shape Crafts for Preschool

Each pumpkin is shaped unlike any other and can be quite interesting to use as a craft theme. The pumpkin shape and its color are undoubtedly part of every Halloween theme. Preschoolers will enjoy exploring the pumpkin shape and actually touching one in your class.

Explore a Pumpkin - Bring a pumpkin into your classroom and allow the children to explore it. Explain to the children that they will make their own crafts using the pumpkin shape. Bring the children roasted seeds and explain to them that what they are eating comes from a pumpkin.

Optional: Have students cut out their own pumpkin shape and save some seeds to glue on it.

Glow In The Dark Pumpkins -

Materials:

Construction paper

Glow in the dark markers

Large or medium pumpkin stencil

Instructions: Help the children outline the pumpkins with the glow in the dark markers. Turn off the lights to allow the children to see their drawings.

Optional: They can color the pumpkin shapes or draw a jack-o-lantern. They can be cut out and made into masks.

Paper Bag Pumpkins -

Materials:

Paper bags

Newspaper or magazines

Orange and brown paint

Rubber bands

Note: You will need to crumble the brown paper bags before the project begins. This will give the bags texture and make them pliable, which will keep a rounded shape like a pumpkin.

Instructions: Help the children stuff crumpled up newspaper or magazine paper into the bottom half of a large paper bag. Once they have stuffed the bags, close the tops and twist really hard until the tops are closed. Ensure that the bags are stuffed until they look rounded, twist the top, fold it over and wrap the rubber band around. This will be the pumpkin stem. Cut off any unneeded portion of the bag and allow the children to paint the bottom part in orange paint. Help the children paint the top part of the bag (the stem) brown and let them dry.

These are easily stapled to a bulletin board like a pumpkin patch. Use double-sided tape to tape a photograph of the student to his or her pumpkin. Hang the pumpkins and call it, "Our Pumpkin Patch."

Be sure to note the difference between the three dimensional, round shape of the paper bag pumpkins and the flat, one dimensional shape of the glow-in-the dark pumpkin to the preschoolers. If desired, go on a classroom hunt of round objects and circles and compare them.

Share these quick facts with your preschoolers:

• A pumpkin can grow to over 1,000 pounds in weight.
• It's a fruit with seeds that when roasted make a tasty snack.
• The pumpkin is known for its bright beautiful coloring and it tastes great in pies or breads. Its pulp is also be used to make soups.
• Pumpkins grow on a vine and many growers use secrets to grow them that become a gardener's delight or pride.
• They have various ranges not only in size but also in coloring. As the pumpkin grows larger and larger their color changes from white to yellow.
• Pumpkins grow flowers after ten weeks of being planted.
• Picking out a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch is a tradition for some families.
• These fall season favorites are a must for every Halloween decoration and they are even known to grace many tables during Thanksgiving.

These cool crafts are easy to make and your students will learn a little more about this fascinating fruit. In this way, your class will have fun while learning!

Cool Pumpkin Facts, 2009, http://kids-learn.org/pumpkins/coolfacts.htm

Growing Pumpkins, http://www.informeddemocracy.com/pumpkin/growing.html