This is a portion of an on going series of harvest lesson plans created for a kindergarten classroom. In this installment of the series, the class will be learning about pumpkins. The children will children about pumpkin facts through games, math and language skills and art projects.
Monday
This installments of lesson plans features all things pumpkin. If possible, plan a class field trip to a pumpkin patch.
What You'll Need
To be able to present this lesson plan in its fullest capacity, here are the things that you will need:
- Pumpkin scented candle (do not light it...just smell it)
- Containers of: pumpkin spice
- Pumpkin seeds (either real or cut outs)
- Pre-cut pumpkins (two sets)
Circle Time Discussion
Show the children the pumpkin.
Allow them to look at it, tap it, and pick it up (if possible).
Explain to them that pumpkins are a type of gourd, like squash and zucchini.
Discuss the smells of cooking pumpkin pie. Allow children to smell the containers of spices.
Ask children to describe each scent. Write the descriptions on a chart.
Art
Glitter Pumpkins
You will need:
Directions:
Instruct children to paint the paper plate orange.
Before the paint dries, children should sprinkle gold glitter to the painted pumpkins.
Cut out a rectangle stem using brown construction paper.
Math Skills
Pumpkin Seed Addition
- Use either real pumpkin seeds or cut out tear drop shapes from white construction paper.
Roll dice twice and add numbers together. For example: If a child rolls the dice for the first time and lands on a 3, count out three seeds. On the second roll, if the dice lands on the number 5, count out 5 seeds. Then create an addition problem: 3 seeds + 5 seeds = 8 seeds.
Language Skills
Pumpkin Opposites
On two sets of pre-cut pumpkins, write positional words (up, right, over, etc.), On the second set, write the opposites down, left, under, etc.
Children should match the opposite words.
Teacher Notes
If time allows, create a "book of scents" with the spices. On construction paper, paint on a thin layer of liquid glue. Sprinkle the spice over the wet glue and allow to dry. Allow the children to write the name of each spice on the correct page of the book.
Read More:
Halloween Rhyming Lesson
Suggested Reading
The Jack-O-Lantern Trick by Lillie Patterson
It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown by Charles Shultz
Kindergarten Pumpkin Lesson Plan
A collection of kindergarten lesson plans on harvest themes. This unit: Pumpkins!